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Authors: Dick Sand - a Captain at Fifteen
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entomologist's esteem? These possess dorsal fins, white in color,
and as long as half the body, which resemble a pair of wings—something
like a flying whale.
Had they not in view, more likely, a "finback" mammifer, as well known
by the name "jubarte," which is provided with a dorsal fin, and whose
length may equal that of the "right" whale?
Captain Hull and his crew could not yet decide, but they regarded the
animal with more desire than admiration.
If it is true that a clockmaker cannot find himself in a room in the
presence of a clock without experiencing the irresistible wish to wind
it up, how much more must the whaler, before a whale, be seized with
the imperative desire to take possession of it? The hunters of large
game, they say, are more eager than the hunters of small game. Then,
the larger the animal, the more it excites covetousness. Then, how
should hunters of elephants and fishers of whalers feel? And then there
was that disappointment, felt by all the "Pilgrim's" crew, of returning
with an incomplete cargo.
Meanwhile, Captain Hull tried to distinguish the animal which had been
signaled in the offing. It was not very visible from that distance.
Nevertheless, the trained eye of a whaler could not be deceived in
certain details easier to discern at a distance.
In fact, the water-spout, that is, that column of vapor and water which
the whale throws back by its rents, would attract Captain Hull's
attention, and fix it on the species to which this cetacean belonged.
"That is not a 'right' whale," cried he. "Its water-spout would be at
once higher and of a smaller volume. On the other hand, if the noise
made by that spout in escaping could be compared to the distant noise
of a cannon, I should be led to believe that that whale belongs to the
species of 'humpbacks;' but there is nothing of the kind, and, on
listening, we are assured that this noise is of quite a different
nature. What is your opinion on this subject, Dick?" asked Captain
Hull, turning toward the novice.
"I am ready to believe, captain," replied Dick Sand, "that we have to
do with a jubarte. See how his rents throw that column of liquid
violently into the air. Does it not seem to you also—which would
confirm my idea—that that spout contains more water than condensed
vapor? And, if I am not mistaken, it is a special peculiarity of the
jubarte."
"In fact, Dick," replied Captain Hull, "there is no longer any doubt
possible! It is a jubarte which floats on the surface of these red
waters."
"That's fine," cried little Jack.
"Yes, my boy! and when we think that the great beast is there, in
process of breakfasting, and little suspecting that the whalers are
watching it."
"I would dare to affirm that it is a jubarte of great size," observed
Dick Sand.
"Truly," replied Captain Hull, who was gradually becoming more excited.
"I think it is at least seventy feet long!"
"Good!" added the boatswain. "Half a dozen whales of that size would
suffice to fill a ship as large as ours!"
"Yes, that would be sufficient," replied Captain Hull, who mounted on
the bowsprit to see better.
"And with this one," added the boatswain, "we should take on board in a
few hours the half of the two hundred barrels of oil which we lack."
"Yes!—truly—yes!" murmured Captain Hull.
"That is true," continued Dick Sand; "but it is sometimes a hard matter
to attack those enormous jubartes!"
"Very hard, very hard!" returned Captain Hull. "Those baloenopters have
formidable tails, which must not be approached without distrust. The
strongest pirogue would not resist a well-given blow. But, then, the
profit is worth the trouble!"
"Bah!" said one of the sailors, "a fine jubarte is all the same a fine
capture!"
"And profitable!" replied another.
"It would be a pity not to salute this one on the way!"
It was evident that these brave sailors were growing excited in looking
at the whale. It was a whole cargo of barrels of oil that was floating
within reach of their hands. To
and as long as half the body, which resemble a pair of wings—something
like a flying whale.
Had they not in view, more likely, a "finback" mammifer, as well known
by the name "jubarte," which is provided with a dorsal fin, and whose
length may equal that of the "right" whale?
Captain Hull and his crew could not yet decide, but they regarded the
animal with more desire than admiration.
If it is true that a clockmaker cannot find himself in a room in the
presence of a clock without experiencing the irresistible wish to wind
it up, how much more must the whaler, before a whale, be seized with
the imperative desire to take possession of it? The hunters of large
game, they say, are more eager than the hunters of small game. Then,
the larger the animal, the more it excites covetousness. Then, how
should hunters of elephants and fishers of whalers feel? And then there
was that disappointment, felt by all the "Pilgrim's" crew, of returning
with an incomplete cargo.
Meanwhile, Captain Hull tried to distinguish the animal which had been
signaled in the offing. It was not very visible from that distance.
Nevertheless, the trained eye of a whaler could not be deceived in
certain details easier to discern at a distance.
In fact, the water-spout, that is, that column of vapor and water which
the whale throws back by its rents, would attract Captain Hull's
attention, and fix it on the species to which this cetacean belonged.
"That is not a 'right' whale," cried he. "Its water-spout would be at
once higher and of a smaller volume. On the other hand, if the noise
made by that spout in escaping could be compared to the distant noise
of a cannon, I should be led to believe that that whale belongs to the
species of 'humpbacks;' but there is nothing of the kind, and, on
listening, we are assured that this noise is of quite a different
nature. What is your opinion on this subject, Dick?" asked Captain
Hull, turning toward the novice.
"I am ready to believe, captain," replied Dick Sand, "that we have to
do with a jubarte. See how his rents throw that column of liquid
violently into the air. Does it not seem to you also—which would
confirm my idea—that that spout contains more water than condensed
vapor? And, if I am not mistaken, it is a special peculiarity of the
jubarte."
"In fact, Dick," replied Captain Hull, "there is no longer any doubt
possible! It is a jubarte which floats on the surface of these red
waters."
"That's fine," cried little Jack.
"Yes, my boy! and when we think that the great beast is there, in
process of breakfasting, and little suspecting that the whalers are
watching it."
"I would dare to affirm that it is a jubarte of great size," observed
Dick Sand.
"Truly," replied Captain Hull, who was gradually becoming more excited.
"I think it is at least seventy feet long!"
"Good!" added the boatswain. "Half a dozen whales of that size would
suffice to fill a ship as large as ours!"
"Yes, that would be sufficient," replied Captain Hull, who mounted on
the bowsprit to see better.
"And with this one," added the boatswain, "we should take on board in a
few hours the half of the two hundred barrels of oil which we lack."
"Yes!—truly—yes!" murmured Captain Hull.
"That is true," continued Dick Sand; "but it is sometimes a hard matter
to attack those enormous jubartes!"
"Very hard, very hard!" returned Captain Hull. "Those baloenopters have
formidable tails, which must not be approached without distrust. The
strongest pirogue would not resist a well-given blow. But, then, the
profit is worth the trouble!"
"Bah!" said one of the sailors, "a fine jubarte is all the same a fine
capture!"
"And profitable!" replied another.
"It would be a pity not to salute this one on the way!"
It was evident that these brave sailors were growing excited in looking
at the whale. It was a whole cargo of barrels of oil that was floating
within reach of their hands. To
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