6. Full Steam

 

On hearing this cry, the whole crew rushed to the harpooner; commander, officers,
foremen, marine-ros, apprentices and even engineers, who left their Maqui-nas, and
stokers, who left their posts. He had given the order to stop, and the frigate
no longer he moved except by its own inertia.
So deep it was dark and I wondered how he could see the
Canada, however good-sen was his eyes. My heart was breaking up.
But Ned Land was not mistaken, and every object could warn her hand
He indicated. About two wires of Abraham Lincoln and starboard, the sea seemed to be
ilu-mined below. It was not a simple phenomenon of phospho-fit cence or deceive.
The monster, submerged al-gunas fathoms [L6] surface, projected that
unexplained but very intense glow that had been mentioned in several reports
captains. The magnificent irradiation must be produced by a large agent
I poderluminoso. Described light on a vast sea very elongated oval, in which
focus center a burning condensed irresis-tible whose glow was fading by
suce-sive degradation.
Is not that more than an agglomeration of-ado- fosfores? Molecules exclaimed one
officers.
No, sir? I replied with conviction ?. Neither Folas or salps are capable of producing
a brightness so strong. That glow is electrical in nature ... Also, look, look
how it moves! It moves forward and backward! He rushes toward us!
A unanimous cry arose from the frigate.
? Silence! ? He shouted the commander Farragut ?. Cane to bar-Lovento, all! Machine back!
The sailors rushed to the tiller and engineers to their machines.
The Abraham Lincoln, aba-tend to port, described a semicircle.
? The way the helm! Avante machine! ? He shouted the commanding-like Farragut.
Executed these orders, the frigate moved quickly away from the light source. I say bad,
wanted to leave, he should have said, because the supernatural beast approached him with a
veloci-ty twice as high as yours.
We gasped, immersed in silence and immobility, the stupor more panic.
The animal approached us easily. Then he circled the frigate which was launched
then fourteen knots and wrapped her in his electric glow like a dust
bright. He walked away after about two or three miles, leaving a phosphorescent wake
comparable to the swirling steam exhaling locomo-tora of an espresso. Suddenly,
from the darkest reaches of the horizon, to which it had sought momentum, the monster
I threw it into the Abraham Lincoln with amazing speed, stopped abruptly
about twenty feet of his belts, and went out, not abismándose in the waters, since their
glow suffered no degradation but suddenly, as if the source of their
bright effluvium had suddenly extinguished. Then he reappeared across the na-saw
either by having gone round about the same or have gone below their
helmet. In any mo-ment a collision of adverse effects could occur to
we.
The maneuvers of the frigate surprised me. Instead of attacking, he fled. The ship had
You come in pursuit of the monster looked haunted. As asked the reason for this
role reversal, Commander Farragut, whose ros-tro usually impassive
then reflected an infinite asom-bro, he said:
? Lord Aronnax, I do not know how formidable being I have to deal with that, not
im want to jeopardize my frigate-cautiously amid this darkness.
Also, how can attack the unknown ?, how to defend? Hopefully daylight and
then the roles change.
? Do you have any doubt, Commander, sobe the nature of the animal?
No, sir, is evidently a gigantic narwhal, but also an electric narwhal.
? Maybe? I said? if it emits electric shock as ina-bordable as an electric eel or
torpedo.
? Possibly? He replied the commander ?, and possesses itself a withering power must
be the animal's terri-ble that has never left the hands of the Creator. Therefore, there
to be cautious.
The entire crew remained standing overnight, no one thought of sleep.
Unable to compete in speed, the Abraham Lincoln had moderated his departure. By
Meanwhile, narwhal, imitating the frigate, were left rocked by the waves and seemed determined to
not leave the scene of the fight.
However, around midnight it disappeared, or, em-plear a better expression,
He was "turned off" like a firefly. Would he have fled? It was feared more than hope so
out. But, at one least seven minutes, we heard a deafening whistle, like
when I co-produced by a column of water exhaled with extreme violence.
Commander Farragut, Ned Land and I were at that moment on the poop,
eagerly scanning the DEPTH-das darkness.
? Ned Land, have you often heard the roar of the ba-full? ? Asked the commander.
? Many times, sir, but never finding a whale which has earned me with two talents
dollars.
? In fact, you've earned premium. But tell me, does not that make noise
cetaceans exhale the water through their blowholes?
? The same noise, sir, with the difference that we have just heard is
incomparably stronger, No mistaking, is a cetacean what we have before
we. And with your permission, sir ?, said the harpooner morning at daybreak you
say two words to our neighbor.
? If you're in the mood to listen, Mr. Land? I said with a tone of low
conviction.
? What can I get close to four long harpoon? Re-plained Canada? and you will see
if you feel compelled to escu-charm.
? To approach him? Said the commander? I guess I'll have to put a whaling
available.
? Of course.
? What we mean putting at stake the lives of my hom-Bres.
? And mine? Replied the harpooner, most simplici-ness.
About two in the morning he reappeared with no less in-the light source intensity, about
five miles to windward of Abraham Lincoln. Despite the distance and the rui-two
wind and sea, clearly heard the formidable tail of the animal and to its
panting and powerful breathing-ing. You could say that at the time that the enormous narwhal
as-cendía to the ocean surface to breathe, the air is pre-cipitaba in your lungs
like steam in the vast cylinders of a machine two thousand horses.
"Hum !, a whale with the strength of a regiment would ca-Balleria and a lady
whale, "I thought.
We remained alert until dawn. The pre-paration combat began. Are
They arranged fishing gear along the edges. The first officer did
upload a harpoon throwing parts at a distance of a mile and firing bullets
Explosive whose wounds are morta-les even the most powerful animals. Ned Land
limited-BIA has to sharpen his harpoon in his hands in a terrible weapon conver-aunt.
At six o'clock day began to break, and the first light disappeared
narwhal electric glow. At seven it was daylight, but very morning mist
espe-sa, impenetrable to the best telescopes, consi-ably limited the horizon,
to the anger and disappointment of all.
I climbed to the crow's mizzen. Some officers were already perched on top of the
masts.
Suddenly, and like the day before, Ned Land's voice was heard:
? The thing in question by port, back!
All eyes turned in the direction indicated. A mile and a half from the frigate,
a long blackish body emerged from the water in a meter or so. Its tail,
violently agitated, produced a considerable re-mill. I never set any flow
He had beaten the sea with such violence. A huge white foam groove des-cribía one
elongated curve marking the passage of animal.
The frigate approached the cetacean, and I watch quietly. Reports
Shannon and the Helvetia had slightly exaggerated dimensions. I estimated its length
in about two hundred fifty feet only. As for its thickness, it was not easy to appreciate,
but, in short, the animal seemed admirably provided in three
dimensions.
As I watched him be phenomenal, I saw threw two jets of water and steam
for their spiracles to a height of about forty meters. That showed me the way
breath, and let me conclude definitively that per-Tenure vertebrates class
mammals, monodelfos subclass of the group of fish-, order of
CETA-ceos, family ... At this point I could not pronunciarme yet. The order Cetacea
It comprising three families: whales, sperm whales and dolphins, and in the latter in the
that narwhals are inscribed. Each of these families is divided into several genres, each
gender species and each species in va-varieties. Variety, species, genus and family me
but no doubt still missing that I would complete my classified-tion, with the help
Heaven and Commander Farragut.
The crew expected the orders of his boss impatient After watching carefully
the animal, the commander called the engineer, who introduced immediately.
? Do you have enough pressure? ? Asked the commander.
Yes, sir? 'Said the engineer.
? Well, then strengthen the power, and the whole machine.
Three cheers welcomed the order. It had sounded the hour of battle. Moments later,
the two chimneys of the fra-cat vomited torrents of black smoke and mo-track bridge
shake with boilers.
Driven forward by its powerful propeller, the Abraham Lincoln addressed frontally
to the animal. This approach left him indifferent, up to half a cable's length after
which he walked away slowly, limiting itself to maintain its dis-tance without bothering to
submerge.
The chase lasted well over three quarters of an hour, approximately, without the
ga-narle frigate got the whale more than two yards. It was evident that the march
the frigate would never reach.
Commander Farragut angrily tore its lush goatee.
? Ned Land! ? He shouted.
He attended the Canadian order.
? I still advised to take my boat out to sea?
No, sir replied Ned Land, for this beast will not stop unless you want to catch.
What to do then?
? Force machines if possible. If you will allow me, I will settle in
chinstraps the bowsprit and if we continue to approach-throw harpoon, so arponearé.
? All right, Ned, do you? Replied the commander Fa-rragut-. Engineer? She cried ?,
increase pressure!
Ned Land went to his post. They forced the machines. The propeller began to turn
forty-three revolutions per minute. The steam escaped from the valves. Launched
co-slide, it was found that Abraham Lincoln had alcan-speed I Zado
eighteen miles and five tenths per hour.
But the animal ran too damn eighteen miles and five tenths per hour.
For even one hour the frigate kept at that Veloci-ness, without getting beat one
fathom the animal, which was particularly humiliating for one of the fastest na-cantings
US Navy. A dull anger seized the crew, who railed at
monster, without him dig-nara respond. Commander Farragut did not writhed and
knob, you eat it.
The engineer was reconvened.
? Have you maxed pressure? ? Asked the commander.
Yes, sir? 'Said the engineer.
? What are loaded valves?
? Six and a half atmospheres.
? For you load them ten atmospheres.
While American an order, certainly. Hu-Biera not gone beyond the
Mississippi in speed competitions the river steamers are delivered.
? Conseil? Told my good servant, who was standing beside me ?, you realize that very
we'll probably blow up?
? As Mr like? Replied Conseil.
Well, I must confess that in my excitement, I do not im-carrying risk that.
Loaded valves, feeding car-bon is strengthened and activated
operation of the fans on fire. It increased the speed of Abraham
Lincoln to the point of shaking the masts on their cockpits. Fireplaces
They were too narrow to output the thick columns of smoke. He leaned
run-dera again.
? Well, helmsman? ? Asked the commander Farragut.
? Nineteen miles and three-tenths, sir.
? Forzad fires!
The engineer obeyed. The gauge scored ten atmo-spheres.
But again he whales acompasó to speed boat, that of nineteen miles
and three tenths.
What persecution! No, impossible to describe the emo-tion that rattled my entire being.
Ned Land remained at his post, ready to lan-zar his harpoon.
On several occasions, the animal was allowed to bring.
? We beat spot! ? Cried the Canadian. ,
But at the moment he was about to launch his harpoon the whale moved away,
with a speed I can not estimate by less than thirty miles per hour. And in
occasionally he allowed even ridicule the fra-gata, driven at maximum
speed their machines, giving occasional round about him, which tore a
cry of anger of all of us.
At noon we were therefore in the same situation as at eight in the morning.
Commander Farragut was decided by the recur-so more direct methods.
? Ah! ? He exclaimed ?. This animal is faster than the Abra-ham Lincoln. Well, let
to see if it is faster tarn-well our shells. Petty, gunners to ba-tery
bow!
He immediately proceeded to load and aim the bow gun. Made the first
firing the shell passed some feet above the cetacean, which remained a half mile
away.
? Another good aim! ? He shouted the commander ?. Five hundred dollars to anyone who can
crossing that beast in-Fernal!
An old gunner gray beard? I seem to be seeing now with a cold expression
and quiet in his face? He approached the piece, placed it in position and aimed for
long time. The strong blast was se-guida almost immediately from the cheers of the
crew. The shell had hit the mark, but not normally, because after hitting the
animal had slipped its round super-surface and was lost at sea on a
two miles.
? Oh !, it is not possible! ? He exclaimed, angry, old Artille-ro ?. That damn is shielded
with six plates flea-das!
? Damn! ? Said Commander Farragut.
The chase began again, and Commander Farragut, hovering over me, told me?
? I will pursue that animal until burst my fra-cat!
Yes? I said ?, you're right.
It could be expected that the animal was exhausted, it was not different in-fatigue as a
steam machine. But it was not like that. hours passed without to give any
se-end of fatigue.
I must say in honor of Abraham Lincoln who fought with indefatigable tenacity. Not
estimated at less than five hundred kilometers qui-distance traveled our boat during
that unfortunate day on November 6, until the arrival of the night buried
in their shadows the choppy ocean waters.
At that moment I thought reached the end of our expeditions-ing, thinking that never
should we see the animal fantastic. But I was wrong.
At ten hours and fifty minutes in the evening, reapare-tio electric clearly a
three miles to windward of the frigate, with the same purity and intensity at night
above. Narwhal seemed motionless. Perhaps, you are overcome by fatigue, sleep, delivered to the
undulation of the waves? The co-principal Farragut decided to seize the opportunity
he thought he saw in the attitude of the animal, and gave orders in con-sequence. The Abraham
Lincoln approached him slowly, pru-ingly, not to startle your opponent.
It is rare to find in the ocean to the sumi-das whales into a deep sleep,
occasion is exploited successfully by the hunters. Ned Land had harpooned more
in such a circumstance.
The Canadian returned to settle in the bowsprit.
The frigate approached silently, their machines stopped about two cables of the animal and
He continued down its force of inertia. Everyone on board containing the
respi-ration. The deepest silence reigned on the bridge. We were now only to
a hundred feet from the burning focus, whose glow grew dazzlingly.
Leaning over the rail forward I saw below me Ned Land, who caught hold on
a hand to mucus bau-Prés, the other brandishing his terrible harpoon. Just twenty feet will
They separated and stationary animal.
Suddenly, violently he deployed Ned Land arm and threw the harpoon. I heard the crash
Gun sound that seemed to have struck a hard body.
Electrical clearly went out suddenly. Two huge waterspouts swooped
on the bridge of the ship and ran like a torrent from the bow to the stern, knocking
men and breaking the lashings of timber. There was a terrible shock and,
thrown over the rail, no time to grab me, I was precipitated into the sea.