A CATASTROPHE. 87 no hope of succour ; he was only too well aware that no human efforts could effectually hastcn the arrivai of the ship. Dick Sands indeed had at once obeyed the fîrst summons ; already the wind was fîlling the sails, but in default of steam power her progress at best could not be otherwise than slow. Not only did Dick feel convinced that it would be a useless waste of tîme to lower a boat and corne off with the negroes to the rescue, but he remembered the strict orders he had received on no account to quit the ship. Captain HuU, however, could perceive that the apprentice had had the aft-boat lowered, and was towing it along, so that it should be in readiness for a refuge as soon as they should get within reach. But the whale, close at hand, demanded attention that could îll be spared for the yet distant ship. Covering her young one with her body, she was manifestly designing another charge full upon the boat.
- On your guard, Howick! sheer off!" bellowed the
captain. But the order was useless. The fresh oar that the boatswain had taken to replace the broken one was con- siderably shprter, and consequently it faîled in levcr-power. There was, in fact, no helm for the boat to answer. The sailors saw the failure, and convinced that ail was lost uttered one long, despairing cry that might hâve been heard on board the " Pilgrim." Another moment, and from beneath there came a tremendous blow from the monster's tail that sent the boat flying in the air. In fragments it fell back again into a sea that was lashed into fury by the angry flapping of the finback's fins. Was it not possible for the unfortunate men, blceding and wounded as they were, still to save thcmselves by clinging to some floating spar? Captain Hull is indeed seen endeavouring to hoist the boatswain on to a drifting plank. But ail in vain. There is no hopc. The whale, writhing in the convulsions of death, returns yet once again to the attacic ; the waters around the struggling sailors seethe and foam. A brief turmoil follows as if there were the bursting of some vast waterspout
