The engineer ran to him.
"Sir," said the commander, "you have steam up ?" "Yes, sir," answered the engineer.
"Well, make up your fires and put on all steam." Three hurrahs greeted this order.

The time for the struggle had arrived.

Some moments after, the two funnels of the frigate vomited torrents of black smoke, and the bridge quaked under the trembling of the boilers.
The Abraham Lincoln, propelled by her wonderful screw, went straight at the animal.

The latter allowed it to come within half a cable's length; then, as if disdaining to dive, it took a little turn, and stopped a short distance off.
This pursuit lasted nearly three-quarters of an hour, without the frigate gaining two yards on the cetacean.

It was quite evident that at that rate we should never come up with it.
"Well, Mr.Land," asked the captain, "do you advise me to put the boats out to sea ?" "No, sir," replied Ned Land; "because we shall not take that beast easily." "What shall we do then ?" "Put on more steam if you can, sir.