At first sailors thought it must be some great fish, like a whale.

But it is well known that all these animals come to the surface with a certain regularity to breathe, and spout up columns of mingled air and water.

Now, this strange animal, if it was an animal, had never "blown" as the whalers say; nor, had it ever made any noises of breathing.

Yet if it were not one of these huge marine mammals, how was this unknown monster to be classed?
Did it belong among the legendary dwellers in the deep, the krakens, the octopuses, the leviathans, the famous sea-serpents?
At any rate, since this monster, whatever it was, had appeared along the New England shores, the little fishing-smacks and pleasure boats dared not venture forth.

Wherever it appeared the boats fled to the nearest harbor, as was but prudent.