Even Jarl's glance seemed so queer, that I begged him to look another way.
Secure now from all efforts of the captain to recover those whom he most probably supposed lost; and equally cut off from all hope of returning to the ship even had we felt so inclined; the resolution that had thus far nerved me, began to succumb in a measure to the awful loneliness of the scene.

Ere this, I had regarded the ocean as a slave, the steed that bore me whither I listed, and whose vicious propensities, mighty though they were, often proved harmless, when opposed to the genius of man.

But now, how changed! In our frail boat, I would fain have built an altar to Neptune.
What a mere toy we were to the billows, that jeeringly shouldered us from crest to crest, as from hand to hand lost souls may be tossed along by the chain of shades which enfilade the route to Tartarus.
But drown or swim, here's overboard with care! Cheer up, Jarl! Ha! Ha! how merrily, yet terribly, we sail! Up, up--slowly up--toiling up the long, calm wave; then balanced on its summit a while, like a plank on a rail; and down, we plunge headlong into the seething abyss, till arrested, we glide upward again.

And thus did we go.

Now buried in watery hollows--our sail idly flapping; then lifted aloft-- canvas bellying; and beholding the furthest horizon.
Had not our familiarity with the business of whaling divested our craft's wild motions of its first novel horrors, we had been but a rueful pair.