They all, however, seemed to think that my escape was much more wonderful than theirs; but I cannot say that I agreed with them in this.
We now turned our attention to the whale, which had dived again.

As it was now loose, we did not know, of course, where it would come up: so we lay still awhile.

Very soon up he came, not far from us, and as fierce as ever.
"Now, lads, we _must_ get that whale," cried the mate; "give way with a will." The order was obeyed.

The boat almost leaped over the swell, and, before long, another harpoon was in the whale's back.
"Fast again, hurrah!" shouted the mate, "now for the lance." He gave the monster two deep stabs while he spoke, and it vomited up great clots of blood, besides spouting the red stream of life as it rolled on the sea in its agony, obliging us to keep well out of its way.
I could not look upon the dying struggles of this enormous fish without feelings of regret and self-reproach for helping to destroy it.

I felt almost as if I were a murderer, and that the Creator would call me to account for taking part in the destruction of one of His grandest living creatures.