Taking a Chance

The voyage of the Abraham Lincoln was for a long time marked by no special incident. But one circumstance happened which showed the wonderful dexterity of Ned Land, and proved what confidence we might place in him.

For a long time, nothing remarkable happened on the voyage of the Abraham Lincoln. But one incident showed Ned Land's remarkable skill and proved how much we could trust him.

The 30th of June, the frigate spoke some American whalers, from whom we learned that they knew nothing about the narwhal. But one of them, the captain of the Monroe, knowing that Ned Land had shipped on board the Abraham Lincoln, begged for his help in chasing a whale they had in sight. Commander Farragut, desirous of seeing Ned Land at work, gave him permission to go on board the Monroe. And fate served our Canadian so well that, instead of one whale, he harpooned two with a double blow, striking one straight to the heart, and catching the other after some minutes’ pursuit.

On June 30, the frigate spoke with some American whalers. We learned from them that they knew nothing about the narwhal. But the captain of the Monroe knew that Ned Land was aboard the Abraham Lincoln. He begged for Ned’s help in chasing a whale they had spotted. Commander Farragut wanted to see Ned Land at work, so he let him go aboard the Monroe. And fate served our Canadian so well that he harpooned two whales instead of one, with a double strike. He struck one straight through the heart and caught the other after a few minutes’ pursuit.

Decidedly, if the monster ever had to do with Ned Land’s harpoon, I would not bet in its favour.

Certainly, if the monster ever faced Ned Land’s harpoon, I wouldn’t bet on the monster.

The frigate skirted the south-east coast of America with great rapidity. The 3rd of July we were at the opening of the Straits of Magellan, level with Cape Vierges. But Commander Farragut would not take a tortuous passage, but doubled Cape Horn.

The frigate sailed rapidly along the southeastern coast of America. On July 3, we reached the entrance to the Straits of Magellan, near Cape Vierges. But Commander Farragut would not take the winding passage. Instead, he sailed around Cape Horn.

The ship’s crew agreed with him. And certainly it was possible that they might meet the narwhal in this narrow pass. Many of the sailors affirmed that the monster could not pass there, “that he was too big for that!”

The ship’s crew agreed with him. And it was certainly possible that they might meet the narwhal in this narrow passage. Many sailors insisted that the monster could not get through, “that he was too big for that!”

The 6th of July, about three o’clock in the afternoon, the Abraham Lincoln, at fifteen miles to the south, doubled the solitary island, this lost rock at the extremity of the American continent, to which some Dutch sailors gave the name of their native town, Cape Horn. The course was taken towards the north-west, and the next day the screw of the frigate was at last beating the waters of the Pacific.

On July 6, at about three in the afternoon, the Abraham Lincoln rounded a solitary island, passing fifteen miles south of it. This lonely rock at the tip of the American continent had been named Cape Horn by Dutch sailors after their hometown. The frigate headed northwest. The next day, its propeller was at last churning the waters of the Pacific.

“Keep your eyes open!” called out the sailors.

“Keep your eyes open!” the sailors called out.

And they were opened widely. Both eyes and glasses, a little dazzled, it is true, by the prospect of two thousand dollars, had not an instant’s repose. Day and night they watched the surface of the ocean, and even nyctalopes, whose faculty of seeing in the darkness multiplies their chances a hundredfold, would have had enough to do to gain the prize.

And they were wide open. Eyes and binoculars were dazzled, admittedly, by the prospect of two thousand dollars. They never rested for a moment. Day and night, they watched the ocean’s surface. Even nyctalopes, whose ability to see in the dark gives them a hundred times better odds, would have struggled to win the prize.

I myself, for whom money had no charms, was not the least attentive on board. Giving but few minutes to my meals, but a few hours to sleep, indifferent to either rain or sunshine, I did not leave the poop of the vessel. Now leaning on the netting of the forecastle, now on the taffrail, I devoured with eagerness the soft foam which whitened the sea as far as the eye could reach; and how often have I shared the emotion of the majority of the crew, when some capricious whale raised its black back above the waves! The poop of the vessel was crowded in a moment. The cabins poured forth a torrent of sailors and officers, each with heaving breast and troubled eye watching the course of the cetacean. I looked and looked, till I was nearly blind, whilst Conseil, always phlegmatic, kept repeating in a calm voice:

Money held no appeal for me, yet I was among the most attentive people on board. I spent only a few minutes eating and only a few hours sleeping. Rain or shine, I stayed on the ship's rear deck. Sometimes I leaned on the netting at the bow, sometimes on the stern rail. I eagerly watched the soft foam whitening the sea as far as I could see. How often I shared the excitement of most of the crew when some unpredictable whale raised its black back above the waves! In an instant, the rear deck would be crowded. Sailors and officers poured out of the cabins, watching the whale's course with heaving chests and anxious eyes. I stared until I was nearly blind, while Conseil, as calm as ever, kept repeating in a quiet voice:

“If, sir, you would not squint so much, you would see better!”

“If you didn't squint so much, sir, you would see better!”

But vain excitement! The Abraham Lincoln checked its speed and made for the animal signalled, a simple whale, or common cachalot, which soon disappeared amidst a storm of execration.

But the excitement was for nothing! The Abraham Lincoln slowed down and headed toward the animal that had been spotted. It was just a common sperm whale, which soon disappeared amid a storm of curses.

But the weather was good. The voyage was being accomplished under the most favourable auspices. It was then the bad season in Australia, the July of that zone corresponding to our January in Europe, but the sea was beautiful and easily scanned round a vast circumference.

But the weather was good. The voyage was going as well as possible. It was the bad season in Australia, since July there corresponds to January in Europe. But the sea was beautiful, and we could easily scan it over a vast area.

The 20th of July, the tropic of Capricorn was cut by 105° of longitude, and the 27th of the same month we crossed the equator on the 110th meridian. This passed, the frigate took a more decided westerly direction, and scoured the central waters of the Pacific. Commander Farragut thought, and with reason, that it was better to remain in deep water, and keep clear of continents or islands, which the beast itself seemed to shun (perhaps because there was not enough water for him! suggested the greater part of the crew). The frigate passed at some distance from the Marquesas and the Sandwich Islands, crossed the tropic of Cancer, and made for the China Seas. We were on the theatre of the last diversions of the monster: and, to say truth, we no longer lived on board. Hearts palpitated, fearfully preparing themselves for future incurable aneurism. The entire ship’s crew were undergoing a nervous excitement, of which I can give no idea: they could not eat, they could not sleep—twenty times a day, a misconception or an optical illusion of some sailor seated on the taffrail, would cause dreadful perspirations, and these emotions, twenty times repeated, kept us in a state of excitement so violent that a reaction was unavoidable.

On July 20, we crossed the Tropic of Capricorn at 105° longitude. On July 27, we crossed the equator at the 110th meridian. After that, the frigate turned more decisively west and searched the central Pacific. Commander Farragut rightly thought it best to stay in deep water, away from continents and islands. The beast itself seemed to avoid them. Most of the crew suggested that perhaps the water there was not deep enough for him! The frigate passed some distance from the Marquesas and the Sandwich Islands, crossed the Tropic of Cancer, and headed for the China Seas. We had reached the scene of the monster’s latest exploits. To tell the truth, we no longer lived on board. Our hearts pounded, frighteningly preparing themselves for incurable aneurysms. The entire crew was in a state of nervous excitement that I cannot begin to describe. They could neither eat nor sleep. Twenty times a day, a sailor sitting on the stern rail would mistake or imagine something. Each time, we broke out in a dreadful sweat. These repeated shocks kept us so violently excited that a reaction was unavoidable.

And truly, reaction soon showed itself. For three months, during which a day seemed an age, the Abraham Lincoln furrowed all the waters of the Northern Pacific, running at whales, making sharp deviations from her course, veering suddenly from one tack to another, stopping suddenly, putting on steam, and backing ever and anon at the risk of deranging her machinery, and not one point of the Japanese or American coast was left unexplored.

And indeed, the reaction soon came. For three months, every day seemed like an age. The Abraham Lincoln traveled all over the Northern Pacific, chasing whales and making sharp changes in course. She suddenly changed direction, stopped, increased speed, and reversed from time to time, risking damage to her machinery. Not one point along the Japanese or American coast was left unexplored.

The warmest partisans of the enterprise now became its most ardent detractors. Reaction mounted from the crew to the captain himself, and certainly, had it not been for resolute determination on the part of Captain Farragut, the frigate would have headed due southward. This useless search could not last much longer. The Abraham Lincoln had nothing to reproach herself with, she had done her best to succeed. Never had an American ship’s crew shown more zeal or patience; its failure could not be placed to their charge—there remained nothing but to return.

The strongest supporters of the expedition now became its fiercest critics. Discontent spread from the crew to the captain himself. If Captain Farragut had not been so determined, the frigate would certainly have headed due south. The useless search could not last much longer. The Abraham Lincoln had nothing to reproach herself for. She had done her best to succeed. No American ship’s crew had ever shown more enthusiasm or patience. They could not be blamed for the failure. All that remained was to return.

This was represented to the commander. The sailors could not hide their discontent, and the service suffered. I will not say there was a mutiny on board, but after a reasonable period of obstinacy, Captain Farragut (as Columbus did) asked for three days’ patience. If in three days the monster did not appear, the man at the helm should give three turns of the wheel, and the Abraham Lincoln would make for the European seas.

The commander was told about this. The sailors could not hide their discontent, and their work suffered. I would not say there was a mutiny on board. But after holding out for a reasonable time, Captain Farragut asked for three days’ patience, just as Columbus had done. If the monster did not appear within three days, the helmsman would turn the wheel three times. The Abraham Lincoln would then head for European waters.

This promise was made on the 2nd of November. It had the effect of rallying the ship’s crew. The ocean was watched with renewed attention. Each one wished for a last glance in which to sum up his remembrance. Glasses were used with feverish activity. It was a grand defiance given to the giant narwhal, and he could scarcely fail to answer the summons and “appear.”

The promise was made on November 2. It rallied the ship’s crew, and they watched the ocean with renewed attention. Each person wanted one last look to carry in his memory. They eagerly scanned the sea through their spyglasses. It was a grand challenge to the giant narwhal, and he could hardly fail to answer the summons and “appear.”

Two days passed, the steam was at half pressure; a thousand schemes were tried to attract the attention and stimulate the apathy of the animal in case it should be met in those parts. Large quantities of bacon were trailed in the wake of the ship, to the great satisfaction (I must say) of the sharks. Small craft radiated in all directions round the Abraham Lincoln as she lay to, and did not leave a spot of the sea unexplored. But the night of the 4th of November arrived without the unveiling of this submarine mystery.

Two days passed, with the steam at half pressure. We tried a thousand schemes to attract the animal's attention and stir it into action, if it appeared nearby. We trailed large quantities of bacon behind the ship, much to the sharks' satisfaction, I must say. Small boats spread out in all directions around the Abraham Lincoln as she lay still. They left no spot of the sea unexplored. But the night of November 4 arrived without the underwater mystery being solved.

The next day, the 5th of November, at twelve, the delay would (morally speaking) expire; after that time, Commander Farragut, faithful to his promise, was to turn the course to the south-east and abandon for ever the northern regions of the Pacific.

The next day, November 5, the allotted time would expire at noon, morally speaking. After that, Commander Farragut would keep his promise. He would turn southeast and leave the northern Pacific forever.

The frigate was then in 31° 15′ north latitude and 136° 42′ east longitude. The coast of Japan still remained less than two hundred miles to leeward. Night was approaching. They had just struck eight bells; large clouds veiled the face of the moon, then in its first quarter. The sea undulated peaceably under the stern of the vessel.

The frigate was then at 31° 15′ north latitude and 136° 42′ east longitude. The coast of Japan was still less than two hundred miles downwind. Night was approaching. Eight bells had just been struck. Large clouds covered the moon, which was in its first quarter. The sea rolled gently behind the ship.

At that moment I was leaning forward on the starboard netting. Conseil, standing near me, was looking straight before him. The crew, perched in the ratlines, examined the horizon, which contracted and darkened by degrees. Officers with their night glasses scoured the growing darkness; sometimes the ocean sparkled under the rays of the moon, which darted between two clouds, then all trace of light was lost in the darkness.

At that moment, I was leaning forward on the netting along the ship’s right side. Conseil stood near me, looking straight ahead. The crew, perched on the rigging, searched the horizon as it gradually narrowed and darkened. Officers scanned the growing darkness with their night glasses. Sometimes the ocean sparkled in the moonlight as the moon appeared between two clouds. Then all trace of light vanished into the darkness.

In looking at Conseil, I could see he was undergoing a little of the general influence. At least I thought so. Perhaps for the first time his nerves vibrated to a sentiment of curiosity.

Looking at Conseil, I could see that he was feeling some of the same influence as everyone else. At least, I thought so. Perhaps for the first time, he felt a thrill of curiosity.

“Come, Conseil,” said I, “this is the last chance of pocketing the two thousand dollars.”

“Come on, Conseil,” I said, “this is our last chance to pocket the two thousand dollars.”

“May I be permitted to say, sir,” replied Conseil, “that I never reckoned on getting the prize; and, had the government of the Union offered a hundred thousand dollars, it would have been none the poorer.”

“May I say, sir,” replied Conseil, “that I never expected to win the prize? Even if the Union government had offered a hundred thousand dollars, it would have been no poorer.”

“You are right, Conseil. It is a foolish affair after all, and one upon which we entered too lightly. What time lost, what useless emotions! We should have been back in France six months ago.”

“You are right, Conseil. After all, this was a foolish venture, and we entered into it too lightly. What a waste of time, and what needless emotion! We should have been back in France six months ago.”

“In your little room, sir,” replied Conseil, “and in your museum, sir, and I should have already classed all your fossils, sir. And the Babiroussa would have been installed in its cage in the Jardin des Plantes, and have drawn all the curious people of the capital!”

“In your little room, sir,” replied Conseil, “and in your museum, sir. I would already have classified all your fossils, sir. And the Babiroussa would have been in its cage in the Jardin des Plantes. It would have drawn all the curious people of the capital!”

“As you say, Conseil. I fancy we shall run a fair chance of being laughed at for our pains.”

“As you say, Conseil. I think there's a good chance we'll be laughed at for our trouble.”

“That’s tolerably certain,” replied Conseil, quietly; “I think they will make fun of you, sir. And, must I say it?”

“That’s fairly certain,” Conseil replied quietly. “I think they’ll make fun of you, sir. And must I say it?”

“Go on, my good friend.”

“Go on, my friend.”

“Well, sir, you will only get your deserts.”

“Well, sir, you'll only get what you deserve.”

“Indeed!”

“Really!”

“When one has the honour of being a savant as you are, sir, one should not expose one’s self to——”

“When you have the honor of being a scholar, as you do, sir, you should not expose yourself to...”

Conseil had not time to finish his compliment. In the midst of general silence a voice had just been heard. It was the voice of Ned Land shouting—

Conseil did not have time to finish his compliment. A voice had just broken the silence. It was Ned Land shouting:

“Look out there! The very thing we are looking for—on our weather beam!”

“Look over there! What we’re looking for is directly off our windward side!”