“Very well, my worthy harpooner, if some vertebrate, several hundred yards long, and large in proportion, can maintain itself in such depths—of those whose surface is represented by millions of square inches, that is by tens of millions of pounds, we must estimate the pressure they undergo. Consider, then, what must be the resistance of their bony structure, and the strength of their organisation to withstand such pressure!” “Why!” exclaimed Ned Land, “they must be made of iron plates eight inches thick, like the armoured frigates.” “As you say, Ned. And think what destruction such a mass would cause, if hurled with the speed of an express train against the hull of a vessel.” “Yes—certainly—perhaps,” replied the Canadian, shaken by these figures, but not yet willing to give in. “Well, have I convinced you?” “You have convinced me of one thing, sir, which is that, if such animals do exist at the bottom of the seas, they must necessarily be as strong as you say.” “But if they do not exist, mine obstinate harpooner, how explain the accident to the _Scotia?_” CHAPTER V AT A VENTURE 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. 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. Decidedly, if the monster ever had to do with Ned Land’s harpoon, I would not bet in its favour. 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 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 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. “Keep your eyes open!” called out the sailors.