Chapter 16.
The Hunt.
As the days went by and Ned's plan to escape never happened, I began to grow more and more sorry for my friend.
Very little interested him.
He didn't study the seas like the captain and I did.
There was hardly anything that excited him.
But on this one particular day an event occurred that, be it good or bad, did cause the man much excitement.
About eleven in the morning, as we were seated on the platform, the Nautilus fell in with a troop of whales.
"'Ah!' exclaimed Ned.
"'If I were on board a whaler boat now, it would be so great!'
That whale is so large.
See the air and steam coming up through its blowholes.
Why do I have to be here?
Why?
I watched my friend as he walked around the platform, following the sights on the horizon.
They're coming nearer, Ned exclaimed.
I can see twenty, maybe more.
Oh, I am not able to do anything.
Ned, I said, stepping up to watch the whales.
Why don't you just ask Captain Nemo if you could chase them?
For the first time in a long time, I saw a sparkle in Ned's eyes.
Before I could say another word, he had lowered himself through the panel to find the captain.
A few minutes later, they both appeared on the platform.
I see.
They are southern whales, the captain said.
Can I chase them?
It would remind me so much of my days of harpooning.
Ned was almost begging the captain.
For what?
Captain Emo asked.
Just to destroy them.
We have nothing to do with whale oil on board.
It would be killing for killing's sake.
The captain went on about the endangered animals of the world, those killed for pleasure only.
I could see Ned, his back turned, trying to tune out his voice.
It was easy to see he was hurt.
He knew what the captain was saying was true, and yet he still wanted to continue the sport.
He was a man wishing at this moment he was anywhere but here.
Wait, the captain said, changing the tone in his voice.
Do you see behind the wheels about eight miles or so?
There is something moving.
Yes, Captain, I replied.
Those are gachalots, terrible animals.
They are mean and cruel beasts.
It would only be right to kill them.
Ned turned quickly at his words.
Can we?
The Nautilus will take care of them, the captain said.
We have a steel spear that will match any of your harpoons, Mr. Land.
The two men talked back and forth, then agreed to go to the whale's assistance.
The Nautilus went underwater.
Gonseil, Ned, and I took our places in front of the window in the saloon.
Captain Nemo joined his pilot to work the engine.
The battle between the whales and their enemies had already started, but when our vessel joined in, what a battle.
The steel blade of the ship wiped out the animals one by one.
A few of the nasty-mouthed beasts tried to attack the Nautilus.
Ned shouted at them as they struck the side of our vessel over and over.
Within a short amount of time, though, the animals were all left for dead.
This was hunting, Ned said in anger.
This was more like a butcher using his knife.
I like my harpoon better.
To each his own, the captain said.
From that day forward, I saw in Ned a new sense of hate for our leader.
I hoped daily that a fight would not break out.
I made it my job to keep my friend under control.
