Page 245 - Adventures in shadow-land

I will die for you!" he cried, for he thought she

was suffering in her captivity and wanted comfort.
There- was a shout from the sailors; one flung a
fish spear, another fired a gun. The captain or­

dered out the whale-boat, and they gave chase to

the merman, for such they now saw it was. It
was all that he could do to get away. He was a
very fast swimmer, however, and as he was not

obliged to come up to breathe, they soon lost sight
of him. He distanced the boat, but he found

when he stopped that the bullet from the gun had
grazed his shoulder, and that he had lost blood

and was suffering pain. “ It is for her,” thought
the merman as he tried to stanch the blood with

his pocket handkerchief.
Just then a huge sperm whale came dashing up.

“ Why, what in the world are you doing here?”
said the whale, surprised, “ Have those wretches

of men been chasing you?”
“ Yes,*1 said the merman, his eyes flashing;

“ you may well call them wretches* Do you know
who it is they hold prisoner in their hateful ship ?

The loveliest sea-nymph in the world.”
“ How do you know?” said the whale.