Page:Twenty Thousand Verne Frith 1876.pdf/38

 name of it even indicates the consistency of its flesh. Is it 500 feet long ever? Why, the polypus does not belong to the branch of vertebrates, and is perfectly harmless towards such vessels as the Scotia and the Abraham Lincoln. We may, then, relegate to the land of fables all tales of the exploits of krakens and other monsters of like nature.”

“Then, sir,” said Ned, in a bantering tone, “you admit the existence of an enormous cetacean?”

“Yes, Ned; I repeat it with a conviction founded upon the logic of facts. I believe in the existence of a mammifer of a powerful organisation, belonging to the vertebrate animals, like whales, cachalots, and dolphins, and furnished with a horny defence, whose power of penetration 1s very great.”

“Hum,” replied the harpooner, nodding his head with the air of a man unwilling to be convinced.

“Just consider, my worthy Canadian,” I replied, “that if such an animal exist, if it inhabit the depths of the ocean, if it live some miles below the surface, it necessarily possesses an organism defying all comparison.”

“And why should it have such a powerful organism?”

“Because it must possess a tremendous strength to enable it to live so far below the surface and resist the pressure of the water.”

“Really?” inquired Ned, with a wink.

“Certainly; and figures can easily demonstrate it.”

“Oh, figures!” cried Ned. “One can do anything with figures!”

“In business, Ned, but not in mathematics. Listen.