nd rapidity of manipulation
of the boat was necessary to avoid his maddened 15
rush, but this gigantic energy was short-lived. In a few
minutes he subsided slowly in death, his mighty body reclined
on one side, the fin uppermost waving limply as he
rolled to the swell, while the small waves broke gently over
the carcass in a low, monotonous surf, intensifying the 20
profound silence that had succeeded the tumult of our
conflict with the late monarch of the deep.

--_The Cruise of the Cachalot._

1. Boats were always lowered when whales were
sighted within rowing distance. Why? How many were
lowered in this instance? How many men were in
each? Who was in command of each?

2. There was considerable rivalry between the boats
of the same ship to be the first to harpoon and the
first to give the final lance thrust. Was there
rivalry shown here?

3. How many feet of rope did the whale take out
when he sounded? Reduce this to miles. How many
feet of rope were there in each boat?

4. Find five words in the story for your classmates
to define.

THE GLOVE AND THE LIONS

BY LEIGH HUNT

This is an old tale of adventure, the incident
occurring in the days of chivalry. But it is of
sufficient dramatic interest to cause Sir Edward
Bulwer-Lytton and Robert Browning each to use it
also as the subject for a poem. As you read it try
to picture the scene as it is developed line by
line.

King Francis was a hearty king and loved a royal
sport,
And one day, as his lions fought, sat looking on the court.
The nobles filled the benches, and the ladies in their pride,
And 'mongst them sat the Count de Lorge with one for 5
whom he sighed;
And truly 'twas a gallant thing to see that crowning show,
Valor and love, and a king above, and the royal beasts
below.

Ramped and roared the lions, with horrid laughing jaws; 10
They bit, they glared, gave blows like beams, a wind went
with their paws;
With wallowing might and stifled roar they rolled on one
another,
Till all the pit with sand and mane was in a thunderous 15