I watched it attentively, seeking to find out the nature of this gigantic cetacean.

But a sudden thought crossed my mind.

"A vessel!" I said, half aloud.
"Yes," replied the Canadian, "a disabled ship that has sunk perpendicularly." Ned Land was right; we were close to a vessel of which the tattered shrouds still hung from their chains.

The keel seemed to be in good order, and it had been wrecked at most some few hours.

Three stumps of masts, broken off about two feet above the bridge, showed that the vessel had had to sacrifice its masts.