The commander on
one side was Fleet-foot, on the other Sea-Drinker.
The cause of the battle appeared to be a dispute
about plunder, for Sea-Drinker was said to have
driven off many herds of dolphins belonging to
Fleetfoot, as we could hear from what they shouted to one another, and in the same way we learned
the names of the kings.
Finally, Fleet-foot and his party were victorious, and they sank about a hundred and fifty
of the enemy's islands and captured three more
with their crews, but the others backed water and


 


fled. The victors gave chase for a while, but
when evening had fallen they returned to where
the débris floated, took possession of most of the
enemies' belongings and recovered their own;
for not less than eighty of their own islands had
sunk. They also raised a trophy in honor of the
victory on the whale's head, by setting one of the
enemy's islands on a post. That night they encamped round the whale, floating close by, having
fastened their hawsers and anchors to him, for
they had anchors, too-large ones made of glass
and very strong. The next day they sacrificed
on the whale, buried their comrades on him, and
sailed off rejoicing and apparently singing a song
of victory. Such are the details of the island
engagement.