through the mountains of water , through a rent in the misty wall , spray spuming across the forecastle in clouds ; out there , the finger of the bowsprit pointing to it as blackwood coaxes the euryalis to ride the huge wave like a surfer , something dark and vast , up ahead , off the larboard bow.. a gust of wind sends the frigate skidding to the left and i can see it more clearly now , wallowing in a deep trough , an immense whale , black and lumpy , bearing down on us , waves breaking over it in showers of foam .