Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-07-02

sight in the depths Of the ocean. At the same
time, the fog began to clear away. and the
captain having marked the course which the
whales took, gave orders to pursue, in hopes
Of being on them at the next rising. They
rowed about twelve miles from the ship, and
ance Of the whales. They had remained in
this situa tion about an hour; the face Of the
ocean was smooth and CLASSY; not ripple an
nounced the existence Of any living animal
near them. The mates hailed the captain and
asked him il it were worth while to wait any
longer. eyes," bs replied, "Mr. Russell, do
you pull out about two mics in that direction
and you, Mr.. Greene, 60 farther to windward -
Accordingly the boats eparated-julian and
Edwin were with Mr.. Russell. "Stand up, my
boys" said Russell. sand throw your eyes a.
round in every direction-if you see any thing,
tell NO."
81 think" said Edwin, 81 can discern sonre-
thing sparkling dire city in the sun-bades."
''Yes, yes" said the mate, whose experien-
ced eye at once recognized a calf-whale play
ing on the surface. "Sprng boys, on your
oars! spring hard! we'll strike that little calf,
which will raise the whole school at once!"
Accordingly hot pursuit commen ced-in a
quarter Of an hour, they were sufficiently near
to strike the calf "Stand upl" cried Russell
The boat-steerer stood up, and bracing him
self, darted with all his might-hs harpoon
struck the whales tail, and produced no effect,
but frightening him, whereupon he lifted his
fuke, (taiD and dashed it upon the waters,
making considerable foam. The boat-steerer,
a little daunted, shrunk back and fell sprawl
ing in the boat. Julian seeing the chance nigh
being lost, dropped his oar, sprung to the head
Of the boat, and seiang the other harpoon, bu-
ried il in the body of the calf swell done,
Juian!" shouted the matc-"hold on the line. 4"
With the rapidity of lightning the young whale
few, dragging the boat through the foaming
waves. But this calf was not much of an OBJ
ject himself, only as he served to draw the 9TH
er whales to the surface, who always flock a
round wounded whale In minute up came
the mother Of the calf, lashing the sen. foam
ing, and darling towards the boat. Her res
direction was followed by the appearance OF
a million more, who leaped to the surface in
the twinkling Of an eye, and swarmcd on the
ocean rs fer as the eye could reach. Now
| was the whaleman's harvest. "Cut the lre''
cried Russell, "and fasten to a large whale"
The order was obeyed, and now they were
dragged along at furious rate, by a huge fel-
low, who pungng, houncing, and Iashiag the
sea, envelopcd the boat in bloody foam; while
on either side Of them, other whales opened
their tremendous jaws, exposing rows Of teeth
which looked like the pickets around the in
fernal gates. One moment they were forced
to slack the line, to let pod Of whafos drive
past them, and then to haul up to avoid other
phalahxes, who threatened TO run over them.
In the midst Of this confusion, Julian heheld
the captains boat dragged by them, by tire
meadous large whale, while on either side
rushed the infui lated monsters, as if detcrmin-
ed 10 rescue their companion.
aforementioned, whose eyes stretched wide, re.
sembled couple of twin lakes, while he lean
ed from one side to the other, al danger SEEM
ed TO predomnatc, like a man sitting on eggs
and careful Of breaking them; and his merino
seemed to undergo a temporary Strengthening
AT this sight Julian could not contain him
| self, and gave vent to his mirh in loud burst
| Of laughter. "Ha! hap cried he "them that
knows nothing, fears nothing! 'Tis folly to bc
wise then, at such a time as this Surely Mr..
Backey, you must possess the wisdom of SOL
| omon!"
But Julian's mirh was ill-timed, for scarce
ly had those words passed his lips. than sud
den stroke from a whales hukes struck the
negro's head from his shoulders, which was
driven with considerable force towards the
mates boat, and lodged against Julian breast.
and fell gasping in the boat at his feet! His
ridlcule was changed to the most sincere pity
| when he bcheld fellow creature thus, in an
instant, deprived Of life. The stoke, how
ever, which deprived the negro Of life, did no
further injury, and the business Of whalo-kill-
ing went on as though nothing had happened.
Two whales paiL the hardy mariners Cor their
toil-but the life Of fellow creature could
not be compensated.
Aided by gentle breeze, which waited the
ship towards them At slow rate, they sue
ceedcd in getting the whales to the ship, and
hcaving on-board one head before night. The
crew wero now divided into two watches, who
were ordered 10 cut up the head with spades,
mlncc il, and kindIe the fire in the try-works.
BY morning." said the Captain, eve shall