The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-05-01

HE DoLpnIN AND FLYING. Fish,
(from Captain Halls Autobiography.)--
"Whiic we were stealing along under the
genial influence Of this newly found asr,
(which was as yet confined to the upper
sails, and every one was looking open-
mouthed to the eastward to catch ruIp
OF cool air. about dozen flying fish rose
out of the water, just under the forcchains.
and skinned away to windward at the
height Of ten or twelve feet above the
surface. A large dolphin, which had
been Keeping company with us abress,
lof the weather keeping gangway, at tho
depth OF two or three fatho ms, and as
usuaf, glistening most beautifully in tho
SUI, no sooner detected our poor dear lit
t'o friends take wing, than he turned hia
head towards thsm, und darung To ths
surtacs. leaped with avclocity little short,
as II seemed, Of a cannon ball. But al
though the impetus with which he shot
himself into the air gave him an initial
velocity greatly exceeding that Of the fly
Ing fish, the start which his fated prey
had got enabled them TO keep ahead OF
him for considerable time The length
OF the dolphin's first spring could not be
less than ten yurds; and after ne fell we
could see him gliding like lightning thro'
the water for moment. when he again
rose and shot forward with considerably
greater velocity than at first, and Of
course 10 still greater distance. In this
manner the merc!ess pursuer seemed to
stride along The sea with fearful rapidity.
while his coat sparkled and flashed in
the sun quite splendidly. As no fell
headlong on the water at the end ofench
huge leap, series ofparticles wore sent
far over the still surface, which lay az
smooth as mirror for the breoze, al
though enough to set the royals and top
gallant studding sails asleep, was hardly
as yet felt below. The group ofwretch-
ed hying-fsh,. thus ho,ly pursued, at
length dropped into the sea, but we were
reJoiced to observe that they merely
touched the top of the swell, and scarce
ly sunk into it--at least they Instantly set
of again in fresh and even more vig-
ovous flight. II was particularly inter
est'ng TO observe that tho direction they
now took was quite different from the ono
in which they had set out, implying but
too obviously that they had detected their
herce enemy, who was following them
with giant steps along tho waves.
HIS terrific pace, indeed, was two or
!. vnrrr rirncs uoswtfs as rneIrs--poor INTO
. things and whenever they varied their
Hight In the smallest degree. he lost not
: be tenth part ofa second in shaping a
new course, so as to cut off the chase.
: while they, IN manner really not un-
!, like that Of the hare, doubled more than
!. once spon their pursuer. But it was
soon too plainly to be seen that their
v strength and confidence was fast ebbiug.
n fheT flights became shorter and shorter.
: ana thor course more fluttering and uu-
certain. while the enormous leaps Of the
dolphin appeared to grow only more vigo-
rous at each bound Eventually, indeed,
, we could see, or fapcied we could see.
! that this skilIful sea-sportsman nrraug.
ed MI his springs with such an assurances
of success that he contrived to fall at
the end Of each, just on the very spot on
which the exhausted flying-fish were a.
hout 10 drop! Sometimes this catastro.
phe TOOK place at two great distanc for
us TO see from the deck exactly what
happened but on our mounting high in
to The rigging We may. be said to have
been in at the death for then We could
discover that the unfortunate littlo ere at
nres. Que after another. either popped
right into the dolphin's jaws as they
lighted on the water, or were snapped up
immediately afterwards. 1t was impos-
sible not TO take an active part with our
pretty little friends Of the weaker side.
aud accordingly we very speedily had
our revenge. The middies and the sal.
lors, delighted with the chance, rigged
out dozen or twenty lines from the jib-
boom-end and spritsail yard-arms with
the hook, balted merely with bits of tin
ibe glitter Of which resembles so much
that Of the body and wings ofthe flying
fish. tina. many aproud dolphin. making
suro of a delicious morsel, leapcd in
rapture at the deceitluI prize"
Melaneholy Casuaity.--Dr. ingalls, Of
Standish, and brother to the Senator from
this county. was severely injured by be-
ing thrown from his chaiso on Saturday
or Sunday last. We are informed that
while descending u hill, that part Of tho
harness which prevents the chaiss from,
running on to the horses heels, gave
way, at which the horse took fright, and.
became ungovernabIe, and, rpnnimg with
great speed, the wheel struck log or
stump, and threw the doctor with great
force upwards Of fifteen feet in the cir,
and he fell abou: torty feet from tho spos
where the wheel struck. His head- str;h-