The Columbian fountain., 1845-11-22
WASHINGTON, Dc sATUK y, NOVEMBER ~, ,s4s.

employed with oars; kettles and sauccpans
were ratified, and various violins tuned not
SO much TO harmony as to discord; all COM
bined making chaos Of sounds intended 10
confuse the timid group, who were seen
fioundering in alarm till the water was like
a boiling cauldron. The whales were thus
slowly followed till they were driven fairly
past the narrow sound or entrance, into the
bay; but here the prospect widening, it be-
came rather a difficult matter. to persuade
the inhabitants Of the deep that it would be
best for them to run on shore. Boats con-
tinued to push from the land, terrifying still
more and scattering the herd; and strangers
were not found wanting 10 place themselves
under the due direction and general-ship.
The schools separated in two divisions, and
the hunters, in their eagerncss became less
and less amenable to discipline, SO that an
unsuccessful termination of the adventure
was greatly to be dreaded. The laird and
his first lieutenant and factotum became en-
tirely hoarse with bawling, and the poor
prosecuted whales made several desperate
/ oid auuSCiOuo ClIuIlo W UtCdk tIIC UuTTlET Ol
boats that opposed their return to the ocean
Thus passed many hours, during which the
hunters had enough to do to keep them
selves in safety, and prevent their prize from
escaping. The boats were tossed by the
motion Of the whales in the water, as if it
was agitated by storm; the short day
! drew to its close; the afternoon twilight
caRe; but though the suns beams had
been hidden through the day, slight.breeze
was now scattering the low clouds, to make
way for the bright rising Of the full moon;
the wearied and anxious, pursuers (many of
whom had, in their eager haste, left their
homes without breaklast were making up
their minds to keep watch over their rest
less prey even through the night: 80 the
laird having sent on shore for refreshments,
rested from his exertions, to snatch hasty
repast, and refresh his boatmen. While he
was thus engaged, the herd Of whales once
again united, and after short interval of re-
pose, suddenly made simultaneous move
ment toward the shore. At this joyful sight,
and the apparently near termination of their
days toll, hunger and fatigue were forgot
ten, and all were again engaged with oars,
andrvoices, stones and fiddles, in contrib
uling to the wished-fort result; when the
leader of the herd, powerful male, feeling
the water Swallowing, turned back, appar-
emily resolved to make one desperate effort
for freedom and safety. His companions
followed, taking their way with the swift
ness of lightning along the shore, seeking
an outlet, which undoubtedly they would
soon have found, from the positions Of the
boats and the length of the bay; but at this
moment of breathess suspense the laird,
whose powerfully ly-manned boat lay nearest
to the direction the whales were taking, sped
like an arrow to meet the poor prisoners
thus, gallanly struggling for release. Vain
struggles When within few yards, the
laird raised his unerring gun and fired at the
leader Of the herd. Stunned and blinded,
the poor animal turned from the direction
of safety, and desparngly, or unwittingly,
ran directly on shore, just below the pro-
pretor's dwelling The whole herd of two
hundred blindly followed, as is their inva-
riable habit. The hunters, Of course, rush
ed after them, and as the boats touched the
ground, the men jumped up to their waists
i'll water in the midst of their helpless prey,
who were despatched with knives and har-
poons without mercy, till all appeared wa
ding in blood rather than water. The laird's
iactotum was man of extraordinary strength
and stature, and armed with a powerful fam
lily sword of his masters, stabbed and cut
by the moonlight till his athletic arm drop
ped from weariness, and his whole person
dripping with the blood of the slaughtered
whales, and his brain fairly delrious with
excitement and exertion. Ere midnight the
whole herd lay dead on the beach, those
which had been killed in the water being
dragged above the aood-mark.
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