The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-03-06

one of the upper planks, "Boat stove! boat
stove" was the general cry.
"Silencc," numbered the second mate, as
he sprung to the bow, aud exchanged places
with Tabor, All safe, my heurlies!Stern hard
stern, stern, before lac gets his ilukes TO bear
upon us"
"Slcrn all" shouted we, aud in moment
more we were out of danger. The whale
now "turned ilukcs," aud dashed Otto wind
ward with the speed ofa locomotive, towing
us after him at n glorious rate. We OCCASION
ally slackcned line in order to give him pen-
ty ofplay. A stiff breeze had sprung up,
causing rough, chopping sea; and we leak.
ed badly in the bow planks. Ii fell to my lot
to keep the water bailed out aud the line
clear as the others hauled in; II tckIish job,
the last for, us the second mate said, n sing
lie turn would whip oha shin Gas slick us
goose grease"
Notwithstanding the roughncss Of the sea,
we shot ahead with incredible swlltness: aud
the way we "walked" past the larboard boat,
whose crew were Juggling and laboring with
all their might, was surprising.
"Hoora for the waist boat" bursf from eve
ny lip. Three hearty cheers followed, much
to the annoyance of the other boats crew and
mate. We eXultingy took off our hats and
waved them polite "good bye" requesting
them, if they had any news to send TO the
windward ports, to be quick about it, as II
was inconveuicnt for us TO wait long Just then.
Solomon says it is not good to be vain glOr-
Gus. Atall events, while we were skimmug
along so gallanty, the whale suddenly mill
ed, aud pitched the boat on her beam ends.
Every one who could grasp thwart hung on
To il, aud we were all fortunate enough TO
keep our seats. For as much as ships
length the boat flew through the water on her
gunwale, ioaming and whzZng as she dash
ed onward II was matter OF doubt us 10
which side would turn uppermost, until Ia
Dor slackened out the line when she righted.
To have boat with all her irons, lances, gear
and oars, piled on ones head in such sea
was rather startling prospect 10 the best
swimmer.
Meanwhile the whale rose to the surface to
spout. The change in his course had ena-
bIed the mates boat 10 come up; aud we lay
on our oars in order that Mr. D--might
lance him. We struck him in the "Ite' the
first dart, as was evident from the whales iu-
rious dying strugg les; nevertheless, in order
to make sure, we hauled up aud chiuned II
lance back ofhis head.
cannot conceive anything more strkingly
awful than the butchely of this tremendous
leviathan oithe deep. Foaming and breach
ing, he plunged from wave TO wave, tlnging
high in the air torrents of blood and spray
The sea around was literally Il sea OF blood.
AT one moment his head was poised i'll the
air, the next, he buried hmsetin the CORY
sea, carrying down in his vast wake Il whirl-
pool ofioam and slime. But this respite was
short. lie rose again, rushing ttriously up
on his enemies; but slight prick with lance
drove him back with mingled fury and terror.
Whichever way he turned, the barbed irons
goaded him TO desperation. Now and again
Intensity of agony would cause him to lash
the water with his huge flukes, till the very
ocean appeared to heuve and trembe at his
power. Tossing, struggling, dashing over
and over in his agony, he spouted up The last
othis hearts blood. llulf an hour before he
was free as the wave, sporting in all the pride
of gigantic strength aud unrivalled power.
He now lay II liieless mass; his head towards
the sun, his tremendous body heaviug to the
swell, and his destroyers proudly cheering o.
yer their victory:-From Brotcn's WhaLing
Cruise.