Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1853-10-21


heavr lurch forward, settled beneath the sur
face, aud all that was left fo- Us to gaze at
was his enormous fiukes, or tail, as he tire "
them some thirty feet In the air, and then
slowly and securely drew them down per-
pendicularIy sfter him as he plunged deep
down into the fathomiess ocean.
"There goes hakes," shouted the mate
"rhere's pretty mess old gogie- eyes
has made Of Il. IL We had hove up In time.
the whale would have had her spouting
out"
We were now lying quietly on our oars,
wiping from our eyes the perspiration which
had almost blinded Us. Gradually and slow
" the second mates boat approached us.
and when within hailing distance her officer
wished to know how nigh we got TO the
whale.
"Nigh enough TO lose him." was the reply
Of the mate between his teeth.
"Mr. Johnson" said he, edo you wish 10
pull off 10 leeward for the other whale, or
will yo- jog along easily and take your
chance for this one at the next risingl'
IL will take this chance" said the second
mate.
every well, them" replied the mate; 81
will pull away 10 the eeward with one boat
in company and you can remain"
The mate accordingly MAIDS sign for the
captains boat to follow him, and we once
NOE spfang TO our oars with renewed vlgor.
After pulling away for half an hour, we
hove up again, aud the boat steerer stood up
on the bow thwart. holding on by the boats
painter TO steady himself.
"Do you see any thing Of the other boatsi"
inquired Mr.. Coffin.
ayes, sir" replied Macy, "there they are"
pointing to wlniward; "both the second aud
third mates boats are within boats length
OF each other"
"Just like the stupid" aud checking
himself for moment, he continued, "why
don't they spread their chances and keep
half mile apart However. Macy, you look
out sharp for the whale thai was seen 10 lee
ward. aud will keep my eyes on the boats
10 windward.
We had been waiting about half In hour
when, all at once. the mate jumped no on
the stern sheets Of the boat. and after gazing
long aud earnestly 10 Withdraw, told Macy
to see u be could see any thing Of the second
or third mates boat. Macy turned round,
aud IN few moments replied; al can't see
. ything Of the boats; but thought saw a
spout just about where they out 10 be."-
80 ala | )" replied Mr.. CofIin-"it Is singu-
only turned my head away
for an instant, aud when looked back they
had both vanished. "Down to your oars"
he cried, aud bailing Starbuck, the boat-
steeier in charge Of the captains boot, and
whom he had signalized TO approach US, he
ordered him TO follow. and we both commen-
ced pulling TO wlndward.
la few moments after We had taken our
10 ssff fhA af
whale 10 windward.
Give way again, boys" he cried-"there
is something wrong with those boats.'
Gas we approached the whale that was
now within short distance, the mate, all at
once, jumped fairly Off his feet, and exclaim-
cd:
"Both boats steven by heaven, aud there
are the poor devils floating about on oars and
pieces Of boards. to wiRdward OF the whale
Pull away my hearlies, and Let US see what
is the matter"
Giving the whale wide berth, we row.
ed up to the wrecks, and found that the mon
were all Of them on the bottom Of the boats.
ado you want TO be taken off before the
ship can reach your inquired Mr.. Coffin.
"No, sir" said Swain. "ths ship can fetch
Us on her present tack; you can fasten to the
whale"
al want to be picked up" shouted John
son, whose boat was not half so badly sto-
ven "a Mr.. SWANS, my boat Is all to pie
ces."
"Is there any one hurt or missing among
your" said the mate.
mo, SIR" shouted all but old Terrapn.
"Can you hold on for Starbuck to reach
yoa7"
"Aye, aye. sir" was the reply, aud not
wilhstanding the perilous position Ia which
some Of the poor fellows were placed, It was
given in cheerful tone Of voice from the
men on the wrecks Of both boats.
Mr.. Coffin now determined 10 strike the
whale. lie accordingly directed Us to re-
sumo our oars. Macy, who was standing up
n the head sheets during our conference with
the officers Of the disabled boats, did not
take his oar, fer the whale was not over two
hundred yards distant, and by the time he
had his irous ready for darting. we were
along. side Of him, when just as the whale
was rousing his hump up to turn hukes a
second time Macy let drive both irons at
him, and buried them both mp to the sockets
In his side. One Of them, his first iron,
reached his vitas. and lucky for Us that Il
was so. for as the barbed iron entered his body
he doubled himself up ill his head aud tail
nearly met, and then suddenly strengthening
himself, he struck our boat with the end Of
his ope jaw and stove IN the whole Of one
side Of il. Catching sight Of Starbuck's boat.
he then headed of In pursuit Of that This
new movement gave - an opportunity TO
save ourselves, as we were now enabled, by
taking eli our flannel shirts, drawers, and
tro sssfs, and stufiing them In betwesn tho
boards In various places, aud by all OF us set
ting on one side aud baIlIng with hats and
buckets, to keep our boats free Of water.
Our line, Of about I've hundred feet In
length, was MI run out 10 the end, which we
still retained IN the boat with turn round
the loggefhead, aud the whale, which had
been pursuing the captains boat al a rapid
rate, was now apoutlng thick blood from tho
effects Of Mays first iron.
The ship had by this time picked up the
crews, together with the remnants OF the
two steven boats, and was heading down for
Us In order TO drop new boat In command
Of the third mats 10 render us such asss.
tame. ~ We might stand Ia need OF, aud 10
take our line, should II bs necessary for
them 10 do 30.
Ia few moments, the ship hove her head
yards aback, aud Mr.. Swain pulled up along
side Of Us. Iie told US that while they were
waiting for the whale 10 come up, the first
thing he saw was the second mates boat
shoot up In the air like rocket, attended
with the greatest cracking aud swapping Of
boat boards that he ever heard. Ii appear
ed that the whale came up to the surface Of
the water exactly under the boat; that John
sons invariabls stupidity had prevented his
telling his men TO have an eye In that dlrec-
ton; and being half blind himself, he knew
nothing I'LL he felt the whole hump against
the bDat-and the only thing that prevented
great loss Of life, was the position Of the
boat being 80 Gar removed from the whales
lukes, that the animal was unable to strike
fair blow at them.
"As for me-" said Swain, at was no uss
thlaking about it--there was the whale, aud
had two sharp irons. SO thought might
as well make dash at hm--so | planted a
couple Of them in his ugly carcase, and he
returned the compliment by a blow of his
flakes that like TO have sent "a all 20 Dayy.
Jones' locker; aud | tell you what II is, il
was all done before old TerrapIn had fairly
found out that his own boat was stove.
"Wcll," said Mr. Coffin, "then he has your
irons and line fast 10 him nowi"
ayes sir; and | think he Is oil safe for rs
for I sec he II spouting blood"
While this conversation had BEEN taking