Washington sentinel., 1854-01-06
mashiugtnn gentinel.
SALT WATER BUBBLE.
CALICO JACK.

Is 1 4
ss-like Arion on the dolphins back,
him make acquaintance with the waves,
As long US could see"
"Porpoises porpoises! porposesr'
Such was the cry one morning about six
bells, on board the ship Lobster, of Portsmouth,
n H., and the cry was taken up in all parts Of
the ship, and the shout Of "porpoisesr' 81 por-
poises!h was heard in every key from the gruff
bass of the boatswan, to the shrill treble Of the
cabin boy
The ship Lobster was bound to Liverpool,
and was now approaching soundings off Cape
Clear, after long and boisterous passage.
The crew were lively set of fellows, and eag-
erly seized upon anything which promised ex-
citement and little relief from the monotony
usually attended on a long passage across the
Atlantic. The cry of porpoises!" seemed a
magic charm to rouse all their energies into
action, and every man fastened to the weather
side of the deck, and with outstretched neck,
and glistening eyes protruding from their SOC
kets, were soon earnestly gazing towards that
part of the ocean indicated by Sam Stark
weather, gnarly-looking old tar, who was
standing on the starboard cat-head, holding on
by the fore tack.
And there, sure enough, away off on the
weather bow, was seen shoal OF porpoises,
rapidly approaching the ship. They seemed
to be in high glee, sporting with each other,
leaping out Of the water, and playing variety
of antics, which would have excited the admi-
ration of a harlequin.
aWhere is the captain ?" exclaimed Mr.. West
macot. the mate. ,"Steward, call the captain
faye, ave, sir" and that sable, functionary
dived below
"Hand along the harpoon" yelled the mate.
"Bend on the end of the fore-top-sail halliards!'
"Aye, aye, sir"
And now Captain Rutherford, in marvellous
scanty costume, came rushing on deck, with
eager determination in his look as if he was
resolved on mighty deeds "Where are the
porpoises?n he exclaimed, as he sprang out of
the companion way. In three bounds he reach
ed the forcastle; the lobster was not an ever
lastingly long, snakish looking, modern mann
moth clipper.
Here they are sir! almost under the bowsl'
screamed Sam Starkweather.
Captain Rutherford took his station on the
bowsprit shrouds, albeit he was pretty sure of
a ducking. Reach me the harpoon! Be
lively, lads! What are you about! Now stand
byl See all clear to haul one Of those fellows
aboard!n and with stalwart arms he brandished
the deathdealing instrument.
A tall block was fastened to the fore stay,
through WHICH Tic tOpSstli ndnidIuo Wao ioNSs
and then made fast to the eye Of the piece of
rope permanently attached to the harpoon.
The unsophisticated fish, unconscious of dan
ger and attracted by a very natural curiosity,
began to gather around the bows of the LOB
ster. One of goodly size, possessed Of double
portion of animal spirits or too eager to dis.
play his wonderous activity, made circle be-
meath the bowsprit, which brought him near
the stem of the vessel, and directly beneath the
feet of his formidable foe, armed with the wea-
pom of destruction.
"Now for it!n shouted the Captain, in u voice
of thunder, as the harpoon left his hands, and
was buried deeply in the back of the porpoise.
+. Haul in haul inl why don't you haul ing'
nHaul in haul in' responded Mr.. West
macot, the mate, and the remainder of the
crew in chorus as they reused in the slack Of
the rope, drew the struggling and astonished
fish from beneath the ship, and after a severe
struggle, hoisted him up to the bowsprit.
"a bowline! A running bowline to clap over
his tail,n screamed Mr.. Westlnacot-"o or we
shall lose him--the harpoon is drawing out r
A running bowlne formed out of the fore
top-maststaysail, down-hal was thrown over
his tail, notwithstanding the convulsive efforts
of the porpose to free himself from the muir
derous iron the moose was jammed fast, and
the mate in triumphant voice, proclaimed
that he-that is, the fsh--was safe. In few
moments he was handed in on deck, by the
united force Of the crew. whose white garments
indicated by many q sanguinary. spot and
streak, the bloody business in which they had
been engaged. Thrown into the lee scnppers,
the fenching process commenced, and the por-
poise was soon stripped of his jacket of blubber
. in true scientific style. The harslet, resem-
bling pigs in appearance aswellas flavor, was
ao.oE,ll,, ,,roearvad narsad -oyar IN tho cnpl,
who soon had it ready for the frying pan, and
in due time it appeared in the cabin, and from
ed a welcome addition to the breakfast table.
The remainder of the animal was then triced
up to the main-stay--for the use Of any one
in the cabin or forcaste who was desirous of
regaling on such fresh grub as could be furnish
ed by the coarse oily, black, repulsive-looking
flesh of porpoise.
/ have said that the whole crew Of the Lob
ster participated in the excitement caused by
this incident, and gladly aided in capturing the
fish, There was, however, one exception In
the shape of Jack Callimanco--or as his ship
mates called him, Calico Jack--a neat trig-
looking, snug-built, warm hearted tar; who by
his courage and activity in times of peril, and
his Kindness and good humor in pleasant
K,sather. was fayorite with all OH board. But
greatly to the astonishmcnt of the crew, during
the attack on the porpoise and its successful
result, Calico Jack, 50 far from lending hand,
stood leaning over the waist with his arms
folded, apparently looking in the depths Of the
ocean, and deeply engaged in philosophical re-
Elections of the gravest character.
This was not unnoticed by several Of the
crew, who, during the battle with the porpoise,
were too busily engaged to ask him what was
the meaning of such condnct---but after the
usual order and quiet on board the Lobster
took the place of the interesting proceedings
which ] have attempted to describe, some of his
shipmates rallied Calico Jack on his indiner
ence, and asked why he did not lend hand to
haul in the porpoise. sasar
!" All, shipmates," said Jack, with dolefu
grin--"I have helped catch many fish in my
day--but my fishing days are over; shall
never try to catch fish again, especially por
poise"
"What is the reason Of that, inquired Sam
Starkweather. Taking fish is capital fun
Il