Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1855-05-11
VOLUME III. NO. 90

IN order to protect II .n some measure from
The Scofching beams.
Though this movement. however, tho
attention Of ono of the sharks must have
been attracted to him, or else, though
satisfied and over satiated, it could not re
Sit it, desire FOR more prey, for Just as hc
raised his hands, he noticed that one of the
largest dark fins, which projected above
the water, was swimming in direct line
towards him. He had, in fact, scarcely
time TO raise himself and prepare his weaps
OH of defence, whch a Tremendous fellow
Of some thirteen feet in length shot up to |.
him, and tried 10 turn over on the back OF
the whale pluck oifwhat was still upon it
But with the danger, all tile sailors daring
courage returned to him, and swinging tho
heavy shaft in his hand. and holding tho
rope firmly in the other, he struck the
head of the monster such powerful and
well directed blow that the shark, half
stunned, slipped off the whale and sunk
ere it could prepare for renewal of hos
tiles, or perhaps make up its mind to such
serious step. But other sharks had been
attracted by the noise and splashing, and
although til did not dare an Immediate
attack on the bold mortal who ventured
to withstand them in their native element,
still they continually Swarmcd in narrow
circles around the spot where he was sit
| ting, and once or twice came so near that
Pat gave them one or two hearty blows
across the Jaws, TO teach them 10 he re
spectlul to him and keep their proper dis
tance. But the shark is greedy, OBJ
stinatc brute, and even if dangerously
wounded, always turns to any booty it has
scented, as long as it retains the necessary
strength. SO it was in this instance
Again AMI again the heavy stick was re-
quilel TO teach them that there was notl,-
ing here for them to ictch--at least, so long
as the young llishmau felt himself strong
enough to struggle against hunger and
i thirst, the scorching sunbeams, and tho
constant, fearful excitement ofhis nervous
system i'll the tremendous danger that ever
surrounded him.
And the ship-no hope Of salvation
thence! Deeper and deeper sank the sun.
and the ship lay to windward, with its
brightly gistening sails. But the beasts
that swami around him became more and
more ravenous, aud tried in vain to drive
their teeth through the tough skin Of the
sperm whale; and when the stars were
, lighted, and gradually illuminated the
whole sky, as far as the bright strip which
| still lay on the western horizon, he watch
J, ed the gistening beams shooting athwalt
: the limping waves, as the sharks swan
: rcst!cSsly backwards aad forwards, and
, the peril that beset him grew worse with
the night.
lie clearly saw the lights of his vessel
, hung out for hih--he even noticed, when
it grew quite dark, the bright glimmer of
, the b'ubbcr-amps, and even the pale light
e. which came from the stoves of the oil-try
5 crs. and were reflected in the idly tapping
sails. But what avaled that to him?--
| Ills strength was fast leaving him, and
: his tormenters left him no rest. The most
+ greedy Of tho brutes, young fish scarce
= y more than eight feet in length; once
{ went so far as to seize the harpoon, and
= held sufficiently long TO be left half-dry
!. upon the sperm by the retiring wave; but
o the oak stick struck it such a fearful blow
o across its trcacherous, crafty looking eyes
" that the shark glided o.lthc slippery whale,
: turned up his white stomach, and sunk
!. But others took the blutc's place, aud
+ only the GliStcning steak in the dark
Q water revealed their approach, and walned
It the unhappy man to prepare himself forthe
/ renewed attack.
t Hour after hour thus passed in this fear.
Y ful contest for life /; but fresh hope was
d aroused in him when the ship drew nearer
e and nearer to him, an | the signal guns
h clearly and distinctly REACHED his ear. AT
N last he was able to recognize the forms OIL
Is deck, as they moved backwards and for
Il wards in the ilickering light.
~ Ahoy-ho--ahoy J his wild lespairing
j. cry was waited across the waters as hi.
i. comrades drittcd past without the no,icin.
10 him -'ahoy !,
rs Again he was compelled to defend hi
rd ife for the sharks attracted by the soun,
lie of human voice, came up from all sides
It and Their dark dorSaI fms cleft the surfac
10 OF the water in every direction. His blow
t. fell repeatedly, and the end Of the tougl
h. Shaft was already splintered-blows whicl
" would have ftllc,l an OK, but produced n,
further effect upon shark than to make j
c retire for littlcwhile. And the ship ?
rh here it dii,ted, almost Within hail.
at Again asignal gun reached his ear, and h
ld again employed the ensuing pause to sen,
10 his cry for assistance across the WI v,sto tn
no spot where salvation lay--so near, and yc
No so mattaiuablc. But the wind came froi
g. chat quarter; though he cauld so distinctl,
c- hear the sound of tho gun, and even dis
u. ,inguish the different voices on deck, h
as was Unable to make them hear him. II
as only ma le his enemyaround him more an
III more a tive and rapaeious, and their a
ks tacks hccamo almost incessant.
nd His strength, hi, good spirits--whic
his had till now been kept up by the hope Z
n /, salvaton--sank whsa he saw tho shi
s. drift past sank when ha means were le
err him to announce his proximity. The los
y of life alone kept him upright, and urge
nee him to defend itagainst the savage bfut,
al. |antil his last breath.
inc Thus night passed away avn day
,rs length broke in the far-distant east.
he;, saw it al; he saw the sun rising lvom
III Ioeean he'd recognized the ontline az Il