Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-08-23

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In some measure from the scorching beams.
through this movement, however, the atten-
'ention of one of the sharks must have been at
tracted to him. or else, though satisfied and over
satated, it could not resist its desire for more
prey, for just as he raised his hands, he noticed
that one of the largest dark fms, which project
ed above the water, was swimming in direct
line towards him. He had, in fact, scarcely
time to raise himself, and prepare his weapon of
defense, when a tremendous fellow, Of some
thirteen or fourteen feet in length, shot up to
him and tried to turn over on the back of the
whale and pluck of what was still upon it.
But with the danger, all the sailor daring cour-
age returned to- him, and swinging the heavy
shaft in bis hand, and holding the rope firmly
in the other, he struck the head of the monster
such a powerful and well-directed blow that the
shark, half-stunned, slipped off the whale and
sunk ere it could prepare for a second renewal
OF hostllities, or perhaps make up his mind to
such serious step. But other sharks had been
attracted by the noise and splashing, and altho
they did not dare on immediate attack on the
bold mortal who ventured to withstand them in
their native element, ,stll they continually swarm
ed in narrow circles around the spot where he
was sitting, and once or twice came so near that
he gave them two hearty blows across the jaws
to teach them to be respectful to him and keep
their proper distance. But the shark is a greedy
obstinate brute, and even if dangerously wound
ed, always turns to any booty it has scented, as
long as it retains the necessary strength. So it
was in this instance. Again and again the heavy
stick was required to teach them that there was
nothing here for them to fetch-at least SO long
as our hero felt strong enough to struggle against
hunger and thirst, the scorching sunbeams, and
the constant fearful excitement of his nervous
system in the tremendous dang that ever sur
rounded him.
And the ship-no hope of salvation thence
Deeper and deeper sank the sun, and the ship
lay to the windward, with its brightly glisten-
ing sails. But the beasts that swan around
him became more and more 'ravenous, and 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 watched the gs-
tening beams shooting athwart the limpid waves
as the sharks swan restlessly backwards and for
wards, and the peril that beset him grew worse
with the night.
He saw the lights of his vessel hung out for
him, he even noticed, when it grew quite dark,
the bright glimmer of the blubber-lamps and
even the pale light which came from the stoves
of the oil-tryers, and were reflected on the idly
Tapping sails. But what availed that to him,
and his tormentors icfs lsiirslBy rest. Tho'saost
greedy of these brutes, ayoung fish scarcely
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 back of the sperm
by the retiring wave but the oak stick struck
it such fearful blow across its treacherous Graf
ty-looking eyes, that the shark glided off the
slippery whale, turned up its white stomach
and sunk. But Others took the brutes place
and only the glistening streak in the dark wa
ters revealed their approach, and warned tn
unhappy man to prepare himself for the renew
ed attack.
/ Hour after hour passed away in this fearful
q contest for life but fresh hope was aroused i
: him as the signal guns clearly and distinct
4 reached his ear. At last he was able to recos
t nize the forms on deck as they passed to and Fl
n in the Pickering light.
}. "Ahoy hoy !-ahoy!" his wild despairin
h cry was waited across the waters, as his con
n rades drfted past without noticing him
y "ahoy!
e And the ship there it drifted, almost with
hail. Again signal gun reached his ear, al
y he again employed the ensuing pause to send
= cry for assistance across the waves to the sp
'i where salvation lay-so near and yet so una
> tainable. But the wind came from that qua
+ ter; though he could SO distinctly hear t
9 sound of the gun, and even distinguish the di
d erent voices on deck, they were unable to he
it him. His strength, his good spirits-which h
IS till now been kept up by the hope of salvati
{, sank when he saw the ship drift past-sai
10 when no means were left him to announce
n proximity, The love of life alone kept him u
!. right, and urged him to defend it against t
d savage brutes until his last breath.
'e Thus night passed away and day at leng
ii broke in the far distant east. He saw it all,
& saw the sun rising from its ocean bed, recogniz
10 the outline of his vessel, the graceful ma'
and the bellying sails-and he attempted
ID make last effort to announce his existence, o
ID tried to pull off bis shirt and wave it in the
III a signal certain to be seen by the lookout
he the mast-head-but he was not able to do
m His limbs were stiff and rigid; his eyes burn
ia his head went round and round, and new id
like will '-the-wisp upon the broadly-spre
it ing sea, struck him and seemed to expel all {
W. every thought of help or salvation, every ho
m, He began to look out among the sharks that
,se cessantly swan around him for the one on VIII
of he should hurl himself, and which he inten
op- to destroy as well as himself, by means of
his sharp knife he wore. Again and again had
md one attacked him, and it allowed him nett
ere peace nor rest, for even an hour at time ag
no and again, although received by fierce blows
For driven back, it returned the most rapaciou
not the rapacious band--and revenge he determi
ep- to have on that enemy
ore But his strength deserted him; the pai
ng- excitement Of his mind and body threatene
AT overpower him, and although the sharks
ing not renewed the attack since day break, tho
roof they still kept around the dead whale, for
nth felt that he must soon become their prey "