The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1856-12-10
THE DAILY GAZETTE
nIppop 5rlNus HUNTING

iIEH IJalL<
prpPoP 5TAMUs HUNTING
.,,.,o yordoss +" whaling and tshiag'a
Ia cut supply Of wood for whal.
oa cruise is work requiring some
ps aas. and often even weeks, and it
S ssg been determined that the first,
a"S no" itpeed be, the next day likewise
sbonld be devoted to thorough in
.nqction ~ Of the facilities of the place
= order that we might work at as lit
In disadvantage as possible.
Consequently we, the mates boats
e,ew had been ordered to prepare for
General cruise. We provided our
saiyes with a store of bread and beet,
fied the boats breaker with water,
.nread our sail to the light breeze. and
noiptcd the boats bow towards the
aearest Island. Landing here We
onud nought but a wilderness OF low
inngle which was scarcely penetrable,
tIogsther with poorlanding. We ex.
smiued three or four oil the islets, and
baying at last fixed upon suitable
MACE where to commence operations,
ware about to return on board, when
tie mate said: i
Trim aft, Tom, there's a good
breeze, coming and going, and we'll
take look a. the mainl and"
Accordingly, the boats head was
lail shorsward. and we spread our
selves out at full length upon the
tAwarts. enjoying an unusual treat OF
some cigars which our chief officer had
good paturedly brought with him.
When within about q mile and q
halt Of the main land, we found the
water shoalipg, being then not more
than three fathoms--eighteen ieet
deep.
u saw black skin glisten in the
sun just then" said the boat steerer,
who was ait tue mate having stretch
ed hinssltupon the bowthwart to take
nap. i
III was nothing but putting pig,
said he drowslly.
There II is again, and no putting
pig either--nor porpoise-nor-no,
said he with some degree Examination
--''nor anything else that wears black
skin that 1 ever saw before.
This had the effect otrousing Us up,
every one casting his eye ahead TO
catch a sight OF the questionable
black skin"
There he blows" there
again, over here too" said
several voices in succession.
ut amt a spout at all, boys, let's
pull up aud sec what il isl"
We took our oars, and the boat was
soon darting forward at good speed
toward the place where We had at
last seen the object of our curiosity.
Stern ALL" suddenly shouted the
mate, as the boat brought up "all
Standing against some object which
we had not been able to see on ac-
count OF the murkiness Of the water,
the collision nearly throwing US upon
our backs into the bottom OF the boat
As We backed of. an enormous beast
slowly raised his head above the wa.
Ter, gave loud snort, and incontin.
emily dove down again, almost before
We could get a fair ioob at it.
What is iti" was now the question
which no one could answer.
Whatever it is" said the mate,
whose whaling blood was up IF it
comes within reach Of my iron, III
make fast to it, lads--so pull ahead"
We were again under headway, keep
ing alright look out for there appear
ance OF the stranger.
There they are, whole school"
SAID the mate, eagerly, pointing in
shore, where the glistening OF white
water showed that a number of non
dsscripts were evidently enjoying
themselves. "Now, boys, pull hard,
and we'll soon try their mettle."
There's something broke water
lust ahead, said the boat steerer.
Pull easy, lads--l see him--thers
way enongh-there's his back!"
Stern ALL" shouted he, as he dart,
I'd his iron into back as broad as &
small sperm whales.
"etern all--back water back wa,
Yer, every mau!n and the iniuriated
Deast made desperate lunges in every
direction, making the white water fl
almost equal to whale.
We could now see the whole shape
0l the creature, as in his agony and
snrprso he raised himself high above
ths surface. We all recognized at
oncetle HIppopotamus, as he is repres
selted IN books OF natural history.
Our subject soon got q little cooler,
Sao giving a savage roar, bent his
nea \ round until he grasped the shank
N The iron between his teeth. With
one jerk he drew it out OF his bleeding
quarter, and shaking itsavagely, dove
Sown to the bottom. The water was
ue'e about two tathoms deep, and we
could see the direction in which he
wa! was travelling along the bottom, by
i!Ne OF blood, as we'll as by the air
ouooles which rose to the surface as he
bEeathed. mi.
tive me another iron, Charley,
qua We'll notgive him a chance to pull
out next time"
The iron was handed up, aud we
slowly sailed IN the direction which
Sat prize was following .along the
bottom.
here's two or three of them asteru
Jus, said the boat steerer.
just then two more rose, oae on ei.
'1er side OF the boat, and in rather un-
peasant proximity, and before we had
oegun to realise our situation, the
wounded beast, unable any longer to
S.ay beneath the surface, came up TO
breathe just ahead.
-, full ahead little; let's get out
" this snarl. Lay the boat around
how, stern all, +" and the iron was
'"l'sa deep IL the neck OF our victim.