The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-01-10
AlppOPOtamus Hunting.
FROM NoRDHoFF'S WHALING AND HUNTIN


mined that the first, and if need be the next
day likewise, should he devoted to u tho
rough inspection Of the ia, ilities of the
place, In order that We might work at as lit.
tie disadvantage as possible.
Consequently We, the mates boat crew,
had been ordered to prepare for 4 general
cruise. We provided ourselves with u store
Of bread and beef filled the boats breaker
with water, spread our sail to the light
breeze, and pointed the boats bow toward
the nearest island. Landing here, we found
nought but n wilderness of low Jungle.
which was scarcely penetrable, together
witha poor landing. We examined three or
four Of the isiets, and having at last fixed
upon q suitable place whereon to commence
operations, were about TO r.turn on board.
when the mate sad,
Trim att, Tom, there's good breeze,
fair coming and going, and wei. take look
at the mainland Accordingly, tho boats
head was laid shoreward, and We spread
ourselves out at full length upon the
tnwarts, enjoying an unusual treat of some
cigars whici our Chief otii er had good ma
turediy brought wtn hun
W hen witnin about nile and half Of
the main land, We found the water shoaiing,
being then not more than three fatuoms-
eighteen tcct-decp.
II saw black sA.n glisten in the san Just
then, s4id the boat-stecrcr, who was aft,
the mate ha ying stretched himself upon the
oow-tn"art 10 take nap.
1T "as nothing but pulling pig" said
he, droasny.
"inerc 1t is again, and no putting pig ei-
ther-nor orpoisc-no-ao,' said he with
soHe gree vi anin ,tI,n-'::lor anything
al. =
before"
I.s had the ell ct Of rousing Us up eve
~ one casting nIs eyes ahead to catcii Il
stgut vi the Questionable back skin"
"inere nc u.ow> '-''aul In re az AN -
''ama over mere, too, said several voices IN
Succession.
ii, a.n't spout at all, boys, lets pul up
and sec what 1t
We took our oars, and the boat was soon
dartInS forward at good speed toward the
pace wnerc We had ia.t seen the object Of
our curiosity.
''Siern All :" suddenly shouted the mate
as the boat brought up AL standiug'
against object which we had not been
OF the nuIkIness of the water, the coliisio n
nearly throwing Us upon our backs into the
bottom oi the boat As We backed off an
enormous beast slowly raised his head above
the water, gave loud snort, and incunti-
neatly dove down again, amVst before we
couid get !air look at II.
"N hat is IT. was now the question
which no one couii answer.
~ nat-yer il Is, said the mate, VIII lse
whaling blood was up, .if it comes within
reach oi my irou, III make fast tu It, lads
50 puI anea1." W, were again under head
way, keeping bright look out lor the reap
peAiauce VI IN Stranger.
'InvrG tmey are. u whOe school" said
the mate, eagerly, pointing IN shore, where
tIe s.lsteuing oi whitewater showed that a
uurnOrr VI the nondescripts were eviIentlv
enjoying themselves. Vow, boys, pull
hard, and well Soon try their meite.'
"Inerc's something broke water, just
ahead, sad tue ooat-steerer.
''Pul ,xsy, lids-l see -there-way
unous i.-t!iere. his back ~
".otern ah,' shouted he as he darted his
iron into a back as broad as a small sperm
wua-s.
"Strrn all-back water-back water, eve
~ man. and the Infdr,a .c beast made des-
perate ,nnges IN every direction, making the
whitewater hy almost equai to whae.
We could now see the who shape OF the
creature, As, III h.s agony and surprise. he
raised himself iiIga above the surface. We
all recognized al once tue Hippopotauuus, a.
ne is represented IN books ui natural his
tory
Our subject soon got little cooler, and
gIvlug savage roar, bent nis head round
until he graspeu the shank of the iron be-
tween his tveIn. Witn one jerk he drew 1t
out OF his bleeding quarter, and shaking 1t
sayagciv, dove down To the bottom. lne
water WAS here but about Two la .ilouIs deep,
a Ia.
was trsyeiIns along the Uottom, by line OF
blood as Wei! As tle air bLUb!cS which rose
t. the surface as he breathed.
Give ne another iron, Charley, and we
ii no, give him chance 10 pull It out next
time
The iron was hand,d d up, and we slowly
sai.cd in the direction which our prize was
iolowins along the bottom.
Heres Two three of them astern O.
us said the buatsteerer.
Just then two more rose, one on either
side OF the boat, and in rather unpleasant
proximity, amd before we had begun to real
IZe our situation, the wouhded beast, unable
any longer tu stay beneatn the surface, came
UP to breathe just ahead.
"Pul, ancad a ii,t.e; lets get out of this
snarl. Lay tuc boat arouuI-So-nOw,
stern aft," aud the iron wa, piant-d deep IN
tue meek ot our victim. Vita u roar louder
taan a dozen of the wild bI.is OI Madagas-
car, the nos miIIcncd oeast made Tor Ine
boat.
sack water back. l say! Take down
this Doalsa.i, ana steruai. Stern, Tor your
lives, men. as two more appeared by the
bows, evidently prepare To assist thelr
cuiniade. lie Was nahins the water fly IN
u directions, and iavihs failed 10 reach tue
/ BOAT, was now va.niy assayins 10 grasp the
| iron. wnIeh the mate mad plrpo>eiy put into
ills s.io.t neck, 50 close to ms mead that he
Cuu.u not get It in Ills mouth.
as k out line ii We get clear of the
school, aus then we'll pull up on the other
side Of this fellow, and soon settle him with
lance"
This was done, and as We again hauled
upon the still furious beast, the mate poised
his bright lance for moment, then sent II
deep into his heart. With tremendous
roar, and a desperate final struggle, ol
scarcely a minutes duration. our prize gave
up the ghost, and after sinking for q mo-
ment, rose again to the surface, lying upon
his side. lust as does the whale when dead
His companions had left Us, and We now,
giving three cheers for our victory, towed
the carcass to the not far distant shore. Ii
was luckily high tide, and we got the body
up to high water mark, where the speedily
| rcce,iiny waves left it ashore. When We
here viewed the giant, and thought Of the
singular agility he had displayed IN the wa
ter, We could not help acknowledging to one
another that TO get among school Of Hip
popotami would be rather n desperate game
Cor,r,ex No man ;s a gentleman who
w;,hou. provOcation, would treat with incl