Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-02-14


count of the murkiness of the water, the coils
ion nearly throwing US upon our backs into the
bottom of the boat. AS we backed oil an enor-
nous beast slowly raised his head above the
water, gave loud snort, and ncon,inently dove
down again, almost before we could get fait |
look at il.
"What is il I" was the question, which no
one could answer.
"Whateyer il is" said the mate, whose
whaling blood was up, "lf i, comes within
reach of my iron, I'll make fast TO it, lads-so
pull ahead" We were again under Roadway,
keeping a bright lookout for the re-appearance
Of the stranger.
"There they are, whole school," said the
mate, eagerly, pointing in shore, where the
eistening of white water showed that mum
Der of the nondescrpts were evidently enjoying
themselves. "Now boys, pull hard, and We
soon try their meiile."
There's something broke water just ahead, "
said the boat seerer.
"Pull easy lads-I see him-there-way
enough there's his back !"
"Stern all! !" shouted he, as he darted his
iron into a back as broad as a small sperm
whales.
"S,ern all back water-back water every
man !" and the infuriated beast made desperate
! lunges in every direction, making the white
water fy almost equal 10 a whale.
We could now see the whole shape Of the
creature, as in his agony and surprise he rails
ed himself high above the surface. We all
recognized at once the llippopotamus, as he is
represented in books of natural history.
Our subject soon got little cooler, and Civ
ing a savage roar, ben, his head round until he
prasped the shank Of the iron between his teeth.
With one jerk he drew il out Of his bleeding
quarter, and, shaking it savagey, dove down
TO the bottom. The water was here but about
two fathoms deep, and we could see the direc-
ton in which he was travelling along The bot
tom, by a line of blood as well as by the air
bubbles which rose TO the surface as he breath
ed.
"Give me another iron, Charley, and we'll
not give him a chance to pull it out next time.
The iron was handed up, and we slowly sail
ed in the direction in which our prize was fol-
lowing along the bottom.
''lIere's two or three Of them asiern Of US, -
said the boat seerer.
Just then two more rose, one on either side
of the boat, and in rather unpleasant, proximity
and before we had began to realize our siiua
lon, the wounded beast, unable any longer Il
stay beneath the surface, came up to breathe
Just ahead.
"Pull ahead little let's get out of thi.
snark Lay the boat around-so-now stern
all, and the iron was planted deep in the meek
of our victim. With roar louder than doz
en- of the wild bulls Of Madagascar, the nov
naddened beast made for the boat.
"Back water! back, | say Take down
this boatsail, and stern all Stern, for your
lives, men ~ as two more appeared by the bows
evidently prepared TO assist their comrade. lie
was making the water fly in all directions, anC
having tailed 10 reach the boat, was now vain
ly essayng to grasp the iron, which the mate
had purposely put into his short neck, co close
TO his head that he could not get it in his mouth
Stick out line I'LL we get clear of the schoo
and then we'll pull up on the other side of ,hi:
fellow, and settle him with lance
This was done, and as we again hauled III
: to the still furious beast the mate poised thu
bright lance for a moment, then sent it deep in
to his heart. With a tremendous roar and
desperate final struggle Of scarcely minute
duration, our prize gave up the ghost, and al
: ter sinking for a moment rose again to the sur
face, lying upon his side, just as does the whal
G when dead.
His companions had left US, and now, gi,
ing three cheers for our victory, we towed tn
q carcass to the not far distant shore.
5 1t was luckily high tide, and we got the bod
e up to high wafer mark. where the speedily Il
y ceding waves left it ashore. When we her
g viewed the giant, and thought of the singul;
q agility he had displayed in the water, we coul
> not help acknowledging to one another tina,
/ get among school of Hippopo,ami would
Is rather desperate game.