Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1857-11-21

good luck to get upon the whale I; bu
mind, if you miss, I'll drive a lane
through you.
The young man whom he addressed a
Parson had obtained the title by trying t
teach couple Of New Zealanders to rea'
the Bible. All the men had by-names-
such as Long Boy, Broadsword, Jacl
ketch, LivereompIaint, Rheumatism
Lazarus, Ge.,-and these names wer,
more used than those on the articles.
| This was the Parsons first loyag,
whaling, and the voyage was yet young
as there were only 800 barrels of oil OF
board, and the ship could stow 2,S0t
barrels. The death of Tom had giver
him a lift, which of right belonged tc
some experienced spouter, ofwhom there
were several among the crew, and he fell
determined to show himself worthy OF
the place the captain had assigned him.
Pull my hoys, spring 10 your oars,
bend your backs, said the captain, grind
ing his teeth, and pushing at the after-oa
with all his might. Pull and head the
mate, that's you; another stroke like
that, my hearties there there she goes /;
now she flies, hurrah the mate drops,
now we lead, off she goes
The whales up sir, said the Parson,
interrupting the captain, on the larboard
bow.
So he is and it's our chance. Peak
your oars, boys, and take to the paddles.
The order was promptly obeyed, and
we were seated along the gunwales pads
ding like Malays. The whale was
about half mile off, going at the rate of
three knots an hour, and blowing as leis-
nrely as bIacksmith's bellows.
Don't make a noise, my lads, whisper
ed the captain; keep your paddles clear
of the sides ofthe boat. What a noble
fellow he is, graysheaded /; a regular
patriarch. Now, Parson, if you miss him
I'll kick you mind. He's good for eigh-
ty~fve barrels; yes, ninety; perhaps
one hundred and to miss him deserves
death, two deaths, eh, boys Hush
take your paddles out of the water, he
smells oakum, no he doesn't; paddle
away.
We are following in his wake; and as
he sun was shining on his starboard side,
he captain concluded the glare would
lalfblind him, and enable us to approach
without being seen, and steered the boat
accordingly. II was really grand to see
he noble fellow ploughing along so gen.
ly, the water curling over his back as if
.e were bathing for the benefit of his
lealth, and enjoying the pleasure.
Stand up, Parson, said the captain
irmIy, though in whisper, his eyes gIa-
ing as if they would leap from their
ockets.
The boats bow was square with the
whales hump not more than four feet off I
he parson held the iron (harpoon) by the
middle, carelessly, in his left hand the
hen still padded, just keeping away with
he whale, while the captain was grad.
tally edging the boat, head on and stern
"a.
Dart, whispered the captain; but the
'arson whispered back, Lay on. Dart |
ell you; you are near enough! Lay
nj was still the response of the Parson.
There, blast you, there is lay on and
ave your head knocked off !! giving the
oat sweep on with the steering oar.
This time there was no order to dart, nor
ras it necessary for the Parson, in or
er to give increased velocity 10 the har-
oon, sprang into the box Of the boat and
ent one iron after the other socket up
ITO the whale Just abaft the fin !; then
lmping down into his proper place,
Bized d lance, but before he could bring
to bear, the whale fairly sprang out Of
,ater at least six feet, and came down
18th splash that shrouded the boat in
1am as if she had been immersed in the
lins of waserspout. 2
Stern hard, shouted the captain; stern,
II your lives and The men bent to their
ars amid the whirlpool created By the
Iotiol of the whale. But the Parson,
ne to bis original purpose, REGARDLESS Of
re consequences, while the boat lay al
lost against the whales hump, sent the
lnce into his yitaIs and cluFned ii round
I'D round the captain swearing like
laniac for him to sit down to his oar and
md ahand to back the boat clear of the
hale.
He sponts thick blood, said the Parson
as lie exchanged places with
le captain / did NOT miss him.
The whale then went down about fifty
lthons, but was too much used up to
srnain long below, and when lie came
blow, lay motionleas for d minute.
.ay on, said the captaia, ard will XIII
i'm dead. THE order bad not fo be re-
eated The Parsoa sent tie stem of the
Dat square against The whales side, and
le captain was about picking ont d soft |