The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-10-31
rrOm Chambers, Journal.
from Chamoef
Cast Adrift: q

'no "ees' oios the young 60 iorth 10 seek
new settlements, and going round half the
globe. endeavor, either among the gold re.
giOns Of Austrslis, or It's luxuriant cornfields,
to win competence aud home, not only for
myself, but for my mother and her orphan
niece, whom | hoped some day to make my
wife. a.
The parting Of those dear ones over,
embarked in email trader, investing my
surplus funds 10 the purchase Of such goods
as were likely to realize double their value
at my destination. The first half of our
voyage progressed fuvorably, but off Cape
L'Aulhos we encountered severe gale, and
lost our foreyard. which necessitated our
putting into Algoa Bay, to replace it. 1t
was night when we arrived, and we were all
anxiety for morning, that we might see the
southern land Of whose beauty we had hesrd
so much. Atsunrise, the announcement that
a school Of whales was in the bay, still fur.
ther fastened our movements, for neither
my iellow.passenger nor had ever seen
one. In few moments more we were on
deck looking eagerly at a shoal Of huge.
black creatures, which, like group of mo-
wing rocks, were tossing and gambolins un.
couthly, as they took their leisurely yet rap.
id way along the bay. ,.. .....
From a fishery near the entrance, whole
flotilla Of light. graceful whale beats were
already sk:mming like sea birds In pursuit
Of them, and the progress Of both fish and
boats was such as to make it evident that
our view Of the chase would be but tele.
scopic one. This was o great dsappoint'
ment, and one that we in vain endeavored to
remedy, by climbing the rigging. At this
juncture, my fellow. passenger remembered
that one Of the ships boats was built for
whaling; so we borrowed it from the cap.
tain, every sailor on board volunteering to
accompany US, though we could only take
fobr--ohe Of them being chosen because he
had been whsler: then jumping into the
boat, we hurried OF to the scene Of action.
a few minutes brought US within view,
and it was interesting to watch The move.
ments OF the tiny boats, as adroitly, yet
cautiously, they closed around the enormous
6sh---for only one whale now remained, oil
his companioDs having prOdenily dived into
deep water, and slipped out to sea--which
rolled ind sported in the transparent water,
every h1w and then spouting aIot arching
Jets Of foam, which flashed and sparkled 10
the stnshine like wreaths OF jewels, or beat.
Ing tie voter with his tail, until tho sound
echoed along the shore; apparently uncon-
scious Of the uplited arm Of the harpooner
iti the PROV OF each advu ncing beat, or the
keen weapon he held oott, teady to strike;
unless, indeed, his know ledge flight be io.
ferred from the regularity where, with Prac:
tical humor. he was sure to sink beneath
the suffare OF the critical moment, leaving
his bafhed assailshts to forget their disap
pointmeDt in watching for his next appear
ance, when the same course OF maLelvres
was Tepested. s'"'5' .@.
So often did this happen, that we had be.
come almost as excited as the fishers them
selves and as fearful the sport would prove
q failure, when, after fifth or sixth disap-
pesrance, the whale Unexpectedly arose In
oGt ihtIediate neighborhood, announcing his
arrival By i grunting "blo~!"' (" .9! a.
"If we had but harpoon, we might have
got him ourselves" exclaimed the other
passenger, in a dush o. excitement. .3.' .''
I'VE have. sir--we have r. cried the
whaler eagerly. "Before we came sway,
put coil Of rope ibid the ships harpooo in
the boat in case OF accidents; and if ycu
will row away after him, III bend on the
rope in a minute.n W@.ga
This wild proposal was received with o
general shout Of applause, and while the
sailor prepared the barpoon, we dasted after
the whale with speed in which eagerness
supplied the place Of skill. BY the time all
was ready, we were close upon him then
posing the harpoon high above his head, the
whaler-for the first time in bic life, as he
afterwsfds confessed struck II vigorously
into the side Of the floating Monster, who
received the blow with plunge that half
filled the Boat with water. os a.1 sla.s a
The Lext moment he was driving down
into the depths OF the bay, where it appeared
likely we should soon follow him for our
unskilled harpooner seemed able to pay out
the rope with rapidity equslling the de.
scent Of our unruly captive. a9sa "a
But few minutes more saw him on the
surface sgaln, and in a paro1ysm Of rage.
dashing on at furious rate, and dragging
us along 10 bis rear, with velocity that al.
most buried our slight boat 10 the water,
and sent the patted waves leapiug from her
bows in Kissing surges high above our heads;
while through the opening Ia the wstery
curtain. our rapid progress gave us fiestiog
glihpses Of lsnd. aad sea, aud boats, oil
blept 10 bewildeTipe confusion. ss sal
As our little bark was thus hurried along,
avid sxultatfoB took possession Of d,
which, in the meas rose to the pitch oi
cheers, loud and besrty enough to have
scsrsd any stssd ieys headssrOag ,hap 0ui
padded one. L wasimpossible % doubt ws
were IL mensensaFy lpefii. for none Of oul
crew possessed the regulate skill with the
oar rnddst % iollpw thsrspid eseiasie6s. III
divisgs. and unexpecteds rstprningS Sosfhi