, 1864-08-29
Catching a Whale.

had the forenoon watch below, and was lust
congratulating myself upon getting through
with my "doublc attitudes" when the loud
clear voice Of man at the masthead came
ringing down the fOrecastle.
"There she blows" was the thrilling
cry.
-"Fhat's one, - shouted the captain.
"Thers she blows"
"Thats twice, by jingo!
"There she blowsp
"Three times! Where away, Tabor 2"
"Off the weathcr-bow, sir, two points"
allow farF"
"a mile and half. There she blows"
"Sperm whale! Call all handsp
There was general rush on deck, each
man trying to get to the scuttle first. Then
came half dozen loud knocks, anda hoarse
voice, shouting.
"Larboard watch, ahoy! Turn out, my
lads! Sperm whale in sight! Heave out!
Lash and carryl Rise and chime! Bear
hand, my hearties"
Those who had turned in, rolled out as
soon as possible, and buckled on their ducks,
and in less than two minutes we were all
on deck, ready for orders. The tubs were
put in the boat, and the main yard hauled
back. We all perched ourselves in the rig
ging, and kept sharp lookout on every side
for the whales next rising. Twenty min
utes elapsed since the spout was first seen !;
twenty-five passed, and the captain began
to get into state Of nervous anxiety. We
-strained our eyes in all directions to "make
spout" Half an hour few by, and no
spout was seen. It began to look like
hopeless case, when Tabor, whose visual or
gan appeared to have the power of ubiquity,
sang out
"There she blowsv'
"Where nowI' rOared the captain.
"0ff the weather quarter! Two large
sparm whales, sir. Go it boots"
"Clear away the boats! Come down
from the masthead all you that don't be.
long there! Bear a handl Wen take
them this rising" shouted the captain, in
loud voice.
"All ready, sir"
Lower away, thenp
The waist and larboard boats were in
stantly down, ready to bend off," Captain
A. and some Of the boats crew, being
too i'll to man the other boat, we struck Oft
for the whales without them. Ipulled the
aft oar, as usual, and rs, by this time, / was
as tough and muscular as any Of my COM
rades, the boat danced along the water in
fine style. Although the larboard boat was
much easier pulled, aud had the Oldest and
stoutest of the whole crew, we contrived,
by unusual exertions, to keep ahead Of her
till tho real "tug Of war" came. Then
was our mettle put to the test. One Of
the whales was leisurely making to the wind
ward, not moro than half a milo off s
"Lay back, my lads" cried P, pale
with excitement. keep the larbOard boat
astern! Never say diel That's our whale!
Oh, dospring-dospring! Nonoise, steady
and soft's the word..",
We replied to this appeal, "piling up the
agony" on the oars. Away sprang our boat,
trembling and shivering as she darted
through the waves. She really seemed to
imbibe the general excitement as she parted
the clear blue water, and dashed it foaming
from her bows Onward she Aewl The
larbolrd boat was hard upon our stern; the
whale rolling lazily in the trough Of the
sea, . few darts ahead.
"0h, lay backp whispered p, trem-
bling with eagerness not to be outdone by
the mate. "DO spring, my boys, if you
love lifel Now's your time! Now or
never! Oh, see himl see him! how quiet
he lies! Put the beef on your oars, every
mothers son Of you'll Pile it on! pile It
on! That's tho way to tell it! Our whale
this timew
"stand up, TabOrv' cried P, in a
low voice.
Poaking his oar, Tabor sprang To his feet
aud grasped harpoou.
"Shall give him two irons y
"Yes; he may be Wild"
Another stroke or two and we were hard
upon him. Tabor, with unerring aim, let
fly his irons, and buried them to the sock
cts in the huge carcass Of the whale.
"Stern alp thundered P.
"Stern all r. echoed the crew; but il
was too late. Our bows were high and dry
on the whales headl Infuriated with the
pain produced by the harpoOn, and doubt
less much astouished to find his head so
roughly used, he rolled half over, lashing
the sea with his fukcs, and in his strug-
giles dashing in two Of the upper planks.
Boat stove, boat stove" was the general
cry.
"Silencep thundered the second mate,
as he sprang to the bow, and exchanged
places with Tabor. "All safe, my hearties !
stern hardl sterul sternl sternl before he
gets his fukes to bear upon u.s."
"Stcrn allw shouted We; in moment
more we were out of danger The whale
now "turned Aukes," and dashed of to
windward with the speed Of a locomotive,
towing US after him atagloriOus rate. We
occasionally Stacked line in order to give
him plenty Of play.
A stiff breeze had sprung up, causing a
rough chopping sea; and We leaked badly
at the bow. II fell to my lot to keep the
water bailed ont and the line clear as the
others hauled in; ticklish job, the last;
for, as the second mate said. single turn
would whip of shin "as slick as goose
grease"
Notwithstanding the roughness Of the
sea, we shot ahead with incredible swiftness
and tho way we walked past the larboard
boat. whose crew was tugqing and laborinR