Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1869-11-10

mUnSe mass lOOmed Glittering against
the gloom, springing suddenly up to
nearly halfits huge bulk above the sur
face of the water, while terrific snap
ping was heard, rs the confined gas
made its escape through the lance holes,
and perfume, not of Arabia Felix,
came sweeping into our nostriIs.
Luckily, we were far enough to lee
ward, as the huge carcass buIged up.
Had it risen directly under us, the boat
would have been capsized, and all of us
left struggling in the sea.
"Hurrah, boys ~ again shouted the
young officer, as the whale buoyed up
before us. 'This is a perfect God send
we shall make good weather of it now.
We shall have a floating anchor, and
a large Slick to windward oft.
It Will hereadiIy understood that the
rising Of the whale to the surface was
simply the effect of natural causes. The
process of decomposition had been 60
ing on for three or four days and the
buoyant power of the pent up gasses
would soon have been sufficient of itself
/ to overcome the pressure of the water at
that moderate depth. Added to this
the agitation ofthe mighty mass, caused
by our strain upon the line, was sufficient
to start it. Rising very slowly at first
but with gradually increasing velocity,
it was tossed to the surface with great
force. and shot into view like a vOlcan-
ic island suddenly uplifted by some ter
rible latent power eXerted from the bot
tom Of the sea.
This change in the situation Of affairs
proved beyond all doubt the salvation of
our lives, for the gale continued through
Outthe night,with even greater fury than
before. But we were now enabled to
ride head to the wind under the lee Ofthe
whale; while great extent of surface
on both sides and to windward of Us was
smCothed down into comparative calm
by the oil that had escaped from the
carcass, forming what is well known
among whale-men by the name of.
Slick The waves no longer broke over
this enchanted ground, nor ventured
within its limits, and spite the war of
clements still raging around, We feItIike
the IsraeHtes in the Red Sea, in perfect
security.
\ thank-Ofieriug was sent up from all
our hearts; a silent one, but not the less
sincere. We gave thanks to the God of
mercies, whose outstretched arm had
thus 50 strangely protected Us.
The chilling blasts swept over lis, the
Odor Of the decaying carcass was almost
overpowering to the senses; the hoarse
/ screams Of ravenous aIbatrOsses, them
selves sitting sheltered in the 'slick,
rang in our ears; but We cared not for
/ these, since the yet more ravenous sea
had been stiIIed by the Omnipotent
hand, and by such unexpected means,
that we felt confident of safety.
Daylight came again, and along with
| it a joyful cry, 1t was from ManOel our
keen-eyed Portuguese midshiP-Oarsman,
whose watch it was;
"SaiI, he ~ shouted he, 'to wind'ard.'
We followed the direction of his ex-
tended arm, and beheId a large ship ly-
ing under goose-wiuged main-top sail
and storm-stay-saiIs She was not more
than two miles of; but it was still a ques-
ton whether those on board of her
could see US.
"Step the mast ~ were the first words
from Mr.. Bansom. she may SEQ that.
She can't help noticing the slick; and
may keep of her course for the chance to
follow it down. Wemust hold where we
are. 1t would be ofno use trying to pull
toward them. We could make no way
to windward.
The stranger kept on till nearly
abreast of us, when her head fell off-as
we thought-more than usual for a ship
lying to. We stood with suspended
breath, watching her every movement.
Was it only yaw?
mo" cried Easton, she is keeping
of to examine the slick y
joy! we now saw the mizzen-stay-
sail collapse, and come down with a
run o.
She might be wearing round for the
other track; but no, the helm met her
again; and obedient to it, she turned
her head directly towards us.
\ cheer rose spontaneously, sent up
from six sturdy set of Iungs-for we felt
that if we could come along side Of her
in smooth water, we were saved,
Nearer and nearer she approached,
rolling majesticalIy in the trough Of the
sea; and now we could see men in the
rigging. Surely we must be seen. The
body of the whale, and our mast raising
near it, were conspicuous objects. She
was luffed to i'll such position as to
drift directly down upon us, and the
mastery skill and judgment shown in
this, placed the matter beyond doubt.
eve are seenp' at length shouted
Ransom. 1--WE shall be saved if it be
within the power of that brave seaman
to get us on board of his vessel. Up goes
the tricoIor to his gafl. 1t must be the
Plus NTH, for know ofno other French
man this season OF the ground.
The nautical reader will readily ap-
preciate the difficulty Of approaching a
ship and getting on board in such wealth
er. But the whole operation was most
admirably managed 10y the French cap
tain. His ship saggcd directly down
upon the whale, and 4 line was dexter
ously thrown atus. We ecaught this, and
were ready to haul upon it, before slip
ping the other one we had attached to
the carcass. But the operation Ofhauling
under the ships Ice was Il delicate one
and before we were close enough to think
of climbing her side, she had forged
ahead 50 us to rum almost beyond the
limits of the slick. The crew of the
Frenchman had now clustered along the
Ice-raiI, in the waist, and were swarm
inc i'm the main chains; bronzed, beard
cd faces, lighted up with kindly sympa-
thy, looked down upon lis, and strong
arms were ready to seize as at the first
opportunity. At one moment ;hcy
would De nearly twenty feet above us,
and the next their hands almost touch
us. Carefully we watched for a favor
able chance.
"Gathcr in, now" was the word