The Republican journal., 1872-04-25
finhtlnn Whales.

" { are now within a cables length Of
the nearest whales. a score Of boats close
IN our wake. and another ships boa: lap
ping upon us. Gran John Daggett, the
mate. seemed going mad, his eyes start
lng from their sockets, teeth cienched. and
bareheaded. | could ace the veins in his
forehead and great brawny arms swelled
almost 10 bursting, as The lever heat OF
the chase came on. pulled the after oar
and SO he guided TIE boat with one hand
his other, ut every stroke, caught my oar
throwing il against my breast. while It's
long blade quiYeged Ike piece OF steel
still the othel boat misunderstanding slow
N abreast OF as
Pull men-oh, if you love money, pull!
Don't let that boat pass US Oh, spring
every mother son OF you-boys. If you
love me, pAll. A KEY OF terhaccer among
ye II we get mp to this whale All, he
blows Oh God. what back, broader u
the Old womam'5 parior. Steady now,
men. not a whisper If vOu wan; TO i've
One more struke-stand up harpooner.
Don't ya mss him, boy look ont when
he rounds up-cooi. my boy, c0oi--giye it
10 him..
Down under my oar blade saw huge
black body, and the boat struck something
harder than Il wave
"Starn all starn all tell We, than
dered grim Old Nickings; and | knew
that we were fast. Heavens how the
line few out, as, maddeued with pain the
monster plunged downward One-two
three hundred tatboms OF line out. not a
sound III the boat, save The cracking OF
The line rs il runs smoking around the log
gerhead, the mate tightening ii every
pound it would hear-eyery man braced
firm in bis seat. grasping his oar and wait
ing. But now the slender cord slackened
for, tired and breathless, our prey is com
ing up.
As | leaned over the gunwale, the
waters were clear rs cry stal, and fancied
| could see 10 immense depths in the
tranquil element. Is it possible a more
than tabled giant is coming thence to bat.
lie with us? And in few moments viii
ii be his blood or ours that shall turn this
pellucid blue to turbid crimson A shou
startled me, and looking around, there
lashing the sea TO snow drifts, rolled oul
prey. And what all antagonist At leas
eighty feet long, of huge grit, he lay or
his back (the tavOrite way OF fighting o.
the cacheot,) his head depressed, and Jaw
full fifteen feet long, elevated in the air
and bristling with sharp cleaning teeth
His roaring was fearful Down to oul
oars, and in a moment our mate had hi.
lance at work
Keen as razor blade, that long, thr
lance found its way through hide anC
sinew, past piled-up flesh and rib, buryina
its head in the very vitals of the monster
fb0aa nj a Nj ,;.;
tul. At every lance thrust his huge body
would culver along its entire length, ane
the bright. red blood. hot from his heart
rushed in torrent from his spiracle. II
vain he turns upon us-the well-trainet
crew slip the boat out from under his yer,
jaw, and as he shuts it down to crush us
and as he rushes by, again the lance cut
ats cruel way.
No play. this kind Of hunting. n
long ranged rifles fired from safe distance
grand hand-to-hand combat grapplin,
The greatest living animal in lite AM
death struggle. No place in that boat 70
weak nerves. These be earnest men
snatching subsistence tor families out 0
the sea, and conquering its king H
strives to escape, but the iron is calling
and spouting ten gallons OF blood at ever
breath, he Is growing weak. The bloo'
has covered us; and old the mate looks lik
the butcher he is. Oh old felIow--You
enemies have closed upon you and NJ
fear. 1t is your life or theirs, and mai
triumphs over the brute.
But now the coup de grace is given, an,
he is dying. On his side. swimming
blindly, he sweeps grandly around in {
narrowing circle. until at last, heading to
ward the sun as vision grows more ant
more dark, q mighty throe shakes tb,
huge form, convulsive struggle as in
last vain struggle for life-and huge
unwieldy mass, heaving upon the Ion,
swells, attests mans supremacy upon wa
ter as well as upon land