Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1877-09-12

whale. We at the oars had moth
ing to say about the matter; it
was ours simply to obey.
1t was long before we found any
trace of the "slick," but after
pulling back and forth over the
/ ground, fearful of passing on one
side of it, and getting too far to
the leeward, we at last had the
satisfaction to perceive that we
were in it; a positive assurance
that we still had the weather-gauge
of the object of our search. At
the same time q brighter light
famed up from the ship, made by
burning old scraps on the back
arches of the try-works, and we
made out that she was again keep
ing off to be nearer to us.
We pulled Justify now, feeling
encouraged by the signs, and still
keeping in the slick, followed it as
our guide; for so dark was the
night, we could not possibly see
the whale until we should be very
close upon it.
Old Beers stood up in the head
of the boat, looking with all the
eyes in his head, to catch glimpse,
either of the waif, or of the wash
or white water which would indi-
cate the whales position.
But now there was suddenly a
change in the air, which ! can only
describe as a sense of dilution or
refraction, with a sighing sound
that was ominous of approaching
evil. The weather quarter of the
heavens, instead of darking more,
appeared to light little, and the
black pail split in two and parted
right and left. Out of it came a
few Struggling drops of rain, and
then the wind followed with ven-
geance.
The first blast struck us with a
fury that the mate had enough to
do to keep the boat from broach-
ing to, and taking the whole force
of it broadsides on. We shipped
in all the oars rs fast as possible,
and let her drive to leeward,
crouching down in our places, un-
able to see anything, or to change
the course OF our light craft, and
running blindly off into the dark
hess. Our little taper in the boat
lantern was extinguished at once,
and could be of no further
service. We felt instinctively,
that the ship would luff to
again, as the captain would not run
the risk of passing us; and here
we were, rushing away before the
gale and every moment lessening
our chances of safety. There was
a sudden flashing up of her light,
just as the squall struck, and we
lost sight of them entirely. The
faint report of a musket followed,
signal of recall, Of course, but
we could neither answer nor obey
it.
Onward we rushed, before the
wind, shrinking down into the boat,
and clinging to the gunwales and
thwarts, all of us but the officer,
who held fast to his steering-oar
to keep her head in the only
safe direction. No word was
spoken among us, but each fully
realized the peril we were in, and
each asked himself the question Of
life or death. How long is this to
last!
1t was answered by q shock SC
sudden as to throw US all together
in a confused heap. In a crash Of
everything moveable, and crack.
ling Of the boats fabric itself, we
rolled into the sea and were over.
whelmed. | can hardly tell in words
what followed. AS soon as | re.
gained breath, little, struck out
and grasped nothing but smooth
slippery surface, on which / coulC
get no hold, and the next instant
was rolled off again and plunged
under the sea. / understood the
truth now. In the darkness W,
had run upon the whale without
having seen it.
At my next attempt clutched Q
rope, which | felt to be the bite o
a whale-line, and undermining this
l soon came to the pole of an iror
or harpoon. BY this / was enabled
to hang on; and, after being hal
drowned in my struggles, | sue
ceeded in drawing a bite of tn,