Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-11-01

TaRiSG A SwoRpr,sH.-H was some
time before we coulo distinguish the
speek. rising and falling with The lea,
which had attracted the old whaleman's
attention. Soon he pronounced il a
"hsh, and after putting US on the other
tack to run down partly 60 the ieeward
OF it, went below 10 bring Up the ircas.
When We had worked perhaps 4 mile
before II, we. lay to for our Enal instruc-
tons. the skipper took the wheel 10
keep her head on Il yer cans sad the
one who held the sir-tight barrel was
told when y're sure I've struck him.
over with IT. s-s..-
He was as cool as b cucunser. as ne
took the harpoon aud cutting spade iof.
ward, coiling the line Zone end Of which
was fast to the harpoon, the other b
the barreD carefully on deck, With the
caution "Ware when it flakes OUT
and taking only enough with him 10 his
roost on the bowsprIt end to give him
ample elbow room. Ills station reached.
he fixed the spade in the suppor, ready
to receive il, laid the iron in front Of
him across the cage, waved his hand.
and We filled away, close hauled. New
er was mile more slowly sailed 5v the
little group in the pit Of the White
Cloud. Never had our hearts .beatcR
faster than as VIC neared the fifteen fset
fish, rolling, asleep. in the trough Gf the
sea. Now the pilo. is almost over him:
slowly he raises the iron, braces him
self, and hurlcs il with all the strength
of sinewy arms. The iron SINKS deep
ly into the sleeping Ash; there is d
mighty surge, the line flakes overheard
As quickly as thought, the float splashes
as II disappears beneath the water, then
all is still. We lutI and ,it. Pre-
sentlv up bobs the float. The fish find
ing the strain of the air-tight barre! too
severe is coming TO the surface. Now
the water bubbles aud boils just under
our 'cr, aud the swordf>h breaches
himself savagclv, and swim> at light
ming speed for the barrel. He s'rike-
il again and again with his sword, but
it rests so lightly on top OF the water
that he cannot mure il. Then he stops.
looks at us an instant. and darts toward
the boat. We have not time I" bring
her head around and II he strikes n will
he amid>hips. The pilot comes quick
~ aft, bringing his long handled. three
cornercd spade, and, as the fish comes
within striking distance, aims one swift.
unerring blow full At his forehead. The
terrible sword drops harmless. the up
per muscles al its base are severed, and
he passes under IL, jarnns the boat
and splasliins US with water as he
sounds.
Again the float goes under and is out
OF sight a longer time than before.
Again The FISH throws himself out Of
water ahowing his sword doah al an
angle OF inriy-fvc degrees. He swims
once or twice around the barrel, then
starts To windward at too furious a speed
TO last with the float ploughing behind
him. When we beat up he i fecblv
fighting it. He sounds for a short time,
but comes up exhausted. Onrc or twice
he rolls over on his side, but recovcrs
himself and >wims on in >hor; tacks.
We press him too closely, and he charges
us again, but we make no effort TO avoid
him, knowing that now he is power.ess
to injure Us nor does he try TO strike.
apparently realizing that his weapon rs
useless. but goes under, Coming up on
the other side.
And so he sounds and swims, fights
and runs, until at last he succumbs TO
exhaustion and lies still. We work up
alous>idc, and as We luff the pilot puts
lance INTO his very life. There Is a
shudder along his whole body his fins
work convulsively moment, and then
he lies motionlrss and dead. We rig a
tackle 10 our malnna>t, and after con-
siderable labor get him aboard, where
we can examine at our leisure his pecu-
liar shape, and admire his graceful
clipper build" Our Nan.ucketer es-
Inmates his weigh. at between 500 and
600 pounds. His sword is over three
feet in length, lis broken point and
n:cked edges proving tha. its owner was
an old a. well as a fighting fish.
Our fish is on board. and after reserv-
ing a few choice cuts, turned over To
our pilot. who asks that we run into
Martha's Vineyard that he NAV dispose
of him before he spoils. And so We set
gaf and jib toPsails, haul of before the
wind, and Law our course northw ard
Forest and Sirerm.