The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-03-15


prise, the whale turned slowly and headed
lack toward us, gsing through the saihe
wild convulsions as before.
'Lay on your oars" ordered the captain.
"Cursed if don't think Plum Duff is right
and that whale is either a burned old fool or
blind crazy, and dunno which it is. What
do you say Mr.. Ringbolt ?"
'The cuss isugly," answered the mate,
''but what will you have? There's a hun
dred barrels there, lovely, lovely sperm,
and Pm going to put an iron or two in him
if get stove boat out of it."
"That's the way to talk it, Ringboltl
Shall we both fosten Pr
'I guess not 1t would be better to have
one boat to pick up the others in case we
get stove"
"All right; go in and win, my boy I'll
back you; I weigh two thousand pounds"
The boats separated, the mate taking the
rght hand and the captains boat the left
Plum Duff was shaking his head, and the
captain knew his harpooner well enough to
be sure he didn't like it, But, at the same
time the man was no coward, and if the
captain ordered it he would have laid him
on the whale, live or die
But, at the same time he knew the dan
ger, and even while he headed the boat out
to the left his eyes were on the mates
| boat
He saw her prov suddenly turn toward
the whale, which was now lying silent on
the water, waving his fukes gently back
and forth. On came the whale-boat, and
across the water came the clear voice of Mr..
Ringbolt:
"Stand up, Marrowfat; give it to him!"
The harpooner was on his feet instantly,
his harpoon raised on high, and with force
which was scarcely tobe looked for in man
of his slender frame the harpoon was
sent whistling through the air, and was
buried to the eye in the blubber of the
monster.
"Starn all " yelled the mate
There Was little need of the order, for in
stantly the light boat shot away while with
bound, the whale leaped high into the air,
and Immediately sounded. We could hear
the whale-line whistle as it passed out of the
tub, whirling and writhing like serpent.
"Be ready with the lance, Mr.. Ringbolt!"
called the captain.
CAY, ay, sir But you needn't be in any
hurry; the old @1ss is sulky, and don't
mean to come out of that, easy"
Down he went, the board over which the
line ran bursting into fame, so rapid was
the passage of the whale. But, at last he
ceased to sound, and the mate took up his
pipe and began to smoke coo1ly. Constant
danger such as only the whaleman knows,
had hardened him until he hardly knew
what it was to fear.
''Watch out, old chap" bawled the cap
tain. "Watch out !"
Ain't Watching" replied the mate.
'The Ornery old cuss is going to take his
tina"
strain off the line, sir !" cried the har-
pooner. ''He's coming up"
'I guess you'd better let me get another
iron in him." Ringbolt," said the captain.
''My iron will hold, sir" answered the
mate. Marrow :at put it in to the eye.
Here, Marrowfat, give me the lance"
They were aboat to change places, when,
out of the water hundred fathoms dis
taut, with q sudden rush, the whale
preached, scattering the water in diamond
drops as he fell
ooh, you beauty!" cried the mate.
"What the mischief is he arter? Pull,
boys; the burned fool is blind..crazy!"d
They dropped their oars into the wafer
and pulled for dear life, for the whale was
after them, lashing the water into foam as
he came. Away they went, and away went
the whale, and Plum Duff, his'eyes flashing
fire, turned to the captain.
"Shall put you on him ?" he Kissed.
NO IL Wdo Iue Iopiy. Llc oui
meat anyhow; we've got to have him, for il
shall never be said that old Pete Stanley
was beat by any crazy whale that evel
waved his flukes in the circumambient air
Lay me on, lay me on; beach me, oh
beach me on his back, and I'll cut out his
heart with the lance"
You ought to have seen us pull! The
boat fairly leaped from the water at every
stroke. Talk about boat-race for paltry
flag, for the honor of saying that this col
lege or that has won the champions badge
In small way it may be exciting, bu
what is that to the whaler's JOY as he seel
: the grandest game in earth or sea lying
under his lance? I'm old now, but whe1
I think of it my blood goes wildly through
my veins, and in fancy see the long ocea1
swell, hear the thud of the oar in the row
locks, the inspiring voice of the captain, th'
whistle of the line and the whale in hi