Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-11-26

Indeed, do not think that any person OF
board remembered that the Luminsry wa
Q vhaier at all. until suddenly there cam.
from the main tep-gsllant, crosstrees thu
old familiar cry; -. '',''' '''''' '7'
| There she blovsl''u
The.call was echoed from fore and miz
zen, till all the ship rang; the place wa
alive with whales, and everywhere the,
were blowing, preaching or turning f1ukes
Three big fellows.came up within half +,
mile OF the North America. and We saw
her boats 60 splaships into the water Be-
fore our own we're, down.
Soon. however, we were of from oul
ships side-four boats crew Of us--and
pulling with springing oars for another d.
vision OF the large school. A most excit
ing days work We. had oft; getting two
boats stove, which were replaced by spare
ones, and having the satisfaction Of SEQ
ling at night, seven dead whales lying
around the vessel-nearly OF quite enough
TO complete our complement Of oil. But,
in the meaptime, one Of the boats crews
had been startled BY seeing, something in
the water close to them which, they said,
appeared TO roll over like hoop, With only
the upper, portioA visible.
Old B:ll Stevens growled IS the circum-
stance was discussed, and said he guessed
there was snakes nest some where under
the ice.
IA snake, . said he ..is warm weather
bird. He would be very likely to lay and
hatch here.''
Still the hands didn't like the idea Of
that submarine hoop, even those of them
who had not seen it.
Next morning We seemed completely
shut IN by the ice. the comparatively clear
space in which we were being circular, and
not moro than ten miles in diameter, with
hear and there loose, glittering island Of
an acre or two, looking as II it might east
ly tumble over. Not breath of air was
stirring, and tho long low swells looked
like molten glass. The position Was one
of great danger. We were imprisoned
within walls which might vt any moment
close upon us, crushing the ship to atoms;
and even should this not happen, there
could still be no chance for release until
the breaking Of the great ice ring.
Nevertheless. 1t was determined to pro-
coed with cutting In our catch Of the pre-
vious day, just as If we were not prisoners;
and as two large whales we're IN the
meantime raised, q, mile from us, the cap
tain. in order to be sure of having enough
to Gil, ordered the third and fourth mates
to lower for one of them, while himself and
tho greater part Of the crew should remain
on board. The two whales were turning
dukes and preaching among some detached
masses Of ice.
was with the fourth officer, the third
mate was close abreast Of US, and both
boats were pulling for the same animal
when up went its tail, and it disappeared
just whore the shadow of the tall berg,
near which it was, fell deep and still in the
water.
We pulled along to the spot where it
seemed likely that he would breach, and
then ali hands lay on their oars, waiting
for the huge black shape to shoot above
the surface.
In such high ATTITUDES tho ocean depths
have clearness Of which those Who have
never sailed beyond the temperate zone
have no conception. And now, while look
ing down from the gunwales Of the two
boats, with no wind to break the mirror
that rolled in never resting swells. the eyes
Of the sailors penetrated the awful homo
Of stiffness, fathoms and fathoms below.
Old Bill Stevens was at his place in the
bow Of the third mates boat.
"Hlst!" he said, at length; he's coming.
He's rising with slaat, and he'll breach
right ahead Of US. I'll take him az he
shoots out of the waterl''
The old sailor gather his ''iron'' and
braced his right foot; then peered down
again; but this time he started back with
a wild frightened countsnanco.
"Powers Of pig iron" he cried, whats
that with himp stern all! stern sli!''
With springing sweep Ut the oars. the
third mates boat was sent stern foremost
for number Of fathoms; while, looking
down from the side of our own boat, We
saw some immense shape. like that Of 3
monstrous snake, gliding along shadowy
and in distinct, with the tail directly be-
meath US, aud the head lost to view some
where near the coming whale. The lat
ter now preached high out of water, then
struck heavily right and left; and up and
down, with its dukes, and finally started
off at tremendous speed.
As it did 90, there came to the surface
what seemed the top of an enormous wheel
without spoke or belt, which rolled heavily
over and was gone. But the reader may
judge something of the awe with which
we beheld the sea monster, in returning to
its shadowy depths, pass slowly under our
boat; its incredible length appalling US all
the more from the vsgueness given to the
object by the dark and solemn deep.
BY this time the second whale had also
started OF; and the captain. seeing that We
we're unsuccessful, having finally conclud-
ed that We had already oil to I'LL the ship,
set q signal for our return.
But busy enough were all hands cutting
in, boiling out and slowing down-untiffl-
nally the Lumiuary had all her casks full,
with something to spare, and it remained
only for u to escape from our ice locked
berth.