Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-12-08


year on the great waters, whalers become
more impressonable to supernatural things
than other seamen and long observation of
the shoals or schools of the vast creatures
they pursue tends to fill them with amaze
ment and awe when they meet with a solitary
leviathan, who has abandoned all fellowship
with his kind, who lives by his own law
lonely, mighty and terrible.
Soon after the cry from aloft we saw the
whale from the deck, only short distance
from the ship; and we might have seen him
long before had not his white, bush-like
spout been lost in the angry whiteness that
was fast overspreading the sea.
For moment all eyes were fastened on the
long body, like great black tube, over which
the waves washed Every face was wonder
stricken at the immense size of the whale
Captain Clifford had been examining him
with glass, which be handed in turn to each
of his officers. "What do you say, Mr.. Hus-
sey?' he inquired of the first mate who
glanced at the setting SUI, and answered
GO down, sir; we can do it,"
''Mr. Joseph Z" and the captain turned to
the second mate, an old Portuguese Of extra
ordinary size, and perhaps the most famous
whaleman alive.
go down, sir, if we want to get that fel-
low; wen never see him again"
The two other officers, younger men, were
of the same mind There was no time lost
in further consultation.
Swing the boats !" shouted the old man.
The lines and irons had already been thrown
in by the crews. A "heave oh !" and a
straiDing sound, and in one minute the four
boats struck the water, and the men were set
tied on the thwarts with the long oars out
The sun was low, and large, and red, and
the whole western sea and sky were magni6-
cent in crimson, and gold, and black. The
picture was one of the finest ever saw. The
rising sea was jet black, except where a broad
road of crimson SHIN mered from the ship to
the sun; the long body of the whale, even
blacker than the sea, was plainly seen in the
ruddy glare and life was added to the scene
by the four white specks-the whaleboats-
closing to point as they drew near the mo-
tOnless monster.
1t was not until the boats had left the ship
that We realized how threatening the weather
Was. Every moment the seas came wilder
and heavier against the vessel Only now and
then, as they were lifted on sea, could we
catch sight of the brave little boats The
breeze grew stronger every minute, and, be-
fore the first boat neared the whale, was
whistling through the rigging in a way that
tells of a coming gale. The captain regretted
the lowering Of the boats, and soon sigualled
them to return; but the men were excited,
and refused to see the signals. Filled to the
gunwale, the seas lashing over them every
moment, on they went where only thing SO
nearly perfect as a whaleboat could keep afoat.
As the first boat swung around to run down
to windward ou the whale, the red sun stood
fairly on the black field of ocean.
Talk about the bravery of soldiers in battle,
or OF men ashore in any enterprise you please,
what is it to the bravery of such a deed as
thisI thousand miles from land six men
n n - afr,bN F,1N hill ,o11,
down i'll stormy sea to do battle with the
mightiest created animal! 1t is the extreme
of human coolness and courage, because it is
the extreme of danger The soldier faces
one peril-the bullet The whaleman, in such
case as this, has three mighty enemies to
tight-the sea, the gale and the whale.
We saw the harpooner of each boat stand
up as they came within hearing distance, and
send in their two irons. All the boats were
fast before the monster seemed to feel the
first blow. Then came the fght-the cruel
and unnatural fight between vast power and
cunning skill The black water was churned
white as the hukes struck out in rage and ag-
ony. The sun disappeared, and the gale
screamed louder in the rigging. We could not
see the boats from the ship. The few men
on board clewed up the light sail and took
reef i'll the topsals. BY this time the night
was dark as pitch and the gale had whipped
and howled itself into hurricane.
1t was fearful to think of the four small
boats out in such a sea. We on the ship had
to cling to the rail or the rigging; the terrific
strength of the waves swept the heavy vessel
about like cork. l saw the captains face
moment as he passed the binnacle-lamp, and
it was absolutely deformed with grief and ter
ror-not for himself, brave old sailor but
for his boys in the boats.
who's at the wheel ?" he shouted 'send
a steady man to the wheel"
"Ay, ay, sir" answered deep, quiet voice
I've got the wheel.
That was Chips, and walked aft to be near
him just then a long hail came through the
darkness, and we saw the flash of a boats
lantern on the lee quarter. In minute more
a line was flung aboard, and we soon had one
crew safe on deck. 1t was the mates boat.
"Where are the others 2" was the first ques-
ton.
Fast to the whale, was the answer; land
there are no lanterns on the boats"
One of the men from the boat relieved
Chips at the wheel, and he went forward to
rig lanterns at the fore and main tops. When
this was done We stood together on the fore
castle, looking and listening for the boats.
Suddenly be turned to me, and said
Were going to lose some one to- night.
While was at the wheel it seemed as though
bulhtAnluB hhlhHtASh III cur luhl We were
going to lose one man tonight"
said he was growing as superstitious as
old Kanaka Joe and he answered:
II can't help it. 1t did Gem as if l heard
that whisper, and so plain was it that l nearly
dropped the wheel in terror"
Another shout from the sea cut of further
talk, and we soon had two more boats at the
davits. The absent one was Mr.. Josephs,
and We knew that through thick and thin he
would hold on to the whale. 1t was hours
before VT could find him, and when We did
he refused to cut his line from the carcass.
The captain called to him that we could not
hold the whale in such a sea, but the old
whaler shouted back, He's a hundred an
fifty bareler, and if you don't take the line
aboard wen stick to him in the boat :"
Soon after, the sea moderating, the line was
taken aboard assing through a strong iron
brace screwed on to the starboard rail Just
forward of the gangway amidships, from which
it was taken back and made fast to the wind
lass bits at the foot of the mainmast 1t was
a new line, of stout MANILA hemp, and its
strength was put to a fearful test. A hundred
fathoms astern of the ship it held the mon
ster carcass, and as the vessel rolled heavily
to the sea the strain on the line was terrific.
Standing forward of it, / laid my hand on the
line as the strain came, and felt it stretch
and contract like a rope of India rubber.
Mr. Joseph's boat had come alongside, and
the captain, standing on the starboard rail,
was shouting to him through trumpet. The
line from the whale, passing from astern to
the brace forward, and back to the brace
amidships, made an acute angle, inside which
the captain was standing l saw this as 1
passed forward and noted also in the dark, a
tall man, who seemed to- be leaning against
the liue. 81 hope he's forward of it," said
to myself as went on with what was about
l had not taken six steps from the spot when
l knew something strange had occurred. The
ship steadied, as II the wind had ceased, 1
heard no sound greater than the storm, but
instead there seemed to be a great stiffness. l
ran amidships and grasped for the line. 1t
was gone A rush to the rail and all was
clear The strain had torn out the brace.
The line had been ierked straight, like the
cord of a gigantic bow, and the captain,
standing on the rail, was struck by the flying