Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-04-21
CHAPTER XVII.
! ENCOUNTER A wHALRR.

had been six days and nights at sea, and
the morning Of the seventh day had come
With tho exception Of one day Of strong
southwesterly winds, which ran me some
thing to the northward, the weather had been
fine-bitterly cold, indeed, but bright and
clear In this time had run O distance Of
about $50 miles to the east, and with no other
cloths upon the schooner but her spritsail
On the morning of the seventh day came
on deck, having slept since o'clock
On looking over the larboard bulwark rail,
the first thing saw was n ship about two
miles Off She was on the larboard tack
under courses, topsails and maintopgallant-
sail, heading us il to cross my bows. The
sunshine made her canvas look as white as
snow against the skirts Of the body Of vapor
that had trailed little to leeward Of her,
and her black hull flashed as though she dis
charged a broadside every time she rose wet
to the northern glory out Of the hollow Of the
swell with curl of silver at her cut water.
My heart came into my throat; seemed
not to breathe; not to have saved my life
could have uttered a cry, so amazed and
transported was by this unexpected appar1-
tion. stared like one in q dream, and my
head felt us il oil the blood In my body had
Surged into it, But then, all on Q sudden,
there happened revulsion of feeling. Sup.
pose she should prove privateer-a French
war vessel-of a nation hostile to my own
Thought so wrought in me that l trembled
like an idiot in fright. The telescope was
too weak to resolve her-I could do better
with my eyes; and stood at the bulwarks
gazing and gazing, as IL she were the spscter
ship Of the Scandinavian legend.
There were flags below, and could have
hoisted q signal Of distress; but to what pur-
tbn nf fha
not sufficiently illustrate her condition, there
was certainly no virtue in the language and
declarations Of bunting to exceed her own
mute assurance / watched her with pas
sion Of anxiety, never doubling her intention
to speak to meat oil events to draw close
and look ut me-wholly concerning myself
with her character Tho swell made US both
dance, and the blue brows Of the rollers
would often hide her to the height Of her
rails; but we were closing each other mid
ding fast-she travelling at seven and at
four miles in the hour-and presently could
see that she carried a number Of boats.
A whaler, thought /; and after little I
was sure of it by perceiving the rings over
her topgallant rigging for the lookout to
stand in.
On being convinced Of this ran below for
shawl that was in my cabin, and, jumping
ON to the bulwarks, stood nourishing it for
some minutes to lot them know that there
was q man aboard. She luffed to deaden her
way that might swim close, and as We ap-
preached each other / observed crowd Of
heads forward looking at me, and several
men aft all staring intently.
A man scrambled on to the rail, and with
an arm clasping baclstay hailed me:
Schooner ahoyr' he bawled, with q strong
nasal twang in his cry. "What ships that n
''The Boca del Dragon" shouted back.
"Where are you from, and where are you
bound tor
~ have been locked up in the ice,o
cried, "and lm in want Of help. What ship
are you"
"The Susan Tucker, whaler, of New Bed
ford, 'twenty-seyen months out, he returned
"Where In creation got you that hookerf"
"rm the only man aboard,n cried, "and
have no boat. Send to me, in the narGe of
God, and Let the master come"
He waved his hand, bawling: 'Put your
helm down-you're forging Gheadr' and so
saying dismounted.
Immediately cast the tiller ndrift, put 1t
hard over, ana secured 1t, then jumped oa to
the bulwarks again to watch them. She
was Yankee beyond doubt; had rather met
my own countrymen; but, next to British, ]
would have chosen an American ship to meet.
Somehow, despite the Frenchman, felt my
self to have been alone throughout my ad-
venture, and SO sore was the effect OF that
solitude upon my spirits that it seemed twenty
years since had seen ship, and since had
held communion with my own species. was
= terribly agitated and shook in every limb.
Life must have been precious always, but
never before had 1t appeared 50 precious as
now, while gazed at that homely ship,
with her maintopsail TO the mast, swinging
stately upon the swell, the faces of the sea
men plain, the smoke OF her galley tire
breaking from the chimney, the sounds o.
ESaips blocks and ereakspg psrTab stssl'