Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-05

our own peril than OF the hundreds OF
dollars worth of oil that was coming
towards us from the depths below
Not a man in the boat save Blue-Fin
and myself knew of the accident to the
harpooner, as their backs were turned
towards the bow, and the youth made no
exclamation, displaying presence of mind
far beyond his years, as he quickly sprang
to fill the vacant place.
/, as the officer of the boat, stood in the
stern, grasping the long steering oar, and,
as the huge back of the whale appeared
above the water, my heart leaped into my
throat; but glance at the lad, who had
braced himself firmly and was standing
with the heavy iron poised aloft, awaiting
a chance to throw, somewhat treasured me-
One spout the monster gave, and then
the harpoon left the boys hand, with a
graceful upward curve, and descended upon
the broad back, burying the barbs deep be-
meath the skin and blubber.
With lightning-like movement, Blue
Fin seized the second iron, and, before the
whale could turn fukes," that, too, was
sunk clear to the beckets, just abaft the
starboard fin.
Remaining for an instant to make sure
that the "irons' held, Blue-Fin followed
out the duty of boat-steerer, by springing
aft to relieve me at the oar.
Now ii requires a strong arm and good
judgment to handle boat when east" to
a running whale, or to manage it so as to
elude the attack Of the huge monster when
he becomes ''gallied" through pain or fear
But the lad had done so well that | did not
hesitate an instant to relinquish the steer
ing oar to his hands, and we passed each
other, as is customary, about amidships, |
going forward to prepare to kill the whale
The mammoth fish did not at once re-
cover from his surprise at the sudden at
tack, but lay for a few minutes wallowing
upon the surface of the water, until it
seemed to dawn upon him all at once that
he had been assailed by some enemy, and
it was then that the excitement of the
occasion increased.
Quickly throwing his huge ''fukes" high
into the air, as if he were attempting the
feat of standing upon his head, he dove
far down into the depths of the ocean, and
the line that led between the rowers ran
out like lightning, Missed and smoked as it
passed around the logge7-head and cut
through the E'chock" in the bow.
As the whale had thrown his "dukes" in
sounding, my long experience had taught
me where to look for his temperance, and
glancing aft at Blue-Fin, pointed in the
direction where the fish would "bre2k
water"
A nod from the lad showed that he com
pretended my signal, and with sweep of
the oar, he headed the boat accordingly.
Out, out ran the line, fathom after
fathom, showing that our prize was de-
scending to great depth. One tub had
been emptied and nearly half the other
before the rope slackened.
Haul in and coil away" | ordered. for
knew the whale was coming to the sur
face.
They cannot stay under water long at a
time, and especially if they are disturbed
before they have finished their spouting.
We had gathered in fifty fathoms, when
the whale appeared at the surface: but this
time he did not lie quietly. He started
off at more than railroad speed, dead to
windward, and we towing in his wake.
Firmly each man elutched at his thwart,
while Blue-Fin stood as rigid as a statue
carved in stone, his eyes never for an in
slant removed from the whale.
Mile after mile We covered, the sprays
flying about us in sheets but not drop
entered the boat, so great was the speed at
which we were travelling.
AT last our captive became tired, and
stopping moment, again turned hukes"
and " sounded"
We had been looking for this, and, be-
fore his tail had disappeared, the turn "
of the line had been cast off, and il began
again to run out furiously.
This time not so far, however, nor with
such velocity, showing that cur catch was
becoming somewhat exhausted.
He did not remain below more than
minute before reappearing.
We were now sure of his capture, for
glance assured us that he had lost his
courage and would fall an easy victim to
the sharp lance which ] held prepared to
throw into him.
The huge monster seemed resigned to
his fate and offered no further resistance.
1t is not unfrequently so with whales
They viii often lie motionless as logs and
receive their death-blow without a strug-
gle, but more often fight "tooth or fuke"
according to their Species, TO the bitter
end.
A few darts of the keen lance, and our
captive shot thin Jet of blood into the
air through his blow-hole-this is the
whales signal that he has "struck his en-
sign" and "given up the ship"
We now backed off and watched his
death with the greatest eomposure, and, as
he rolled his fin out of water, ] laid the
lance down and went aft to congratulate
Blue-Fin upon his courage and presence of
mind
s'What else could / do, sir?" he said.
1--WE didn't want to lose the whale, and |
saw in minute that poor Joe was gone.
was next TO the irons, so | took them and
chucked' EN-"
"You are brave lad / replied, and
you have earned the berth of boat
steerer.' and when we get aboard the ship
I'll have the old man rate you, and you
can bring your chest aft into the steerage
and can take care of my boat"
For two seasons after this, one north in
the Arctics and one in the Southern Pa
cifc, Blue-Fin remained in my boat, and
never but once, when he threw an iron,"
did we lose the whale, and then it was
through no fault of the lad.
1t has been many years since Blue-Fin