The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-12-18

~ on l0e lever with the water
Nearly at the same moment the
storm struck us.
All around US the wind howled with
terrific fury. and the foam and spray,
almost binding US. drenched every
man to the skin. The ocean seemed
one mass of white, boiling water. in
which the dragged boat was buried so
often that we were nearly swept from
our thwarts, while the tub oarsman,
whose duty it was to bail. yainIy en-
deayored to keep the craft dry.
The al had darkened with the fly
ing rack and scud. which. in torn
masses, were blown hither and thither
like phantom demons come to seize Us
and drag us down TO the depths below.
At last the whale came up, and we
hard old Williams give the order to
Haul line lhere.n
Haul we did, but it was like hauling
along under the surface, for the boat
now was almost continually buried.
In fact, when we were near enough to
enable the captain who. according to
custom, had chan -ed places with Hin
dok, taking his station IN the bow-to
hurl his lance, the boat was full of
water.
Williams, however, standing un-
moved, threw the lance. The whale
felt it, and, writing, turned, making
straight for the boat.
Stern, stern!' screamed the cap
tain, as he spoke again planting the
lance in the monsters body.
Na ~ phav hnt frroaf
mass of binding water. with spray
and foam, struck us, and over went the
boat.
The last object | saw at that time
was Capt. Williams, seated astride the
capsized boat, churning away yigor-
ously at the whale. Then | lost con-
sciousness.
When | came to became sensible of
sort of flying motion, rs if | were be-
ing borne through the air.
| opened my eyes to see myself in
the arms of Hindok. who sat astraddle
the capsized boat, which was dashlng
along through the water, drawn by
the whale. The storm was still raging,
and the effect of the black and scud,
with the white, boiling sea, lighted by
the CHASTITY glare of the sun struggling
through the vapor was so weird and
singular that for moment | half be-
lieved myself in some uuearthly region.
Hindok. with his black hair stream
ing on the blast, and his wild eyes
flashing a lambent glare, added to the
strange effect of the scene.
Where am I?n | inquired.
''All right" answered Hindok
Boat capsize; eapting hurt whale SO
he no can so down. All right. We
get whale.
"Where is the captain?"
Don't know. Guess other boats
pick up"
How came you to pick me up?"
Boat strike you on head. You go
faint. Me by you. Me pick you up
aud get on boat with YOU"
As had now fully recovered my
senses Hindok, cautioGiny me to hold
on hard to the boats keel, let 90 of me.
scrambled along behind him and
there we two were clinging to cap
sized boat in storm, with whale so
injured that it could not sound, drag
ging us onward.
On. on, on.
The seas flew up around us. and the
spray nearly blinded us, yet we clung
firmly to our hold.
glanced behind me several times to
see the other boats. almost out of sight
astern, tossing III the caudron of
waters, their crews evidently watching
Us. Still further astern. with the black
rack almost hiding her like IA curtain,
lay the good ship under close recfed
main-topsail and fore-topmast stay
sail.
Meanwhile there was the whale. our
ocean horse.n drawing us on, his
spout ascending now and then with the
noise of thunder. The sharp keel
made our position very uncomfortable,
and yet we were obliged to maintain
it, as any motion sideways would in-
sure the rolling over of the boat. which
we could not then hope to regain.
1t seemed to me as if the speed of
that whale would never relax. Away
he went to leeward, now and then ris-
ING out of the water, revealing his
great body with the two irons sticking
in it. | had never before obtained such
a good view of the whale in motion.
The vast back of the monster was
fully shown every time he arose from
the creamy waters. There was his
hump, SO thickly covered with bar
nacles. as TO resemble a hillock of
oyster shells. with here and there a
broad cut which had healed up, but
betokened that this was not the first
time he had felt the barbed iron. 1t
was. however, the singular appearance
of the huge head which most impressed
me. Long and ill-shaped, with its
diminutiye eyes there was something
so unearthly in its appearance every
time it was lifted up that | involun-
tarily thought of the fables of sea-
monsters which | had read when child
and which had first inspired me with
the desire for a sea life.
Drenched and shivering. the situa-
tion of Hindok and | was. meanwhile,
anything but comfortable. with rush
ing pain in my head about the region
of the temple which told ne that had
been struck when | first tumbcd into
the sea.
On-on-still on.
Now | glanced behind me. no more
TO sec sup vi DodlS. All "tlc Iihhcu
bv distance and the black rack of the
storm.
The speed of the whale. however
had now begun to abate. His motions
were palpably more feeble. and his
spouting became weak and less fire.
quent. aud sounded mournfully.
Soon die now-hooray" cried wild
Hindok, as the whale at last spouted
blood.
The blood came every moment thick
er and slower. The boats speed now
was nearly stopped.
Finally over went the monster on his
side, the blood now rising scarcely six
inches above his spout-hole. He SWAN
feeble, describing half-circle, and
then-he died.
Got whale.' cried Hindok. moving
his hands joyfully.
"Ay." | answered. but where is the
ship?''
Never mind ship" answered the
wild islander. his mouth fairly wat5t-
ing as he looked toward the vast up
l.. Il IN