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

We were In the Japan sea, cruising
for right whales.
Our ship was the Georgetown of New
Bedford, Capt. Williamson old sea-
dog. with lists like the knots of an oak
tree and tremendous breadth of
shoulders.
This man had the reputation of hav-
ing captured the largest whale ever
caught in these scas-a hump-backed
fellow" which on being tried out
yielded 140 barrels of oil.
The skipper was proud of his fame
as Il skillful whale-hunter, which. in
fact, was well deserved. He could
throw the barbed iron further than
most men, and was always cool and
sclf-posseSsed in moments of the great
est peril. whether it was during his
lights with the monsters of the deep
or with the angry elements.
1t was 4 close. sultry day. Far and
near the surface of the sea lay un-
broken by single ripple.
A yelloWlSh yapOr or haze had. how
ever, for some hours been noticed to
Windward. 1t seemed to rise slowly
and to spread gradually over the blue,
bbNiottdCi 1olINtlNc dboN US. lC
sun, meanwhile, had assumed a singu-
lar appearance. 1t had turned to a
fiery red color. and was surrounded by
u green and blue ring, which seemed
to revolve round and round it.
Finally a hollow, humming noise
was heard. as if some brazen instru-
ment was being blown by unseen beings
far above our heads.
At the same moment from aloft, like
the wild cry of some distant sea-bird,
we heard the voice of Hindok-the
kanaka boatsteerer who kept look
out at the mainmaSt head.
There blows! There-there- there
blow-ow-S,"
''Whereaway?n yelled Williams,
through his speaking-trumpet.
At the same moment the sun-browned
faces of Ill the men on deck were
turned aloft
Three points of the lee-bow-two
miles OLA try right whale, sir. There
blows. blows! bIowsm
Call all handsm roared the captain
This was done and all hands below
came bounding on deck.
Stand by the boats!" was the next
order.
The boat-steerers-y young, active fell
lows. all of them-sprang into their re-
spective boats to get their lines and
craft in readiness.
Lower away ordered old Will
liams, with lightning celebrity making
his way to the deck.
The four boats dropped splashing in-
to the sea and the next moment away
they went after the whale.
In about half an hour we lay on our
oars waiting for the whale to come up.
Hindok stood in the bow. scanning
tie ocean with his eagle eyes He was
" .ae-looking specimen of an island
CT rs was ever seen. His frame was
taL! and supple, his arms long and
sincwy, his shoulders of great breadth,
and his chest round and deep.
DO you see anything. yet?" iu-
quired Williams.
Nothing yet see, sir" answered the
islander casting dubious glance
around him.
The haze had filled all the air and
the suns light WAS darkened omin-
ouslv.
The humming noise previously al
luHed to had grown louder, and we
could all see n great line of white water
tearing down toward us from wind
ward.
suddenly Hindok, pointing ahead.
whispered:
There. dat fellow. sir.'
Your oars, men," hissed the cap
tain through his set teeth.
We seized the oars. and the boat
gli'!ed swiftly and noiselessly toward
where the ripples ahead showed that
tue whale was coming up.
We had not got halfway there. when
up came the leviathau, shooting straight
from the sea. his whole monstrous
form revealed, his fins outspread like a
pair Of wings.
A moment he remained poised ap-
parentiy on the very end of his fiukes;
then down he came, striking the sea
like a thunderbolt. and sending the
spray dying in white. binding shower
all around him.
Now. Hindok-give it to himv
screamed Williams.
4 line of steel-blue light went
through the air. then arother, and we
were fast.
Hlndok had put both irons in the
wna!e ut the distance of six fathoms.
With 4 backward rush the monster
nearly struck the boat. The vapor
from his spout came into our faces.
and the boat. thrown over upon her
s'arboard gunwale. was nearly cap
sized.
Down went the whale the next mo-
ment Sounding and away went the