Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-10-16

blow at the boat and rushed by, gong in
the direction of the ship. As we swasn
we could hear the shouting on board.
Cummings got his boat to lee of the
ship. The whale coursed back and forth,
exhibiting unmistakable evidences OF
angry defiance. They feared that he
would run them aboard.
On our part, we saw that our boat re.
mained uninjured, and returned to it;
the last but one of us was climbing in,
when the mate again shouted: "Jumpl
He's coming"
l took long header out, on the side
next the ship, and as rose, heard
Clash behind Inc. The whale had re-
turned and made an end of the boat this
time.
We all swan in the direction of the
ship, and Dir. Cummings boat stole
cautiously round the bows and picked us
up.
Meantime, Madagascar jack was
thrashing the fragments of our second
boat to pieces; there could te no doubt
as to his fighting quality. We had already
lost one man and two boats; and the
Captain deemed any further effort to kill
him suwise aud extra hazardous. So
thought most of the men.
But the second mate held out and ex-
claimed;
'Is there man who will go with me
for a set at that old man-killer, or will
We see me 90 alonel"
The Captain did not exactly forbid it;
and three of us, Coles, the blacksmith,
boat-steerer named Preston, and I,vol-
unteered to accompany Andrews to make
a third attack on the whale.
We pulled around the bows in Mr..
Cummings boat and heard the whale
at a little distance, near where he had
stove the last boat.
A few drops Of rain were falling, and
the mist had settled again instead of
clearing.
"Ship your oars aud take the paddles"
said Andrews. "Dip easy"
He picked up the boats lance instead
cf the harpoon. eff we can creep up
where can get good set at him just
behind the hump, it's all l ask, he con-
tinued, under his breath.
Immediately we espied the black back
of the monster Though the mist, not
half cables length away. He seemed
to be lying there as if on the watch for
us. Then, after moment or two, ne
thrashed the floating spllnters of the boat
again.
With hearts humping hard, for we
felt it to be a matter of life and death,
the boat was propelled forward on the
left side of the whale, and glide past
his fiukes. Andrews planted his foot on
the rail- and seized the lance pole in both
hands.
The whale moved slightly forward;
but the boat continued overreaching him
for several seconds, till we were nearly
abreast his shoulder.
Then the mate lunged at him with
will, burying the lance in his side.
He had struck the 'life;" the lance
entered so deeply, that Andrews went
half overheard with it.
The whale squirmcd spasmOdically,
then started forward, staving in the
broadside OF the boat before We coull
edge of. We jumped out and divcd as
deep as possible, to escape a second
blow.
swan under water for twenty or thir-
ty wards, and when rose and got the
brine out Of my eyes, I saw the whale
making off. Andrews and both the
others had risen near me; anl a moment
after we all saw blood fly from the ami
mails spiracles.
Madagascar jack was done for at
last. He Jagged around for ten or fif-
teen minutes, however.
They could not see us from the ship;
but they had lowered another boat, and
on Andrews's triumphant hail, came and
picked US up.
This whale made eighty-five barrels of
sperm oil; and we had, moreover, the
satisfaction of having rid this ocean of
dangerous "rogue. y Youths Companion.