The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-02-21
BEHIND AN OCEAN HORSE.

We were in the Japan sea, cruising
for right whales.
Our ship was tho Georgetown OF New
Bedford, Capt. Williamson old sea-
dog. with fists like the knots of an oak
tree and q 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 40 barrels of oil.
The skipper was proud Of his fame
as II skillful whalc-hunter, which. in
fact, was well deserved. He could
throw tho barbed iron further than
most men, and was always cool and
self-pusscssod in moments of the great
est peril, whether it was during his
flights" with the monsters of the deep
or with the angry elements.
1t was close, sultry day. Far and
near the surface of the sea lay un-
broken by single ripple.
A yellowish vapor or haze had. how
ever. for some hours been noticed to
windward. 1t seemed to rise slowly
and to spread gradually over the blue,
uncloudcd c0ncave above us. The
sun, meanwhile. had assumed a singu-
lar appearance. 1t had turned To IA
fiery red color, and was surrounded by
green and blue ring, which seemed
to revolve round and round it.
Finally hollow. humming noise
was heard rs il 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 boatstccrcr, who kept look
out at the mainmast head.
There blows! Thcrc-thcrc-thc
blow-ow-s!'
'.Whcrcaway?" yelled Williams,
through his speaking-trumpet.
At the same moment the sun-browned
faces OF NIL the men on deck were
turned aloft.
Three points of the lec-bow-two
miles OLA try right whale, sir. There
blows! blows! blows!
Call all hands!' roarcd the captain.
This was done and all hands below
came bounding on deck.
Stand by the boatsr was tho next
order.
The NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. active fell
lows, all OF them-sprang into their re-
spcctve boats to get their lines and
craft in readiness.
Lower awayr' ordered old Will
liams, with lightning celebrity making
his way to the deck.
The four boats dropped splashing in
10 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
the ocean with his eagle eyes. He WAS
rs ..no-looking a specimen OF an island
cr rs was ever seen. His frame was
tall and supple. his arms long and
sinewy, his shoulders Of great breadth.
aud his chest round and deep.
do YOU see anything. yctp" in-
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-
ously.
Tho humming noise previously al
luded to had grown louder and wo
could all see great line Of white water
tearing down toward us from wind
ward.
Suddenly Hndok. pointing ahead,
whispered:
There. dat fellow. sirl'
.'Your oars. men" Kissed tho cap
tain through his set teeth.
We seized the oars. and the boat
glided swiftly nnd noisciessly toward
where the ripplcs ahead showed that
the whale wns coming up.