Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-15

swollen out of all shape. Ny clothes in
rags, and my face and body literally daubed
with the clayey soil and torn with the sharp
briers.
At length managed to stammer out that
l was deceived by the owners as to the
length of the voyage, that 1 felt 1 was
wasting my life and was homesick.
When had finished, he said:
''Barker, think the hardships you have
endured are punishment enough for your of
fense. Now. see here. l have an offer to
and full of pluck. Why not make the best
of it for the rest of the voyage? There is
nothing to prevent your becoming master of
ship in few years if YOU are so disposed.
We have been unlucky taking oil, because
our boat steerers can't hit whale. I've
watched your practicing with an iron, and l
believe you are the man 1 want in the head
of my boat. Hereafter it will be your duty
to look after the gear in her 1 will give you
chance to show what you can do, and if
you strike whale for me, ] will take yon
into the steerage and give you as good a lay
as any boat steerer on board. Now, go for
ward, and you needn't turn to- until You
are able to do your work.
Inever knew exactly how 1 reached my
berth in the forecastle. Hunger, exposure,
and fatigue had nearly crazed me. l had
braced myself to take my punishment like a
man, but the Captains kindness had upset
what little strength and sense remained.
For many hours 1 tossed teverIsnly about:
while visions of Maori warriors. minstrel
shows, whales, and home were mixed up in
hopeless confusion.
When, after few days. 1 recovered my
usual health and spirits. 1 was eagerly
questioned by the crew as to what the old
man had said to me. 1 never repeated his
words, but resolved then and there to
stand on the quarterback of a ship as Cap
tain before quilted a sailors ife-a re-
solve which faithfully kept.
AS the old man had no boat steerer at
this time, nothing was thought of the fact
that assumed charge of the harpoons etc,
belonging to the boat, and my secret was
safe.
After few days cruise we raised large
school of sperm whales, and, as the third
mate was sick, the bow boat did not lower,
and the old man took their boat steerer in
his boat. l was terribly disappointed, but
there was no help for it, so 1 manfully
tugged away at my heavy oar, resolved to
show the old man that l was trying to do
my best wherever / might be placed. 1t so
happened that the boats became separated,
and when the whales became alarmed and
sounded" each officer pulled in the direc-
tion in which he thought them likely to ap-
pear when they arose to the surface.
Fortunately for us we were the lucky
ones, for huge whale, the largest we had
seen, came up short distance from our
boat, and we strained every nerve to reach
him before he again disappeared.
''Stand up, there, Manuelp' said the Cap
tain softly, as we neared our prey. "Be
careful, now. and take him Just for ard of
the hump, where it'll hold %
As we shot alongside the whale the old
man yelled:
"Give it to him! Give it to himl What
are you waiting for?''
AS 1 was back to the whale don't know
just how it was done, but it seems the boat
steerer darted both irons wide of the mark,
and the next moment the huge animal
swung his terrible fukes high in the air
and sunk out of sight.
The old man was speechless for moment
with rage, and could he have reached the
unluckv boat steerer think he would have
thrown him overheard. When he found
his voice, he screamed:
''Get out of the boats head, you--
-- nigger!'
Then, fixing his eye upon me, he said
sternly:
"You, Barker, can you strike whale?"
''Yes, SIR" said 1 ''if you give me as
good chance as that!'
81 believe you ean," said he. 'Get ND |
there and give that nigger your oar, and |
haul in your box line and set up your irons |
again Thar's the whale again, close to!'
As obeyed he said, warningly:
snow, Barker, don't you dare to throw |
them irons till tell you to. Do you hear?'. |
"Aye, aye, sir!'' responded.
Once more we gave chase to the whale, |
and soon approached him so closely that 1 |
felt certain my hour OF trial had come. As |
we rapidly shortened the distance between |
us, and realized how much depended on |
my arm, 1 resolved to acquit myself with |
credit at all hazards, and, under the excite
ment of the moment, 1 felt the strengh of |
Samson within me as took up the heavy
hickory pole, six feet in length, and bal
anced 1t in my hand.
When we had approached within about
ten yards of the whale l saw him softly
'cut" the water with the corner of his huge
fukes. All whalemen know this is an in
tallible sign that he is about to Sound"
and was well aware of the fact. 1 had
often thrown an iron in practice fully as lar
as the distance between US and the shining
black hide, and, fearful of losing my oppor-
tunity for promotion, shut my teeth,
gathered all my strength, and, despite
fierce oath of warning from the Captain, 1