The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-02-08

eyes to the man on the bluff, who was
looking through glass out upon the sea.
while holding his little red flag extended
at arms length and still. After few
moments he raised the bit of bunting
twice above his head, held it motionless
for an instant. pointing toward the east,
then waved it once.
"She blows and breaches two points
south of east and q mile away" exclaimed
| ncle Thatcher, translating the language
of the flag. Pull, bows Pull away"
With aIrow-lilSe swiftness The boat
darted from the shore; but hardly a
sound, as the oars piled rapidly in the
rowlocks and the ashen blades bent in the
heaving pillows, could have been heard q
half-dozen yards away. Nearer and
nearer they drew 10 the whale. and bv
this time the rowers were painting with
their eXertions: but not a man lost his
stroke. and not a word was uttered save
the captains low and earnest caution
Harder a port" Although so close to
the monster that they could hear it blow,
not one OF the crew turned his head.
Up bow" commanded the captain.
In an instant Lem Pawlett, throwing
his oar into the boat was upon his feet,
with a harpoon poised in both hands
above his head, his face toward the bow.
He was within four or five fathoms of the
whale. Another stroke of the oars re-
duced the distance TO two; aud then, with
a mighty effort, he launched the keen
pointed iron into the huge, black, shining
mass that lay before him. Quick as
thought the harpooner was in his seat,
oar IN hand, ready to respond to the in
simultaneously NV OrHar NRnpH oil W
And the boat seemed to spring away from
its dangerous proximity 30 the whale, al
most as if It's motion was recoil from
LENS powerful stroke. Ike huge crea-
ture, thus rudely startled. lesped clear of
the water, ia sudden fright and pain, then
darted raight downward toward the bot
tom. And now ensued the most anxious
moments Of the chase. The line attached
10 the harpoon ran out from its coil in the
tub abaft of 'midships. around the logger
head astern, and thence forward, between
the men as they sat at their oars and over
a roller in the bow, following the fleeing
whale so fast that 1t fairly Kissed. Lem
sat ready with Ratchet in his hand 10
cut II, If necessary as it might at any mo-
mcnt be, to save mans life. For should
a kink or loop occur in that swift speeding
rope, and catch one of the crew by arm,
or leg, or neck, it would either kill him at
once or hurl him, like a stone from sling.
into the sea, were il not quickly severed.
Fortuna ely for his hunters. nature has
placed the whale under two serious dsad-
vantages. His field of vision ia so limited,
owing TO the position of his eyes, that it is
not difficult 10 approach him close il his
pursuers are cautious to keep back of his
fiukes; and he must, from time to time,
come to the surface TO breathe. However
deep and far he may plough his way be-
meath the waves, his enemies know that
it is only question of time when he will
have to come up and subject himself TO
another attack; and however mighty his
energies he must eventually succumb, il
the hnrpOon holds and the line Is not cut.
Down, down went the tortured animal,
until the men began TO cast anxious
chances at the supply of line remaining in
the tub. But presently the speed slack
ened. The whale was coming up again.
Having once more taken breath, and
made a violent but vain effort to shake
himself free by beating the waves with his
flukes and tail, the leviathan started off
at his highest speed, swimming near the
surface. The boat. following in his wake.
dragged along with such velocity that
great sheets of water and crests of foam
ieaped from her bows, and the crew were
drenched with spray. Suddenly he again
sounded az his diving toward the bot
tom ia technically termed by whaers.
But this time his stay beneath the surface
was less prolonged. He was becoming
exhausted. Still he continued to mako
prodg Gus struggles to escape.
At length he lay quivering upon the
surface. resting. Swiftly, once more, the
bOat aDDrOacled him and TTncla Thatch-
err jumping from his place at the stern.
stepped lightly forward upon the seats,
carrying the lance, a long, keen edged and
pointed blade of steel. 1t is the post of
honor, which belongs OF right to the Off
Ger in command of a whale-boAt, to give
the coup-de-Rrace TO the whale, to launch
this steel into his life" With strong aud
practiced arms Uncle Thatcher drove the
weapon deep into the monsters vitals.
and so quick was he that he was enabled
to strike with effect second time before
the "hurry." or death struggle, began, and
the boat again backed away. AS il mad
with agony and despair. the diving noun
tain of flesh beat the water about him into
foam, rushed frenticaly to and fro. seem.
ing to seek his ensmies rolled over and
over, all the while, whenever he spouted,
throwing crimson torrents of his life blood
into the air. Gradually he became weaker
and weaker; at last was still. The victory
was won.
Slowly and laboriously the crew lowed
the enormous carcass to the beach. foi-
lowed closely by the back fins of several
large sharks. attracted 10 the place by the
scent of tine whales blood.
TO BE coSTINUED NEXT WEEK.