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

As Uncle Thatcher ran, 90 ran his
neighbOrs. Bounding across fields, leap
ing fences. rolling down the sandy lace OF
the bluff, they arrived breathlessly before
a small wooden nut at the foot OF sand
dune. little distance up from the edge of
the beaeh-the bost-house OF the whaling
company. Their captain. having good
legs and wind. timely notice and the
shortest distance to travel. was. as usual
hrst to reach the goal. and BY the time
the crew arrived, had already thrown
open the large double doors which con-
stituted the entire front OF the hut. reveal
ing within a completely fitted whale-boat
that stood checked upon ways that ran
down into the surf. There was too much
excitement, and too little breath among
the eager men who joined him, for waste
of words. Each knew his place aud
busted himself with the duties pertaining
to il. One looked to the harpoons. An
other saw that the lance was in its pace.
and the flashing OF its wooden cap thrown
off. A third was careful 10 see that the
long line, nicely cOiled in it's tub. was free
from loops or kinks in the coil. BY tins
time all the crew were assembled. and
gTasping the thwarts of the boat from be-
meath which the checks were kicked out.
ran her swiftly down to the waters edge
and launched her. sDringing in over her
sides as She rode out upon a receding
wave. Uncle Thatcher sat in the stern.
The bow oar was held by Lem Pawlett. a
sturdy young fellow who had earned by
his strength, skill, and courage the envied
post OF harpoOner.
Once launched, the men rested on their
e.
Quiringly to the man on horseback, as If
awaiting a signal from him. During this
brief period of inaction. little good-na-
tured chatting passed between the younger
men in the boat and their disappointed
neighbOrs who came too late to take
places st the oars. All belonged to the
same company, but only the first Corners
were, by their rules, al owed TO man the
boat This crew would have fatigue, peril,
possibly death to encounter but they
would also have the excitement of the
chase and a somewhat greater share OF the
profits, In the event OF success, than those
who remained behind so there was al
ways great ort made by every man to
be first to catch the signal OF the mounted
lookout, who was on the bluffs ali day
long-snd first, if possible, to reach the
boat-house-
in the boat. This is the third time,
hand-running, that he has missed going
out. II looks as If he was afraid since we
tackled that finback."
If you couldn't run any better than
you can row I'd beat you here every
time" rstorted Dan.
Il dreamed last night Of rolling a bar'l
OF OIL" remarked a iniddle-aged man in
the crew, "and I'd a swOre this morning
that I'd be after a whale before the day
was over ! never knowed il to fail"
And then" answered one on ehora,
'you came down and sat on the beach all
day. waiting for the signal. II isn't fair
20 play dreams on the rest OF us that way,
is it boys9"
"No. We've got TO pull him out of bed
at daylight hereafter. and swear him on
what he dreamed the night before"
You'd better not try il. keep gun"
But you don't know how to load il.
You want to come right out Of that boat
now, and start fair. Billy"
IN run You fifty yards on the beach
for your place. Billy"
That wasn't what the dream meant.
Billy"
"What did Il mean, then?"
"Why, that you were going to find q
bsr'l of rum in the Napeague sedge next
light OF the moon."
There was a general laugh, for Billy's
operations against the peace and dignity
OF the customs authorities were, like those
of Uncle Thatcher, an open secret among
his neighbors.
Suddenly Uncle Thatcher raised bis
band. and eli were silent. turning their