The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-04-30
Z y the dim and .stuffy recesses of
! the fo'c's'le of the Beiuga a silent,

tuc 1O le VI tAc DCiuSa u SAi>h'
sullen company OF men Of allshades
of color sat at their 4.30 a. m.
breakfast. Some munched stol!dly at
blocks Of fat pork and flinty biscuit,
others just drank alleged coffee and
smoked. And they were the majority,
for few there are who, after a night of
sleep, especially in such an atmosphere.
can rise and begin the morning meal
land such mcaD in five minutes. But
those who did not eat concealed their
portions about their persons. usually
in the breasts of Jumpers" for there
was never more than enough to go
round.
Suddenl.', with voice like that Of a
frantic bull, came the expected COM
mand, "Now. way boats, there" 1t
was Immediately followed by a STAN
pede. each man struggling to be first
up the narrow ladder, each man dread
ing the sure and painful! position Of the
last. Reaching the deck, the rushing
band divided itself in four, one part to
each boat, where it hung cleaning
spectrally against the violet sky. None
cast 4 glimpse upward or around, for
none had time or thought to spare. Yet
the scene was entirely worthy Of mans
best notice. The daily miracle Of dawn
always is-but here! The ship lay mo-
tionless, anchored apparently upon q
lake of transparent ink. in whose Still
depths strange gleamings occasionally
heightened its mystery Of utter dark
ness. Around rose tie solemn tree-clad
hills Of Hapai, now In deepest shadow.
Away to the south, southeast and east
the way out to the broad bosom Of the
Pacific Ia. clearly open between the
several islands, and although from the
two former quarters there was as vet
no tightening Of the deep velvety pur-
pie of the night, there was something
remotely like the opening OF Goor
leading from dark hall into the clear
air; little draught Of freshness seemed
stealing in from thence. But from the
east there came through that gap a
ouivering throb Of opal-tinted light,
Just rippling along the horizon and
touching the still waters that lay be-
tween it and us with the suggestion OF
glory to come, the first heart beat of
that sweet day before which the mod
est stars paled and vanished. And
overhead the returning legion Of flying
foxes, fresh from their long nights
raid among the fruit trees. passed like
suuadrons Of dark spirits Fastening
back to their native gloom at the ad-
vent of light, and occasionally from
their midst came a wall wringing the
heart like a sudden terror.
To mos Of us all this was but sug'
gested. hardly realized; yet we moved
with utmost quiet. unconsciously fall
ing in with our environment. And
when the rattle Of block. the sharp
click of an oar on gunwale, OF q
hoarse oath broke the sacred peace OF
the moment. an Involuntary "Hush!'
rose to the lips. Ten minutes after ou1
appearance on deck we We're all In ou1
places and, with the steady, splashless
stroke Of trained whaling oarsmen
were silently gliding toward the por
tails Of the day. AS the oars rose and
fell they lifted overhowing chalices OF
emeralds, and rs the sweet dark crep1
away great lakes Of ever changing
color, Of infinite and indescribable va
riety, stole over the placid surface Of
the quiet sea- A cool breath crept from
the dawn point to meet us; 1t kissed
our heated neckS, put fresh yigor int
our strokes, freshened, strengthened
until at a ringing shout Of command
We flung our oars with one accord ant
prepared to make sail. Is it Of an!
use, I wonder, trying to describe th'
scene that greeted US as We did so9
fear not. where so many master hand
have failed, so let me say simply tina
the pass ahead, leading seaward, wa
afiood with molten ruby, amethyst ant
opal, with q background Of flaming
gold, before which the shrinking eye
closed. "And the glory of the Lore
was revealed" Ha, ha! how raptur
'ously the blood, so sluggish before
courses through our veins as the boats
birdlike, skim over the sparkling wave
on the lightsome way to windward
But the business Of the day needs re
membering. We are out after whales
and unto him who can first report tn
presence Of one, afterward caught
shall be given SO. So a keen lookou
is kept for while, until the wonderful
beauty of the scene obtains the swa,
over our minds again, and the boat
glide swiftly along the steep shores o
the outermost island.
Ah-blow-w-w-w-ww almost in
whisper and several hands are pointe'
to where, against the dark green OF tn
cliffs, yet in shadow, three vapory splr
ais Of varying heights show clearly
But what can three mean? Two 0
them we can account for-the broaC
bushy one and the tiny jet only fou
or five feet high. The third, howeve
closely associated with the other two
and of great height. puzzles us-doe
not delay us, though. for with paddle
unshipped We urge the progress of OIL
craft toward those vast unconsciou
mammals so pleasantly sojournins i
the shade. We are abreast of then
helms are put up. and all four boat
bear down upon them with the sWoo