The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-12

4 YJTF
lGxssaBJ silence. 1t was IN those placid
where weeks, aye months often pass
without the tnarginless blue level being
ruffied by any wandering keel. Here in
almost perfect security from molestat.on
by man, the innumefablc denzens OF the
deep pursue their ncver-cnding warfare.
doubtless enjoying to tho full the brim-S
ming cup OF life, without weary mo-
Iner; and with no drcary ant.cipations
or an unwanted old age
Now, II fell on day that the cnlm
surface OF that bright sea was broken
by theGsudden unheaYal Of n compact
troop OF sperm whales from tho inscrut-
able depths wherein they had been roam
Ing and recruiting their gigantic ener-
GEES upon The abundant lnollusks hlde-
Gus OF tnien and Unsuitable Of nav. that.
ike creations OF u diseased mind lurkeu
FAR below the sunshine. The school con-
sisted of seven cows and one mighty
bull who was unique In appearance, Tor,
+ instead OF being In color the unrelieved
sepia common 10 his kind. he was Gu
! riously notified with creamy white. maxi
ing the immense oblong cube Of his head
4 look like II Weather-worn noonolith OF.
Siena marble. Easefnl as any Arabian
lshal.f, he lolled supine upon the glitter
ing folds OF his couch, the welcoming
wavelets caresslrg his vast form With
contest touch. and murmuring softly
as By their united efforts they rocked
him in rhythm with their fhelodlc lullaby,
Il Around him gitcd his faithful hareni--
gentle timid creatures. no one OF them
Il third OF their lords huge bulk, but
still majestic In their proportions, each
some forty-iipe feet in length by thirty
In girth. Enthusiastically the monarch
y OF the flood. Their great chief, accepted
Il In conplaccnt dignity their nnremittng
al lntr In Iyff pat
stir him in the least from his attitude
Il OF complete reposc.
But while tho busy seven were thus
disporting themselves In happy security
there suddenly appeared among them
II delightful companion in the shape OF, a
! newly born calf elegantly dappied like
I his sire. the first born son of the young
est mother IN the group. Even the an-
parently iinpenetrable stodidltY OF the
head of the school was aroused info
some faint tokens OF intcregtin the new
conner, who. cluEs leech-l.ke TO his moth
er's side. VIGOROUSLY draining the cnor-
Z nous ccnpexity Of her bosom of ita poun-5
Y tcous food OF milk, So well did he thrive
that at the end OF n week the y0ungstcrl
Il was able TO hold his own with, the school
i iii "a race, and competent also TO remain
under water quite as long as his mother.
Then the stately leader signihed 10 his
i dependents that the TINA was now al
hantl when they must change their pleas
ant quarters Food was less plentiful
than X had been, which was but natural
remembering the ravages necessarily
made by such n company Of monsters.
Moreover. O. lie Of continued ease and
flothful luxury such as of late had been
theirs was not only favorable to the
G growth Of hanpering invest.ture OF
parasites-barnaces, limpets and weed
all over their bodies, but II completely
UNITED them for the stern struggle
awaiting them. when in their periodical
progress round the world they should ar
rive on the borders of the fierce Antarc-
tic Zone And beside all these. had they
forgotten that they were liable 10 meet
with man.
The-outcome OF the conference. decided.
ms human MEETINGS OF the kind arc apt
to be, by the commanding influence of
one master will. Was that on the next
day they would depart for the south by
easy stages through the teemng Oft
shore" waters OF South America. All
through the quiet night the mighty Great
'ires lay almost motionless on the sur
X face. each the OPAQUE center OF n halo
of dazzling emerald Light. an occasional
droway spout from their capacious lung
sliding through the prlmeral stiffness like
the SIGH Of some weary Titan. When at
last the steel-blue dome above, with its
myriad diamond spangles, began TO throb
and glow with trenlulous waves OF lovely
vari-colored light flowing before the cons
quering squadrons of the sun. the whole
troop, in open order about their guide
turned Their heads steadfastly to tho
southwest, steering an absolutely unde-
Waiting course for their destination by
their innate sense Of direction alone. Up
sprang the flaming sun, vast globe OF
feryent fire that, even at hor zons
edge. seemed to glow with meridian
strength, And right in the center OF MS
bazing disk appeared three tiny lines
recognizable even at that distance ~
the human eye as the masts Of a ship
whose hull was as yet below the appar-G
ent meeting-place OF sea ana SKY rms
appartion lay fairly In the path OF the
advancing whales. who. unhapplly TOT
them. possessed but feeble vision and
that only at its best straight behind
them. So on they went in le.surely fash
ion. occasionally pallsing for dlgnl'leu
descent In search OF food, followed by an
equally stately reappearance ana re,
sumption OF their Journey. Nearer ana
nearer thew drew to the fatal area where
In they would become visible 10 inc
Keen eyed watchers at tho masthead OF
that lonely ship still in perfect ignorance
OF any possible danger being at mana.
Suddenly that mysterious sense oWneu ny
them, which is more than any heaF.ns,
gave warning of approaching peril az!
lay still, though quiycrlng through every
sinew of their huge bodies With the APP
4, ir-
prehenslon OF unknown enemies, their
heads half raised from the sparkling sea
surface and their fins and linkes testins
the vibrations OF the mobile element I'm, tiHe
the diaphragm of phonograph. Even
the younglng chung to its mothers sue
as II glued thereto under the lnhuenGe
OF a terror that While it effeotually sun
ed his sport.Yeness, gave MN no nitit y.
what was coming At the Instance "
the Head all sank silently and stone-ilke
without any of those. preliminary tan.
Furnishings and srcll.ng Of the pack .nal
from onethat has received alarming news
in that curious manner already spoken
of. They remained below SO long ana
went to so great depth that all eXcept
the huge leader were quite exhausted
when they returned again to the necesi
sary air. not onYy from priyation OF
breath, but from the inealculable pres
sure sof the superintendent sea- so Tor
brief space they lay almost motlonless,
The valves of their spiraeles deeply de-