Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-27

was a hull during which only the eight
moaning of the wind was audible. and
every one was breathless with expectancy.
Then suddenly with a rush and roar like
the upheaval of an earthquake the whale
broke water close TO the shippers boat and
came at him straight on end. Nobly the
skipper maintained his high reputation.
With great sweep of the steer oar and a
shout OF pull two. starn three. he swung
his boat just clear OF the huge head. and In
a whirl of white II passed him harmlessly.
And he. losing no opportunity, took aim
with his bomb-gun and fired the mighty
mass surged past, but the deadly missile
only cut deep furrow along the bluobep
of the back and dropped harmlessly on the
other side. The whale disappeared and
must have turned a complete somersaule
beneath the surface. for almost irnmeii-
ately afterward he came up underneath the
shippers boat, striking II with his head
doughtily that the boat was dashed to frag-
ments, and the men, some OF them being
badly hurt, were scattered over the sea
face like wthered leaves. The skipper re-
appeared amid the smother unhurt but full
of fury at his mishap. The other two boa ;
already oYeriaden, came swiftly the
scene and rescued the unfortunate crew.
and II prudence ever formed part OF a Yam
kee whalers equipment when fighting
whales, they should then have retired and
at any rate have got rid Of their extra him
dering hands.
-
But in a hardly artlculate voice. being
nearly choked with rage. the skipper gave
orders to get on to the whale at once.
and all the oarsmen bent to the task as IL
imbued by his spirit. The whale. how
ever, as If in pursuance OF a certain de-
sign, Just kept out Of their reach sculllns
in leisurely fashion along the surface ana.
| 1t could be imagined. Just glancing casual,
ly over his shoulder occasionally to make
| sure of his distance from his pursuers.
lie ha 4 f,,
| hands were goaded into a condition or
| semi madness, and some Of them were
| ready to relapse into panic. feeling that
! this whale indeed possessed of tho
| devil He showed no sign of fatigue. but
| then in great contrast to the usual be-
! haviour OF a fast" sperm whale he had
| INDUCED in no aimless evolutlons but was
| apparently reserving his strength for 4
| time when II would be greatly needed
| nus part of the proceedings indeed would
have been tame but for the fury Of tho
| skipper and mate; they looked as IL mad
ness must supervene shortly. The men,
| whose monetary and reDutational stakes
| were so much less, We're fast reiapsIug Into
| apathy. and in any case the strain upon
| their muscles was beginning to tell warn
! ing tale
Suddenly. cry of horror and warning
| was heard, and cut short in the middle for
the whale, with that amazing agility or
which he had already given them "A fore
taste. had reversed his position and was
rushing upon them. He reached them.
throwing hts huge body crosswise as no
did so that his simultaneous blows OF
head and tail might fall upon both boats.
And amid a crashing of timber. yells Of
agony and roaring of water he disappeared
beneath the surface. which was all be-
strewn with wreckage and helpless men.
Then those on board the ship who at a
distance of less than half mile had been
watching the fray with interest anxiety
were suddenly interrupted in their task or
getting the spare boat off the skids by a
shout from aloft, He's coming for the
ship. All rushed to the rail- to see. and
the vision was appalling. He came hum
dred-ton batteTing ram. at fourteen miles
an hour, head on, pointing direct for tho
Desdemona's broad side. The ship trenl-
bied, reeled over nearly on her beam ends.
and her panic-stricken crew climbed
upon the weather rail thinking she was
going to capsize, they their destroyer
in the last agony with a torrent of blood
pouring from his spouthole because he had
broken his neck. And there was mass or
broken timber where he had struck.
through which the hungry sea was pouring,
But they were men of resource and action
and knew also that the thousand barrels
of oil below would float their derelict So
they divided their small force. and while
half totled to get the boat out for the saw
ing of their comrades the rest endeaYored
to list the ship over by shifting the cargo
to the uninjured side. In little more than
unhappily lost their iives) were taken on
board, and doing what in their exhausted
condition possible for the temporary
repairing of the ship. Meanw bile the gigan-
tic carcase of their late antagonist fioated
peacefully near. as If In death he Knocked
their inability to gain anything by him. as
IN life he had shown himself unconuuera bic
9Pf