Year: 1876

one afternoon IN chase OF 'SlXty-barrl


bulls, on what was known to the initiate


as t'Middle Ground" between Austr,lli


and New Zealand. We made fast to ON


of the whales, lively fellow, who gave u
| something of dance before We Succeede


in giving his death wound.
But all the time our Steed had been run
! ming US to leeward, and meanwhile the CAP


tain hal struck another, and the ship KEEP


qCr iutf, 50 as to support the windwar


boats.


The second mate also kept near the cap
tain. and when our whaie went in hi


'.flurry, which was not until nearly sun
| down, we could make out from the maneu
vers Of the ship that the boats were wind
ward of her.


The sun was just dipping when we got
hole cut in our whales nib-end, and stral
rove for towing. A dark cloud bank wa,
settling down in the windward horizon
out of which strong wind might be ex
pected on short notice. An attempt witt
single boat, to tow The wha to wind
ward would be sheer folly; there was moth
ing for US to do but to either give up oul
prize. or to wait the movement of the ship


The mate looked anxiously at the ship
and at the threatening aspect of the wealth
er; then at the sixty-barrel bull, the prizC
we had fought 50 hard to win, and seemed
unable, for time, to make up his mind
what course to pursue.


''What do you think of it, Beers?" said
he, at last, to his boatsteerer, with the
manner of one who wishes to divide his re.
sponsibilities with counseIOrs.


"Well, don't know, sir; it looks kind o
iubrious to hang on here, the ship won't
run off the wind till she let's that whale
fiuked, and I don't know as she will then.
And there will 6e change of weather
within an hour"


''And it'll be dark in less than an hour, >
added the mate. ''lf there was prospect
of fair weather, l wouldn't care for the
darkness, because we could keep the run
of each others lights; but rs it is, | think
we'd better waif the whale and get to the
ship while we have daylight"


A hole was cut in the body of the whale,
and the ''waif, flag, attached to slen-
den spruce staff from the towing strap,
and the order given to pull ahead, the
boats head being laid to windward, on a
bee-line for the ship, then some four miles
off.


We were glad enough, it must be confess
ed, to abandon the whale, and consult our
own safety. 1t was very early in the voy-
age, and no similar emergency had before
occurred. We had seen Just enough of the
captain to feel that he was driver, where
the interest of the voyage was concerned.
Consequently the mate, a very young Off
Ger, felt a keen responsibility, and an
equally keen anxiety tolearn how his course
would be judged.


1t was quite dark when we pulled up I'M
der the lee of the Druid within hail; but
the black squal still hung threatening in
the sky. and there had been as yet no ac-
tual change in the weather. The ship had
her helm up, and was just in the act of
paying of, while the signal-lantern was
Swaying and flickering at the mizzen peak


"What in the - did you leave him
forF'


The mate made no reply to the question
until the boat was secured alongside by her
warp, and he had jumped in on the quar-
ter deck. The ship continued swinging off
until her head was pointed in the right
direction, but, with her topsails on the cap,
and one whale luked alongside, her pro-
gress was not rapid.


We didn't think it prudent to lie by, !"
said Mr.. Andrews, in an apologetic tone,





appearance of stormy weather."


1--WE didn't think, sir ~ returned Cap
tain Gibbs. Who's we? l want you to
do the thinking, Mr.. Andrews, in charge
OF your boat. The rest didn't ship to
think"


q know it sir, but in case of an emer-
gency it will be well enough to consult
those who are sharing the risk with you"


"Consult be d! Of course Jack will
always say Save my precious ife-cut
away the whale and we'll pay for it,!
And there's sixty barrels of sperm oil gone
to the ID. You might as well look for a
needle in haystaek now. 1t won't do for
us at the outset of the voyage, to throw
away a chance like that. We must run
little risk sometimes-that's what we all
shipped for"


This taunting language had the effect
which might have been imagined on the
young mate.


''Well, I'll bet can run as much risk as
any live man of my inches, if you
think it prudent to do so. But had
charge Of other mems lives, and l should
feel just as responsible to you and them, if
1 had erred the other way by venturing too
much, and any accident had happened.
Haul up the boat, my crew, and jump in"


" Hold on, Mr.. Andrews" said the Cap
tain. we can run down the best part Of
the distance with the ship"


When we judged ourselves within
mile Of where the whale had been left, the
ship was then brought to the wind again.
There had as yet been no increase Of wind,
and, though the night was very dark, the
the bank or squall appeared to have lifted
a little, and to have less heavy appear
ance than at sundown.


81 don't believe but it'll all pass over in
a izzle," said Captain Gibbs. 1 don't see
any change in the barometer. Now, Mr..
Andrews, believe you eau find that whale
again. think l could, at any rate"


" All right" was the reply, with a ner-
vous twitching that showed how the young
man was stung by the words. If you can
do it can"


"He ought to bear now three points off
the weather bow" were the last words
thrown at US, as we cast off FRONT the ship
and departed to "out oars" "Pull
right off hereway, and you must fall into
his slick, and then you can follow down."


Setting our light as soon as we were well
clear, we passed away into the darkness,
leaving our floating home behind, until the
dim signal st her gaf faded to a mere
speck in the distance. 1t was evident
from the air Of quiet determination about
Mr.. Andrews that he would cruise all
night rather than return to the ship with
out his whale. We at the oars had nothing
to say about the matter it was ours SIM
ply to obey.


1t was long before we found any trace of
the "sliek, but after pulling back and
forth over the ground, fearful Of passing
on one side Of it, and getting too far lee
ward, we at last had the satisfaction to see
we were in it; positive assurance that
we still had the water-gauge Of the object
OF our search. At the same time brighter
light famed up from the ship, made from
burning old scraps on the back arches OF
and we made out that she was
again keeping of TO be nearer to us.


We pulled Justify now, being encouraged
by the signs, and still keeping in the slick,
followed it as our guide; for so dark was
the night, VIC could not possibly see the
whale until we should be very close upon


Old Beers stood up in the head Of the
boat, looking with all the eyes in his head,
to catch glimpse, either OF the waif, or of
the wash or "white water which would
Indicate the whales position.


But now there was suddenly change in
the air, which l could only describe as
sense OF dilution or refraction, with a sigh
ma sound that was ominous Of approach
ing evil. The weather quarter of the
heavens, instead OF darkening more, ap-
Peared to tighten a little, and the black
pail split in two and parted right and left
Outof it came few drops Of rain and
then the wind followed with vengeance.


The first blast struck us with a fury that