XXVI. AT ADVENTURE WITH A WHALE. T daylight, as usual, our mast-head was manned; and at about seven o'clock we heard the cry, "There she blows!" All on deck listened to hear the cry again, that they might feel an assurance of a sperm whale being in sight. 2. In a few moments the well-known cry was repeated, and reiterated a number of times. The officer on deck inquired, "Where away?" "Right ahead, sir," was the reply. "How far off?" "About three miles; headed right athwart us: I can see his hump; it is an old soldier, sir." 3. Now a scene of bustle and confusion presents itself; some going aft, and others preparing the boats for the expected encounter. There goes flukes," is heard from a dozen voices aloft; which implies that the whale has sounded. 4. A large whale remains under water from forty minutes to an hour; but when on the surface, and when not alarmed, spouts about once in every thirty seconds, and remains above, going at the rate of four miles to the hour, for ten or twenty minutes. 5. There she blows!" captain, in a hurried tone. beam, sir." "Haul up the mainsail; lay the topsail to the mast; down with your helm: let the ship come to the wind." "Where, where?" asks the "About two miles off our lee 6. The helm is instantly put to lee. The ship comes up, dashing the spray majestically from her bows, until checked by the action of the wind against her mainsail. "Is all ready for lowering?" asks the captain. “All ready," is the reply. 7. After descending to the deck, the captain points out to the officers the direction in which the whale is going, and gives such orders as the occasion requires. The boats are lowered; the whale has sounded before the boats touch the water, and each one steers as judgment dictates in regard to the supposed course of the whale. ADVENTURE WITH A WHALE. 93 8. To-day the captain's boat was within a short distance, when the whale made its appearance; and every nerve was strained to get alongside before it sounded. "Pull, my good fellows; pull away!" was often repeated. "Lay back, every man! A few more like this chap ahead, and we will bid adieu to the Pacific. Stretch hard, every one of you; a few more strokes, and she is ours; pull hard, I tell you." 9. At this momentous time, every one feels the importance of strict obedience. Some who have not been accustomed to the deadly battle with the monsters of the deep pull with heavy hearts, dreading the moment of attack; while those who have been long in the business feel less dread; although a strange sensation creeps through every bosom, as the sea looks black with the bulk *of an unwieldy monster, who goes down to the oozy ocean caves, then rises to the regions of day, and spouts out his pent breath towards heaven. A chill of dread comes over the hardiest bosom. 10. But the boat goes fast. It is now alongside. The word from the captain to the boat-steerer is, "Stand up!" which is done, his hands resting upon his harpoon. Now he raises it, as if he would plunge it deep into the whale; but a motion from the captain deters him. 11. The whale lies spouting, with little motion. The boat's head is laid towards him; the word is given. Two harpoons are darted into the whale; he rears, plunges, and is lost to the sight. 12. The other boats are seen coming to our relief; and the whale rises again in sight. "Haul line, haul line; haul, I tell you: we will kill her before the other boats get up," says the captain. Every man hauled as if for his life; the whale going through the water very rapidly. 13. We had approached our object within a few feet, and the captain was in the attitude of darting his lance, when the whale made a sudden halt, which brought the boat in contact with his head. In an instant the jaw was elevated, and as quickly fell again, which stove the boat in pieces. 14. While the other boats, which were at a distance, approached for our relief, we were some of us clinging to the shattered fragments of the boat, and some of us swimming in the water. We were rescued, and immediately carried to the ship. One of the crew, a young man from New Hampshire, had his leg broken in three places, and the flesh torn and mangled in a horrid manner. 15. After our arrival at the ship, and our first care of the wounded man, whom we placed in as comfortable a situation as our circumstances would permit, we saw the waist-boat engaged in perilous conflict with the enemy who had wrecked us. After a bloody battle of two hours, they succeeded in killing the "old soldier." N° That trembles on the leaf or flower In summer's thunder-shower; II. So with our deeds, for good or ill They have their power, scarce understood; Then let us use our better will MALIBRAN AND THE YOUNG MUSICIAN. XXVIII. MALIBRAN AND THE YOUNG MUSICIAN. 95 N a humble room, in one of the poorer streets of Lon I don, little Pierre, a fatherless French boy, sat humming by the bedside of his sick mother. There was no bread in the closet; and for the whole day he had not tasted food. Yet he sat humming, to keep up his spirits. Still, at times, he thought of his loneliness and hunger; and he could scarcely keep the tears from his eyes; for he knew nothing would be so grateful to his poor invalid mother as a good sweet orange; and yet he had not a penny in the world. 2. The little song he was singing was his own, one he had composed with air and words; for the child was a genius. 3. He went to the window, and, looking out, saw a man putting up a great bill with yellow letters, announcing that Madame Malibran would sing that night in public. 4. "O, if I could only go!" thought little Pierre; and then, pausing a moment, he clasped his hands; his eyes lighted with a new hope. Running to the little stand, he smoothed down his yellow curls, and, taking from a little box some old stained paper, gave one eager glance at his mother, who slept, and ran speedily from the house. 5. Who did you say is waiting for me?" said the lady to her servant. I am already worn out with company." 6. "It is only a very pretty little boy, with yellow curls, who says if he can just see you, he is sure you will not be sorry, and he will not keep you a moment.” 7. "Oh! well, let him come," said the beautiful singer, with a smile; "I can never refuse children." 8. Little Pierre came in, his hat under his arm; and in his hand a little roll of paper. With manliness unusual for a child, he walked straight to the lady, and, bowing, said, — “I came to see you, because my mother is very sick, and we are too poor to get food and medicine. I thought that, perhaps, if you would only sing my little song at some of your grand concerts, may be some publisher would buy it, for a small sum; and so I could get food and medicine for my mother." 9. The beautiful woman rose from her seat; very tall and stately she was; she took the little roll from his hand, and lightly hummed the air. 10. "Did you compose it?" she asked,—“you, a child! And the words? Would you like to come to my concert?" she asked, after a few moments of thought. 11. "O yes!" and the boy's eyes grew bright with happiness," but I could n't leave my mother." 12. "I will send somebody to take care of your mother, for the evening; and here is a crown, with which you may go and get food and medicine. Here is also one of my tickets come to-night; that will admit you to a seat near me." 13. Almost beside himself with joy, Pierre bought some oranges, and many a little luxury besides, and carried them. home to the poor invalid, telling her, not without tears, of his good fortune. * 14. When evening came, and Pierre was admitted to the concert-hall, he felt that never in his life had he been in so grand a place. The music, the myriad lights, the beauty, the flashing of diamonds and rustling of silks, bewildered his eyes and brain. 15. At last she came and the child sat with his glance riveted upon her glorious face. Could he believe that the grand lady, all blazing with jewels, and whom everybody seemed to worship, would really sing his little song? 16. Breathless he waited, -the band, the whole band, struck up a little plaintive melody; he knew it, and clapped his hands for joy. And oh how she sung it! It was so simple, so mournful, so soul-subduing;- many a bright eye dimmed with tears; and naught could be |