“THERE she blows!”
The cry from the crow’s nest sent the men on the deck scurrying to their places. The old square-rigged whaler, “Capital City,” changed course slightly and headed for the whistling spout of foam that meant a whale. Captain Ludlow took the glass from his eye and called to the mate.
“Better send out the longboat with the other two; he looks like a humdinger, from here. You can never tell about the big fellows, they dive deep, and we may need more line!”
The order was relayed swiftly and the longboat went over the side. The other two were already approaching the monstrous bulk that idled in the sea, never suspecting the approaching doom.
Dickie Nelson, in the bow of the longboat, coiling the line in the bucket, was tense with excitement. As the Capital City’s cabin boy, he rarely had any fun, except when the eighteen-foot dory went over, and that wasn’t often. Many times he had pleaded for a chance in the one or two boats, but they could only use men, he was told. No room for a fifteen-year old. He fixed the harpoon in place, adjusted the razor-sharp barb, then crouched to watch the chase.
The number one boat eased alongside slowly. It was up to this crew to make the first play. The monster was the dirty, dark color of a sperm whale at his peak, and beside him the boat looked like a peanut shell against a half-submerged log. “Blackie” Cole stood with the harpoon posed for the strike.
For a moment he was doubtful, for the creature was tremendous, by far the largest he had ever seen. Clearly visible in the wrinkles of the thick hide were the shafts of four other harpoons! This fellow had gotten away from that many boats, and probably killed some of the occupants with his mighty flukes, or dragged the boats under in his mad dive. For a moment, Blackie hesitated, then the barb flashed, and sunk deep into the body of the sperm! The next second the sea was a mass of foam. A pair of flukes threshed the water as the whale shot ahead. Twisting and turning to get rid of the stinger in his back, he rose porpoise-fashion from the deep.
Blackie played the rope out carefully; the dory was dragged swiftly through the waves! Then the monster dove! Straight down into the black abyss of the ocean. The rope was uncoiling swiftly. In a moment it would play to its end, and the boat would go under. Just in time Blackie snatched up an ax and severed the line with a single stroke. Everyone breathed easier after that.
They rowed up to the number two boat and exchanged a few words. The crews knew that the whale would reappear soon to blow, and they tried to determine where. So engrossed were they, they failed to notice a “shadow” on the surface. Suddenly the “shadow” raised, and both boats were tossed in the air. The great whale, angered by the harpoon, had come back to kill!
DICKIE let out a shout. Everyone in the longboat turned to see the sea giant crushing the smaller boats to splinters. The water was dotted with men swimming desperately. Their heads were much too small for the whale to spot, so he charged the boats. Time after time his nose rose in air, to come down on the wreckage. His flukes pounded the planking to matchsticks. The gaping maw of a mouth opened and closed on what was left of the boats. Then, with the suddenness of his coming, he slid under.
The longboat was busy picking up the survivors. Dickie fished them out with a boat hook and they headed back to the Capital City. Lines came down the side and the injured were hauled aboard. The uninjured went up the rope ladders to the deck. Dickie was left alone in the longboat to attach the block and tackle to the bow and stern hooks. Then, from the lookout came a warning shout.
“She’s coming this way. Looks like she’s gonna ram us! You, in the longboat-push away, fast’.” Dickie lost no time in getting away. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the great monster hurtling though the waves, intent upon ramming.
Quickly, Dickie jumped to the oars. He pulled with all his strength to get out of the path of the enraged mammal. The men on the deck milled about waiting for the impact.
It came with a thundering crash. The masts quivered, and the planking splintered under the onslaught. The sea churned from the powerful flukes. The whale backed off, and for a minute it seemed that his rage was over, but it had only begun!
ON he came, again! His charge was even more furious than before! He raced through the wave-tops and bore down on the ship. Head on, the whale crashed against the side, this time springing the beams and opening the seams of the vessel. The waves from the monster’s mad rush almost swamped the longboat. The men on the whaler were afraid to take to the life rafts for fear of being attacked, but, if they stayed on board they were in danger of being drowned if the ship sank. For the third time the whale backed off, even further than before. The barb in his back was still infuriating him. Here was an enemy that must be destroyed! He crashed into the stern this time, sending the ship about in a circle, and more seams opened.
In the longboat, Dickie was almost beside himself with anxiety. His pals, on board, were in danger, and he could do nothing about it. This third attack seemed to stun the monster and he withdrew, lay on the surface a short distance from the boat. “It’s now or never,” Dickie thought. “We have to do something!”
If the whale charged again it would mean certain destruction for the Capital City and her crew. Already she was beginning to list. He knew that there were no other dories on board, and the men were not in position to cast harpoons from the deck. So, he decided to act.
The oars of the longboat dipped into the water, and the boat slid along silently. The least noise would probably arouse the giant creature. On the Capital City the men were strangely silent, sensing what Dick was about to attempt.
“Get on him from behind, kid,” one called guardedly.
“Don’t bump him before you get the barb in him or he’ll get you!” called another. Dick waved to let them know that he’d heard them, and pulled at the oars. The whale was blowing now, a stream of spray shooting skyward. Fortunately, the sea was choppy enough to conceal the longboat. The little pig-eyes of the whale were submerged just below the wave crests. Looking back, Dick could see that the men on the ship had already shifted the ballast to keep the leaks in the side above water. A battle to the death was imminent. It was either the whale, or the men of the Capital City, that would survive.
Before he knew it, the shadow of the monster was on his bow. Dick slipped past the flukes and followed the curve of its side until he was directly aft of its head. Here was a vital spot. If he could drive the harpoon into this spot the whale would be finished! But, other men had tried it, and weren’t successful. Could a fifteen-year-old boy finish this gigantic killer?
DICK hefted the harpoon, straightening the lines. He planted his feet firmly, then let the spear fly. It whipped through the air, and struck home. Startled, and mortally hurt, the whale threshed about then flashed ahead. The line at Dickie’s feet squirmed shake-like as it followed the harpoon. Dick tightened up, and the longboat moved in the wake, gathering speed with each stroke of the great fins. He fastened the rope, then crawled to the rudder oar. If the whale should dive now it would be all over.
They made huge circles in the sea, the whale trying to get away, from his tormentor, and Dick hanging on for dear life. The oar twisted under his hands, but he dared not let go. The least side motion would turn him over, and the killer would charge! But, if he could stay directly behind, he could see it to the end! The water sprayed from the bow, the stinging stream nearly blinding him. The boat was bouncing and pitching like a thing alive. The two of them, boy and monster, raced about. In one desperate attempt the whale dove for the bottom!
But it was his last dive, for the final spark of life left him, and he floated to the surface. The longboat coasted to a stop. Dick sat motionless for a minute or two because of sheer nervous exhaustion.
THAT night Dick was the hero. He sat next to the captain at dinner with the eyes of the men on him. Captain Ludlow stood up and addressed him.
“Dickie, today you saved this ship and gave us a full hold of oil. The pumps will hold back the water from the leaky seams until we make port and I just want to tell you that from now on, when the hunt starts you’ll be in the number one boat!”
Dickie’s eyes filled, and the cheers of the men left him speechless as he realized his ambition was fulfilled!
***