From Colchis Back to Argos, No. I [pp. 343-350]

348 FROM COLCHJS BACK TO ARGOS. [APRIL,
takes a wide circuit and returns. Now, and various were the speculations as to
be ready! His eye seems to sparkle with what it could mean. We were about
energy, and dark bars appear on his 300 miles from land; the boat was evisides, like those of a perch. Quick as dently without oars or sails; but we
an arrow he has struck the hook, and is could distinguish persons moving and
fast; and now, if your tackle is strong, occasionally shaking a white cloth to us.
you may revenge the flying-fish. No Some vessel had doubtless foundered,
sooner does he find himself fast, than and these were the survivors of the
his helm is put hard down, and every crew. We pictured to ourselves their
nerve is strained to resist the traction emotion at the sight of relief at hand,
that is made with a strong hand. The and an escape from the pangs of hunger
whole broadside of the captive is oppos- and thirst. In about two hours our
ed to the water, and you can not gain an boat returned, and reported that it was a
inch; but the ship must proceed on her large canoe, old, rotten, half full of water,
voyage, and, though you have gained and the persons on board of her were
nothing, he is sensible of having lost sea-birds, known as "boobies." The
ground, and makes a prodigious spring captain looked fiercely at the mate, at
into the air, and before he again touches the mention of the word "booby," and
his element he has neared the ship by gave the orders to "hoist in the boat,"
several yards. Now he makes another and "ready about." The next day the
effort in an opposite direction, and, after wind freshened to a gale and drove us
several such unavailing struggles, he off our course.
yields exhausted, and is raised on board, November 291k, i85o.-We have been
where he again renews his vain strug- beating up with light winds for some days
gles, clearing a space in the curious toward our port. For a day or two we
crowd with the unsparing strokes of his have had views of the twin volcanic
tail, until he has covered the deck with peaks of Guatemala; to - day the water
his blood. Who has not heard of the shows indications of a near approach to
dying dolphin? The rapidly changing land, and lofty mountain peaks are visihues of green and gold flash and fade at ble td the northward. The bark Kirkintervals; his blue fins stand out erect wood hove in sight, and bore down to
as in swimming, his surface is in a fine speak to us. When off a mile or two
tremor, the colors seem more brilliant to leeward, our whale left us and went
than ever, and all around exclaim "How to the bark, but returned soon after. He
beautiful!" But it is the last, and he showed great restlessness last night; and
lies at your feet lifeless, of a dull lead to - day, whenever we stood off on the
color, as homely as any other fish. outward tack, he kept close under us,
Off the Gulf of Tehuantepec some- only rising to blow, which he would do
thing was seen resembling a boat, about close under our quarter, and most comfive miles off to windward. The captain monly to windward; but whenever we
examined it with a glass, and thought he stood toward the land, he invariably
could distinguish two or more men in it hung back and showed discontent. This
making signals. The ship was put about, afternoon, in green water, he left us. It
and a boat lowered and sent off to their is twenty - four days since he attached
assistance, in charge of the second mate. himself to us, and during that time he
This was an incident to ro~se the sym- has followed us as close as a dog to an
pathy and interest of those who live in emigrant's wagon. At first we abused
the consciousness that there is but a him in every way that our ingenuity
plank between them and a watery grave, could devise, to drive him off[, lest he