62 THE MAROON PARTY; 



The alarm created by the mysterious noise, which still continued, 

 was so great, that terror, taking devotion's mien, induced an unusual 

 concourse to flock to the sacred edifice. In the streets adjoining 

 might be seen throngs of all colours rushing to church, most of them 

 followed by little negroes bearing stools; many of them carrying 

 prayer books upside down. As they approached the church, the noise 

 grew louder ; it sounded like the lowing that one might imagine an 

 ox, as big as the Tamana mountain, would send forth. 



But lo ! on reaching the place of devotion the alarm was at once ex- 

 plained, for on the beach, within a few yards of the church, was found 

 laying a large black substance, which, on examining, every body was 

 of opinion was ct very like a whale." It had perhaps been pursued 

 by thrashers, until it got too near the shore, and the receding tide 

 had left it " high and dry." 



As the royal claim for whales found on the coast is unknown in 

 this island, here was a prize for all who wanted blubber, oil, whale- 

 bone, or such of the flesh as is good to eat. 



Many, laughing at their former alarm, now commenced the attack, 

 all was bustle 



" The fisherman forsook the strand, 



The swarthy smith took dirk and brand." 



Axes, adzes, cutlasses, and large knives were put in requisition. 

 In short, the whole of the lower order of the populace commenced 

 hacking and hewing away at the fish. 



The creature had ceased to bellow ; and, from the large mass of 

 blubber taken from him, they thought he was mere " dead stock." 

 " Why don't you hanchor him ?" said the mate of a London ship, 

 who had been in the Greenland trade, " you don't had according to 

 Oi7" (he was a Cockney). 



This advice was lost on those to whom it was addressed. Each 

 was too busy on his own account to think of doing anything for the 

 public good. " Why don't you run a harpoon in him, and belay it 

 with a lanyard to that house ?" said the mate. 



The only one who noticed this advice was a black man, who, like 

 the whale, was half seas over (for the tide had risen), and he replied 

 with a proverb, giving it a new reading, ie every one for myself." 



Gradually the water came up, yet the dissection proceeded, when, 

 unexpectedly, there 



" Rose from sea to sky the wild farewell, 

 Then shriek'd the timid, and stood still the brave." 



In fact, to the astonishment of all, the whale, with about twenty 

 persons on his back, by a sudden effort launched itself into the middle 

 of the Gulf. The involuntary passengers most lustily bawling and 

 wailing, and the unfeeling spectators on shore giving them three 

 cheers as they were going off. 



After getting into sufficient depth of water, the fish sunk, leaving 

 his blubbering tormentors to the care of the sharks and baracootas. 

 Fortunately the crew, that performed this unprecedented voyage, 

 were all picked up without serious accident. 



