PERILS OF POLAR WHALING 



We were the recipients of many words of encouragement 

 from our shipmates, who stood ready to rescue us as soon 

 as the whales gave them an opportunity. Finally, we both 

 felt that some chewing tobacco would be a comfort, and 

 we hailed the outsiders for a supply; in a minute the air 

 was full of bits of the weed in plug form, of which we 

 secured several samples. As Tom was a colored boy with 

 curly hair, I was obliged to carry our supply tied up in 

 my flowing locks to keep it out of the wet. 



After our lunch of tobacco, we quietly rested on our 

 oars. When we had been nearly three hours in the water, 

 the two bull whales resolved to have a " scrap," and as they 

 broke the circle, the second mate's boat rushed in, picked 

 us up, and started with us for the ship. We were com- 

 fortable while in the water, but half-frozen when we were 

 in the boat. After a good rubbing down, a drink of hot 

 brandy, and a night's sleep, Tom and I were none the 

 worse for our bath in the Arctic Ocean. 



The following year found me again in the Arctic Ocean 

 on board of the brig " Swallow," in the capacity of super- 

 cargo and ice pilot. I subsequently learned that this vessel 

 bore a history, and from all I could ascertain, she had been 

 an opium smuggler, and it was vaguely hinted that she 

 was no better than a pirate, should opportunity present 

 itself to the captain. All the same, she was a smart, 

 swift craft, carrying a crew of about fifty men, and mount- 

 ing eight guns in broadside, and a pivot gun amidship. 

 She was well handled, and was a match for any vessel of 

 her tons and guns. We had only one little " event " on the 

 way north, when the vessel was enriched with some $20,000 

 in Mexican silver dollars, four or five hundred pounds of 

 opium, and a good many thousand Manila cigars. If there 

 are any Chinamen living who participated in this event I 

 will leave them to tell the story. 



However, without any extraordinary happenings, the 

 " Swallow " entered the Arctic Ocean early in June, and 

 endeavored, as far as possible, to keep out of sight of the 

 whalemen, who were now flocking to these waters; and as 

 they were busy, they took no pains to go in quest of us. 

 My previous visit had brought me in touch with some of 

 the natives, and it was not long before they understood 



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