32 



ARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



A day or two after this, a cry of Porpoises ! brought all hands 

 on deck ; and here a circumstance occurred, which, though triv- 

 ial in itself, well serves to illustrate the unartificial character of 

 one of the ship's company, the William Sterry previously men- 

 tioned. It is related in my Journal as follows : 



"Directly the porpoises were seen, Sterry, who has a genial 

 heart and strong arm, took his position by the martingale, or, as 

 a Dane would call it, £ Dolphin Striker,' which is under the bow- 

 sprit. Harpoon in hand, there stood Sterry, prepared for a whale 

 or aught else, ready for his blow. Now Sterry was Sterry — Sterry 

 the cooper — Sterry the ship's carpenter — Sterry the ship's black- 

 smith — Sterry the millwright — Sterry the genius — the immortal 

 Sterry, who could eat more pork and beans, and drink more whis- 

 ky out of a two-quart pantry pitcher, without distinguishing its 

 smell and taste from pure cold water, than any other gentleman 

 hailing from his native place of Groton. There indeed was Ster- 

 ry, seemingly hanging between the heavens and the sea, his feet 

 dangling on a tow line, and his hands grasping the martingale 

 back-rope. While I stood watching him, his eyes appeared to 

 roll in fire as they pierced the blue deep, especially so when he 

 struck his head against the ' bobstay chains' in turning to look for 

 the contrast between the porpoises beneath him and the jibboom 

 above. And here I may add that Sterry was a great philosopher 

 on ' contrasts,' pros and cons ; positives and negatives were with him 

 the only 1 hanimals that have souls worth saving.' Well, there 

 stood Sterry preparing to ' pucker,' and pucker he did. A strange 

 sound, which arrested my attention, stole out of his mouth. 

 Startled, I listened attentively, and found him actually whistling 

 for the porpoises / But no porpoise seemed to listen to his charm. 

 Often did he poise his harpoon as his intended victim glided swift- 

 ly through the waters beneath him, but as often did he have to 

 drop it again, At length the porpoises retired, and Sterry had 

 to give up his game. 



" When the attempt was over, I asked Captain B if Ster- 



ry's whistling really did any good, and the reply was, as I ex- 

 pected, ' No, none whatever.' Sterry at the time was within hear- 

 ing, and immediately said, ' I guess-it-did-n't-do-much-of-any-harm- 

 any -how-captain ;' and then, turning to me, added, £ Captain Hall' 

 (so he always called me), 1 1 tell you what it is, Before you have 

 been up North a great while, you'll find you've got to whistle as 

 many whistles as there are species of /^animals, birds, and fishes, 



