Fighting the Whales, or, Doings and Dangers on a Fishing Cruise (English Edition) [Kindle-editie] beoordelingen het boek quotes

Fighting the Whales; or Doings and Dangers on a Fishing Cruise was written by Richard Michael Ballantyne, who is also the author of "The Lifeboat;" "The Lighthouse;" " The Iron Horse;" "Under The Waves;" "Rivers Of Ice;" "Shifting Winds," Etc. Etc. Published in London in 1886. (150 pages)The Publisher has copy-edited this book to improve the formatting, style and accuracy of the text to make it readable. This did not involve changing the substance of the text.There are 4 illustrations from this book that are available for viewing and download at www.digitaltextpublishing.comNote:Plan Of This Miscellany......THERE is a vast amount of interesting information, on almost all subjects, which many people, especially the young, cannot attain to because of the expense, and in some instances the rarity, of the books in which it is contained......To place some of this information, in an attractive form, within the reach of those who cannot afford to purchase expensive books, is the principal object of this Miscellany......Truth is stranger than fiction, but fiction is a valuable assistant in the development of truth. Both, therefore, shall be used in these volumes. Care will be taken to insure, as far as is possible, that the act stated shall be true, and that the impressions given shall be truthful......As all classes, in every age, have proved that tales and stories are the most popular style of literature, each volume of the series (with, perhaps, one or two exceptions) will contain a complete tale, the heroes and actors in which, together with the combination of circumstances in which they move, shall be more or less fictitious......In writing these volumes, the author has earnestly endeavored to keep in view the glory of God and the good of man.Contents:Chapter I. In Trouble To Begin With — Chapter II. At Sea — Chapter III. Our First Battle — Chapter IV. "Cutting In The Blubber" And "Trying Out The Oil" — Chapter V. A Storm, A Man Overboard, And A Rescue — Chapter VI. The Whale — Fighting Bulls, Etc. — Chapter VII. Tom's Wisdom — Another Great Battle — Chapter VIII. Death On The Sea — Chapter IX. Keeping The Sabbath — Chapter X. News From Home — A Gam — Chapter XI. Return HomeExcerpts:....."Look out, lads," cried Tom, and at once throwing the turn off the logger-head, he made an attempt to clear it. The captain, in trying to do the same thing, slipped and fell. Seeing this, I sprang up, and, grasping the coil as it flew past, tried to clear it. Before I could think, a turn whipped round my left wrist. I felt a wrench as if my arm had been torn out of the socket, and in a moment I was overboard, going down with almost lightning speed into the depths of the sea. Strange to say, I did not lose my presence of mind. I knew exactly what had happened. I felt myself rushing down, down, down, with terrific speed; a stream of fire seemed to be whizzing past my eyes; there was a dreadful pressure on my brain, and a roaring as if of thunder in my ears. Yet, even in that dread moment, thoughts of eternity, of my sins, and of meeting with my God, flashed into my mind, for thought is quicker than the lightning flash......Of a sudden the roaring ceased, and I felt myself buffeting the water fiercely in my efforts to reach the surface. I know not how I got free, but I suppose the turn of the line must have slackened off somehow. All this happened within the space of a few brief moments; but, oh! they seemed fearfully long to me. I do not think I could have held my breath a second longer......When I came to the surface, and tried to look about me, I saw the boat not more than fifty yards off, and, being a good swimmer, I struck out for it, although I felt terribly exhausted. In a few minutes my comrades saw me, and, with a cheer, put out the oars and began to row towards me. I saw that the line was slack, and that they were hauling it in—a sign that the whale had ceased running and would soon come to the surface again.....