Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

The Middletown [Conn.] Gazette, furnishes the following case of remarkable presence of mind of the master of a Whale ship, when in a situation of the most imminent peril:
Captain Chester, of the Whaling ship Ann Maria, of this place, on her late voyage round the East Cape, met with the following adventure. One of the boats having fastened to a whale, as is customary, a second boat, in which was Captain Chester, approached and drove a second dart into the monster. In his rage and agony, the whale rushed with great rapidity through the water, when the rope attached to the harpoon, caught Capt. Chester round the leg above the ankle, and drew him overboard. At this critical moment he seized a knife, sticking in the gunwale of the boat, and thus armed, was drawn under water. The rope soon made a turn round his body. In this situation, moving rapidly down, he first cut that part of the rope round his body, then cut the rope fastened to his leg. Being thus relieved, he rose to the top of the water, and raised his hand grasping the knife, some distance from the boat. He was discovered by the crew, who hastened to his rescue, and took him on board, almost exhausted. He was drawn down about thirty fathoms. The Capt. is now well, and preparing for another voyage, nothing daunted by his adventure.