f the young heroes of
Contreras or Churubusco. His peculiar merit, whether with the oar, lance,
or harpoon, is bruited about, as well as the number of whales he may have
succeeded in "making fast to," or those which he caused to "spout blood."
It is true, that the great extension of the trade within the last twenty
years, by drawing so many from a distance into its pursuits, has in a
degree lessened this local interest and local knowledge of character; but
at the time of which we are about to write, both were at their height, and
Nantucket itself had not more of this "intelligence office" propensity, or
more of the true whaling _esprit de corps_, than were to be found in the
district of country that surrounded Sag Harbour.

Long Island forks at its eastern end, and may be said to have two
extremities. One of these, which is much the shortest of the two legs thus
formed, goes by the name of Oyster Pond Point; while the other, that
stretches much farther in the direction of Blok Island, is the well-known
cape called Montauk. Within the fork lies Shelter Island, so named from
the snug berth it occupies. Between Shelter Island and the longest or
southern prong of the fork, are the waters which compose the haven of Sag
Harbour, an estuary of some extent; while a narrow but deep arm of the sea
separates this island from the northern prong, that terminates at Oyster
Pond.

The name of Oyster Pond Point was formerly applied to a long, low, fertile
and pleasant reach of land, that extended several miles from the point
itself, westward, towards the spot where the two prongs of the fork
united. It was not easy, during the first quarter of the present century,
to find a more secluded spot on the whole island, than Oyster Pond. Recent
enterprises have since converted it into the terminus of a railroad; and
Green Port, once called Sterling, is a name well known to travellers
between New York and Boston; but in the earlier part of the present
century it seemed just as likely that the _Santa Casa_ of Loretto should
take a new flight and descend on the point, as that the improvement that
has actually been made should in truth occur at that out-of-the-way place.
It required, indeed, the keen eye of a railroad projector to bring this
spot in connection with anything; nor could it be done without having
recourse to the water by which it is almost surrounded. Using the last, it
is true, means have been found to place it in a line between tw