Porpoise -Shooting. 485 



his greatest size and most majestic form. The transformation came 

 as quickly, and almost in a twinkling the vail would be lifted from the 

 hill, and the sun would shine out again, bright and warm. Some 

 of the effects of light and shade produced by these sudden transi- 

 tions are grand beyond all power of description. 



Just about daylight next morning, Sebatis aroused me. There 

 was no fog, and it was quite calm on the water, and, as Sebatis 

 remarked : 



"A very good day for porpusin'." 



Pieltoma, a fine-looking young Indian, joined us at breakfast, 

 and, that over, we embarked in Sebatis's canoe and paddled off in 

 quest of porpoises. 



" How far out are you going, Sebatis ?" 



44 Can't tell yet ; you see, by-em-by, may be we hear 'im por- 

 pusis blowin' somewheres." 



44 1 hear 'im porpus blowin' just now," said Pieltoma. 



44 Sartin, Pieltoma got pretty good ears ; I don't hear 'im nothin' 

 •tall." 



" I hear 'im, sartin," reiterated Pieltoma. 



44 Which way?" asked Sebatis. 



"Away up on rips, this side Eel Brook. Hark! you hear 'im 

 now ?" he continued. 



44 Sartin," said Sebatis. "We go now pretty quick." 



Simultaneously their paddles struck the water, and away we went 

 with redoubled speed. I was listening intently ; but, so far, my unedu- 

 cated ears failed to detect the sound. 



44 There goes porpus ! " said Sebatis, dropping his paddle and 

 taking up his gun. 



Just' then a deafening roar came from the stern, where Pieltoma 

 sat, and the canoe tilted slightly over, 



" By tunders!" cried Sebatis, in a chiding tone. 4< You miss 'im 

 porpus sartin, and most upset canoe beside ; some time you bust 'im 

 gun, s'pose, you put in so much powder." 



I his custom of overloading their guns frequently results in serious 

 accidents to the Indians, and I know two Indians, one with a broken 

 jaw and one with a broken shoulder, the result of this habit. In 

 this, however, they are not singular, as the fishermen of Newfound- 

 land, who use old muskets for duck and seal shooting, overload 

 3'A 



