Porpoise - Shooting. 489 



erels, herrin's, and all kinds fishes in eddies and rips ; very good 

 feedin'-ground for porpusis, you see."' 



The eddies, or rips, alluded to by Sebatis, were caused by the 

 obstruction offered by projecting headlands to the ebb and flow of 

 the tide, "which on this coast rises some forty feet. 



" Pretty late when we get back, s'pose we go all way to long 

 rips," said Pieltoma. 



''Well," replied Sebatis, " s'pose dark, then we'll camp somewhere 

 all night. I fetch 'im provisions and cooking tools ; sartin, canoe and 

 sail make very good camp." 



Talking did not interfere with their paddling, and we were going 

 at a rapid rate for the place where they hoped to find the porpoises. 

 Presently we entered rough water, with much such a sea as is caused 

 by wind against tide, and the canoe began to jump about in a very 

 lively manner. 



"There goes porpus. Sebatis," said Pieltoma. 



" I see 'im," said Sebatis, standing up in the canoe, gun in hand. 

 Just then we got into some very rough water, and it was a study to 

 see the admirable way in which Sebatis poised himself for a shot. 



Pieltoma was holding the canoe well in hand when quite a large 

 wave smashed over the bow of the canoe, and some water came 

 aboard. 



" Best sit down, Sebatis, take 'im paddle, may be upset," said 

 Pieltoma. 



Sebatis turned a withering glance upon him, and then, as we 

 mounted a wave, fired at some object that I did not see. 



" Was that a porpoise, Sebatis ? " 



" Sartin. Four, five porpusis all rollin' over together." 



M Did you kill him ? " 



" No; miss 'im clean ; all gone down. You see, Pieltoma scared 

 so bad make me miss 'im porpus," he replied, ironically. 



Retaining his upright position in the canoe, he reloaded his gun, 

 and stood ready for another shot. 



"Quick, Sebatis I Very big porpus on tin's side canoe," said 

 Pieltoma. whirling the canoe around so as to afford Sebatis a chance 

 fur a shot. The next moment we were in the trough of the sea. and 

 I saw a flash of silver on an approaching wave ; a belch of fire and a 

 roar from Sebati^'s lmih instantly followed, and Pieltoma paddled as 



