The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-01-22

time we came down again gently and
stopped finally under the leaves of q
| great olive tree.
"The two women came and looked
at us attentively a few minutes, then
left the boat and ] saw them no
more.
"In spite of my great fear my curl
osity was SO strong that could not
keep from opening my eyes to look af-
ter them. After l raised myself |
struck against a branch that hindered
my movements. ] cut it OFF and hid it
under the seat. then could see out
side OF the boat, and through the
darkness ! saw that we were in agreat
olive grove,a in the distance Icould
see tigares gliding in the shadow.
"'lt is somedance of Lamia's,' |
said to myself; and was about to
awaken Thomas when | heard APP
preaching footsteps. Thinking that it
might be the two women, | lay down
and did notmove. 1t was they. They
came into the boat, which immediate
ly began to move.
"ln a few moments we were again ut
the lefty at Maspe.
"After having moOred the boat the
elder woman said: My daughter, we
must bid them farewell forever. For
ever say, for you will never see this
boat again or any member OF Ter crew.
In two hours from this time they will
all be at the bottom ofthe ocean,
"'But the ocean is assmooth as OIL
"'Nevertheless, before they shall
Il, ~, ,,o,,oJ A.. D.
Will cause to rise three huge waves
the first oil milk, the second OF tears
and the third OF blood. They will es-
cape the first two, but nothing can
save them from the last. 1t is my tate
to hate them. Ihavepersecuted them
all winter, removing the fish fromtheir
course, and since my power over hem
ends tomorrow evening, l will end by
burying them under the waves Ishall
have mercy on no one. You mustnot
forget that it is our mission to abhor
them all, and above all others, those
who love us best
Let us then yield to our fate.
But what ii by some unhappy chance
they should not go to sea to-day
Hush, fool! 1t is impossiblel
They will go, and they will perish.
There is but m single way by which
they might escape from the fate that
threatens them; but they do not know
it,
"'What is the way, mother9:'
"tBy plunglng a harpoon into the
midst of the last wave, the wave of
blood; for that wave will be I, myself.
! shall hide beneath its waters, and
the blow that should strike this wave
should pierce my W heart
"'Oh, mother, what if they knew
it?'
That cannot be, since no one
knows this secret but you. They
shall he mine, and at our next noctur-
nal festival no one shall be able to
boast of success comparable with
mine!,n
"Witn these words she babe us
awake, and they both vanished with
shrieks Of loud laughter"
The boy ceased to speak. Some OF
us did not believe q word he had spok-
ell; Others explained his tale by a
dream and Knocked him. "But tell
me" said he to the latter, docs any
one OF you know ofano olive grove with
in a circle OF 10 miles of this place."
They knew of none--but Bilinch drew
from under one of the seats an olive
branch and waved it triumphantly.
saying: Look, here is the branch |
cut when l raised my head; | hid it
there that you might believe my word
and know that these two women are
not theproduct of a dream"
No one could say a word against
such positive proof, for no olive tree
grew within less than ten miles. The
fatal branch washanded silently from
II to another. A superstitious ter
ror seized the most incredulous, and
we repeated, shuddering, GA Lamia,
a Lamial"
The captain rose, and. taking the
helm, commanded silence. Then,
turning to me, he added, Thomas,
take the harpoon. Stand at the
prov with open eyes and a firm arm'
At my first order strike firmly INTO
the water! And you others, to your
oars!"
Our boat cut the waves rapidly
The trembling light of thedawn smiled
on the surface of the water, which was
not rippled by the lightest breath OF
air, The boat flew onward, and
through the morning fog the trees and
shrubs on the shore seemed to be
taking a strange flight.
We doubled the point and reached
the bar. There no trace of danger
on any side, but nobody dared to
speak.
All at once, two fathoms in front of
us, there o an enormous wave, as
high ass mountain, as white as snow.
"Attentidh." said the captain, with
his eyes on me. at was true!" he
murmured, with a trembling voice.
The wave of milk"
"Thirty oar blades dipped into the
water at once, and the boat leaped to
the wave. Her brow disappeared in
a cloud of foam, but before the third
stroke of the oars another wave rose
before us, greater than the first, as
clear as crystal; from it rose @ vapor
that caused our eyes to smart.
AS before, we hungfor an instant sus-
pended above the deep, and then the
wave rolled on to break roaring on the
sand.
"The wave OF tears!" said my uncle.
''Open your eyes, Thomas"
The boat swept on, and the fatal
spot was almost passed when we saw,
enkindling the whole horizon, the ter
rible wave OF blood coming toward us
and drawing us into it's terrible en-
brace with an irresistible power. O!
my friend! it would be impossible to
describe to you the terrible anxiety,
the overwhelming fear that held us all
in that supreme moment.
"Strike firmly i'll the middle!' cried
my uncle, crossing himself. l closed
my eyes, and with a trembling hand I
hurled my spear into the midst of the