The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1920-09-02
COPTRIGFiT By TIE BOBBS-NERRILL COMPANY

dii nsherihen KNOW IL Is never advis-
able TO strike with spear that gilt.
ttrs. He knew every man Of them
around the fire. But toss Of his
hand, toss CT five hands in response,
was all that passed between them
men that would have carried com.
rade for miles at need; that would
share the last bite with him; that
would knife him just as readily at q
fancied grievance. Such were the
river men; law unto themselves
simple code, warped Enthusiastically
with knife and pistol for Judge and
jury; leftover product Of other days
when clansmen followed their chief
and asked no questions bi-product
Of the border who found 1t hard to
dlsarm when civilization came in.
The Boss slipped an oar into the
water and laid the boat more toward
the south shore. over the deepest part
of the bar. Hardly had he done SO
when the Pearlhunter lowered the
point Of his spear. The outline of an
immense black bass took shape under
the glare OF the Jack light, half hidden
among the swnying verdure. as II ly.
Ing In wait for his prey. which In ~
likelihood he was. a scaly tiger OF the
stream In ambush. The spear slid into
the wnter and stole toward him. All
unalarmed he lay, his fins idly tanning
the fern-like moss In which he lurked,
little suspectlng the five-pronged death
creeping upon him. The points were
within three feet Of the CLOSING scales
when the Pearlhunter struck. There
followed moment Of fierce furry
] among the waving ferns; a little
shower Of spray broke the surface of
the water. and all was over. A fish
does not struggle long when the spear
goes home.
"Six-pounder, II he's an ounce"
chuckled the Boss when the fish lay In
3 the bottom OF the boat. The Pearl.
hunter rested his spear upon the gun
vale and bent above the jack light.
The boat drifted on. H'"''
II was perhaps half an hour later
when, In the leisurely manner Of men
returning from season Of successful
sport, the two fishermen, with the pick
OF all they had iloated over in the
bottom OF the boat, rowed up the
stream. The glare of the campfire
was beginning to slither upon the drip
ping oar blades and the ripples they
raised when the Boss laid the boat
nearer the south shore with the re-
mark:
"Here's where we're expectln' {
hist IN sinners tomorrow--all along
here. Jist look Mt tn tracks. Make a
right smart track, don't they, fer II
beast without no feetr
The Pearlhunter made no answer.
Cr0uched down by the jack light well
toward the bow OF the boat, he had
been for some time watching the I'M
usually thick tangle OF winding marks
upon the Shiny bottom, plowed there
by the mnssels or clans while feed
ing, dozens and hundreds Of the creep
ing bivalves. half buried In the ooze
at that very moment dotting the river
bed.
The Boss was In the very act OF
turning the boat across the river t.
the camp when he was startled by m
excited exclamation from his cOmpsn
Ion. who had suddenly leant low nn'
dangerously far out over the water
He was up on the instant and hat
flashed the jack light around the boat
Ia his dripping hand there was an I'm
mense river mussel.
The old Boss had no sooner caugh
the bluish-purple glitter shedding from
the hinge knobs OF the giant blvnlv'
than he uttered a shout that walked
the echoes up and down the rive
shore, and brought the five men nj thu
camp running down to the waters
edge.
"a Blue Moon" he yelled. "By tn
gods, a Blue Moon"
He snatched II from the hand OF hi
companion and held II under the ful
glare OF the jack light. Next momen
he had handed II back and was drlv
ing the boat to shore, where the firs
glance at the peculiar markings OF tn
mussel instantly threw the who'll
camp into the widest excitement.
They spread down by the light o
the. fire the whItest cloth the camp Of
forded, and the Boss cut the musse
open. One pearl, large, lustrous
dropped out upon the cloth and 10.
twinkllng up Into their faces like
fallen star. II passed from hand T.
hand, the pearl fishers struggling witt
each other for the privilege OF holding
II.
II never seed one bfore." crie'
the oldest "clammer" present, hut
knowed hit were Blue Moon tn min
ute lamped tn she'll"
The pearl, passing from hand L
hand, had come round TO the Bos
again. who. STOPPING close to the fire
light, examined II through a sinai
hand lens such as most pearl fisher
carry. "Pearlhunter." he said, turnlni
20 the young man, "you shorely al
lucky! You've found y'ur peari--an
x..... a. ,.sars 10