The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1930-08-22
Continuation Cd
CHAPTER XVI

After laying in my store OF
nests" continued Fritz, Il pur
sued my way through this vault
ed cave or corridor; which, pres
emily turning, opened into a very
lonely bay, so calm and lake-like
that, although of considerable size
/ concluded at once it must be
nearly land-locked. It's shores, be
yond the rocky boundary through
what seemed the mouth of a riv.
er, beyond which lay rough, and
probably marshy, ground, and a
dense forest of cedars, which
closed the view.
1.-THE water beneath me was
clear as crystal; and, gazing into
its depths and shadows, | per-
ceived beds of shell-fish, like
large oysters, attached to the
rocks and to each other by tufts
of hairy filaments.
eff these are oysters thought
l, they must be better worth eat
ing, as far as size goes, than our
little friends in Safety Bay and
thereupon | hooked up several
clusters with my boat-hook, and
landing soon after on the beach,
/ flung them on the sand, resolv-
ing to fetch another load, and
tow them after me in the fishing
net.
"The hot sun disagreed with
their constitution, l suppose; for
when | came back the shells were
gaping wide open; so | began to
examine them, thinking that af-
ter all they were probably much
less delicate than the small oys-
tiers we have learned to like so
much.
Somehow, when a thing is to
be examined, one generally needs
a knife. The blade met with re-
sistance here and there in the
creatures body; and still closer
examination produced from it
several pearly balls like peas, of
different sizes. Do you think they
can be pearls? l have a number
here in a box"
ooh, show them to us, Fritz"
cried the boys. What pretty shin
ing things! and how %delicately
rounded, and how softly they
gleamt"
"You have discovered treasure,
indeed!" 1 exclaimed; why these
are most beautiful pearls! Value
less, certainly, under present cir |
cumstances; but they may prove
a source OF wealth, should we
ever again come into contact with
the civilized world. We must visit
your pearl-oyster beds at the ear
Hest opportunity"
After resting for some time,
and refreshing myself with food"
Fritz; 81 resumed my
survey OF the coast, my progress
somewhat impeded by the bag of
shell-fish, which l drew after me;
but / proceeded without accident
past the mouth of the stream to
the further side of the bay, which
was there Enclosed by a point
corresponding to that through
l had entered; and between
these headlands I found a line Of
reefs and sandbanks, with but a
channel leading out to the
open sea; from which. therefore,
Pearl Bay, as l named it, lies
completely sheltered.
1.-THE tide was setting strongly |
shore, so that / could not then
a passage through it, but
the crags Of the head
and, thinking I might perchance
discover a second vaulted arch
way. / saw nothing remarkable,
however, but thousands of sea
owl of every sort and kind, from
he gull and sea swallow to the /
albatross. +
"Mly approach was evidently re- j
as an invasion and tres {
,ass; for they regularly beset me, t
icreaming and wheeling over my S
lead, till, out Of all patience, |
TODD up, and hit furiously about /
ne with the boat-hook; when, +
ather to my surprise, one blow +
truck an albatross with such q
orce, that he fell stunned into :
he water. !,
IL now once more attempted to .
the reef by the narrow chan
eel, and happily succeeding, found
1yself in the open sea, and speed :
ng homeward, joyfully saw our
lag flying, and heard the well d
ONE salute you fired" 9
Here ended the narrative; but [
ext morning Fritz drew me aside
nd confided to me a most re- e
larkable sequel, in these words: v
There was something very ex- o
raordinary about the albatrOss, S
ather. I allowed you to suppose b
hat I left it as it fell, but in C
eality l raised it to the deck of s
he canoe, and then perceived a
iece of rag wound round n of a
s legs. This I removed, and, to :
ly utter establishment, saw Eng !,
sh words written on it, which #
plainly made out to be: Save .
unfortunate Enalishwoman :
the smoking rocki' :
NJ. 1I@+I@ c0~1no cant W
lrilI through every nerve: my