The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1930-08-29
BY Jean r. Wyss

breeze put us all in the highes
spirits. The entrance of the arch
way was in sight, and thither
was directing the boats course
Suddenly, right ahead, I saw {
dark and shadowy mass just be
low the surface of the water
"a sunken rock" / thought tt
myself, land yet it is strange
never before noticed it." / put
\ down the helm in a moment, blu
a catastrophe seemed inevitable
We surged ahead! A slight
shock, and all was over. The
danger was passed.
I glanced astern, to look again
at the dangerous spot; but the
rock was gone, and, where but a
moment before. I had distinctly
see it's great green shadow, l
could now see nothing. Before we
had recovered from our amaze
ment, a shout from Jack surprised
me.
There is another" he exclaim-
ed, "to starboard, fatheri"
Sure enough, there lay, appar-
emily, another sunken rock.
"The rock is moving," shouted
Franz; and a great black body
emerged from the sea, while from
the upper extremity rushed a col
mi of water, which, with "a
mighty noise, rose upward, and
then fell like rain all round. The
mystery was explained; for, as
the great beast emerged yet fur
Their from the water, I recognized
from its enormous size and great
length of head, the cachalot whale.
The monster was apparently en-
ragged at the way we had scratch
ed his back; for, ~retreating to a
short distance, he evidently medi-
tated a rush upon us.
Fearful stories occurred to me
of the savage temper of this
how he has been known
to destroy boat after boat, and
ships, and with a feeling of
desperation I sprang TO one of
the guns. Jack leaped to the
and almost simultaneously
we fired. Both shots apparently
took effect; for the whale, after
the water violently for a
few seconds, plunged beneath its
surface, and disappeared. We kept
a sharp lookout for him, for l
was unwilling to lose such a val
liable prize, and, reloading, stood
.oward TIE shore, in which direc-
ion he was apparently making.
Presently we again sighted him
n the shallow water, flashing fear
ully with his tail, and dyeing the
waves around him with blood.
the infuriate animal
IS nearly as | dared, we again
The struggles of the whale
eemed for a few moments to be-
ONE even yet mor frantic, and
hen, with a culver from head
tail, he lay motionless-dead!
The boys were about to raise
be cry of victory, but checked
he shout upon their very lips;
Or darling behind a rock they
spied a canoe padded by a tall
nd muscular savage, who now
TODD up in his skiff and appeared
} be examining US attentively.
eeing that we were standing to-
ard him, the swarthy native
eized his paddle and again dart
l behind a rock. An awful
now took possession of
e.. There must be a tribe of
lacks lurking on these shores,
I'D Fritz must have fallen into
leir hands. We however, I de-
'rmined, should not be easily ia
en-; and our guns we're loaded
Id run out.
Presently a dusky face appear
peeping at US from a lofty
,ck; it vanished, and we saw
lother peeping at us from low
down. Then, again, the skiff
It out as though to make a fur
r~econnoiter. All, even Jack,
oked anxious, and glanced at me
r orders.
Hoist a white flag" said |,
d hand me the speaking
lmpet."
| seized the instrument and Mt
red such peaceable words in the
alay language as | could recall;
ither the flag nor my words
emed to produce any effect, and
g savage was about to return
the shore.
lack hereupon lost patience,
d in his turn took up the
lmpet.
Come here, you black son of
gum" he exclaimed. Come on
ard and make friends. or we'll
IVY you and your"
stop! you foolish boy
said; you will but alarm the
n, with your wild words and
No! but see," he cried, "he is
toward usi"
and sure enough the canoe was