s a sea-otter hunt, for it affords
not only the keenest sport, but the greatest possible financial reward.
The method of the hunt is somewhat complicated in some of its features.
When the otter dives the boats gather in a circle, and as soon as it
appears every bowman does his best to strike it with an arrow. The first
arrow to strike the otter makes the latter the property of the lucky
bowman, who, of course, knows his own arrow by his mark. As, however,
the first arrow may not stop the otter, the "owner," as the boats close
in upon the game, may very probably call out what he will pay for
another arrow lodged in the body of the otter. Instances have been known
where the first bowman has in his excitement pledged away more in
arrow-interest than the total value of the skin amounts to, so that he
is actually loser instead of gainer by the transaction. The arrow
closest to the tail is the one which most prevents the otter from
diving; hence the value of the arrows is measured by the distance from
the tail, the arrow of each man being so marked that it cannot be
mistaken.

All of this etiquette of the otter-hunt was, of course, unknown to the
white boys, whose main interest, indeed, was one of sport rather than of
profit. They were keen as the natives, none the less, and eagerly
watched every signal given by the leader of the hunt.

At last Jimmy held a paddle up in the air, a signal for the other boat
to slow down. A moment later Rob spied the otter lying stretched out
motionless on the water as though asleep, as indeed likely was the case,
since that is the method of sleep practised by this species. Now, a few
fathoms at a time, the native edged the bidarka up toward his game,
precisely as the Aleut chief had approached the whale. The dory, no
longer rowed furiously, but now paddled silently by John and Skookie,
approached on the other side. As they now were on a comparatively smooth
sea, and not more than fifty yards from the animal, Rob motioned to his
companion to allow him to fire with his rifle, but the latter
emphatically refused. He knew that an arrow safely lodged is more sure
to bring the sea-otter into possession than a rifle-ball, which might
kill it, only to cause it to sink and be lost.

Jimmy now laid down his paddle, took up his bow and arrows, and
signalled to Rob to paddle ahead slowly. A few yards farther he motioned
for the headway to be checked, and just as the bidarka stopped he
launched his barb