Suddenly a black
object is seen floating on the surface of the waters--a sea-otter
asleep. Quick as flash, the steersman lifts his paddle. Not a word is
spoken, but so keen is the hearing of the sleeping otter, the drip of
the lifted paddle has not splashed into the sea before the otter has
awakened, looked and dived like lightning to the bottom of the sea
before one of the Aleut hunters can hurl his spear. Silently, not a
whisper, the steersman signals again. The hunters deploy in a circle
half a mile broad round the place where the sea-otter disappeared; for
they know that in fifteen or twenty {75} minutes the animal must come
up for breath, and it cannot run farther than half a mile under sea
before it reappears.
Suddenly somebody sees a round black-red head poke above water, perhaps
close to the line of watchers. With a wild shout, the nearest bidarkas
dart forward. Whether the spear-throw has hit or missed, the shout has
done enough. The terrified otter dives before it has breath. Over the
second diving spot a hunter is stationed, and the circle narrows, for
the otter must come up quicker this time.
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