Ghost Canoe
“The forward motion of Lighthouse George’s canoe brought it close enough for Nathan to see what was happening. The bowman in the lead canoe, with a motion of his thumb, was pointing in the direction of the Chibahdehl Rocks, where the Burnaby had foundered. Nathan spotted several large fur seals offshore of the rocks, afloat and sleeping on their backs.
The lead canoe went on alone. The Makahs’ tapered paddles parted the water soundlessly. The canoe approached the seals as invisibly as the wind. ...The bowman stood slowly, brandishing a two-pointed spear like George’s with rope attached. It was actually a harpoon, Nathan realized.
The bowman was nearly on the seals before they woke with a snort and a commotion. It was too late for one of them. The harpoon was thrown with deadly force and accuracy—the seal died almost instantly, pierced through the heart or lungs. On impact, the killing heads had detached from the weapon’s shaft.
The canoes all paddled close as the men of the first canoe hauled on the rope and retrieved the huge animal.MoreLess
The lead canoe went on alone. The Makahs’ tapered paddles parted the water soundlessly. The canoe approached the seals as invisibly as the wind. ...The bowman stood slowly, brandishing a two-pointed spear like George’s with rope attached. It was actually a harpoon, Nathan realized.
The bowman was nearly on the seals before they woke with a snort and a commotion. It was too late for one of them. The harpoon was thrown with deadly force and accuracy—the seal died almost instantly, pierced through the heart or lungs. On impact, the killing heads had detached from the weapon’s shaft.
The canoes all paddled close as the men of the first canoe hauled on the rope and retrieved the huge animal.MoreLess
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