Red Plume — page 17: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THH HARPOON. 17 ' Delaware informs us that we are approaching a dangerous re- gion; that we are near the country of the Blackfeet.” “ Beaver was tellin’ me some yarns about those critters, uncle, and he says that they are a little the p’isonest Injuns we are likely to meet.” “Your speech savors of impiety, nophiéw. I have no doubt that they are wicked and bloodthirsty men, but there is nd oc- casion for the use of profanity in speaking of them.” “ T didn’t, mean to talk wrong, uncle Nathan, and beg your pardon for slippin’ up. Old habits 277, stick to.a.man, you see, specially such as he l’arns on a.whalin’ v’y’ge... What you say about takin’ care.of our weapons is sart’inly right, and it reminds me that I must look arter my harpoon, for I calke- late she needs sharpenin’. Isay, Dave, as you are nighest to that wagon, suppose. you band me my tickler. It isin the starn of the craft, I believe, on the starboard side.” “Do you want the rope and all? asked David Carver, as he good-naturedly rose to comply with his cousin’s request, “Of course I do; a whale-line. needs overhaulin’ every now and then, you ace, to’ keep the kinks out, and to make it run easy when it gits to work.” David handed his cousin an iron shaft, about six feet Nites one end of which was adorned. with a polished barb, and the other end was bent around, so as to afford.a holding place for a long and light line, which was neatly coiled and fastened in ship-shape manner. Eben selected a stone from the side of the spring, laid his formidable javelin. on his lap, and’com- menced tosharpen the edge of the shining barb quite scien- tifieally, “ That, now, is what I call a lovely instrument, 2 he said, re- garding the weapon affectionately. ‘‘’Pears like I should be lost without. it, and I’m glad I brought it along. It has been the means of shortenin’ the life of more’n one whale, to my sarvin knowledge, and it stands to reason that it wouldn’t be safe for a buffalo or an Injun to git in the way of it.” “Why do you think so much of that ugly thing, cousin Eben 2?” asked Ellen, who was watching his proceedings with interést. “ Of what use can it be ?” ‘Tain’t a bit ugly, Miss Sweetlips,” answered Eben. _ “ See this here shinin’ steel; why, it is nearly as bright as your comicbooks.conm