Bobby of the Labrador

morning, it was scarce daylight when Skipper Ed and Jimmy in their big trap boat, and with a skiff in tow

in stood, they discovered Abel's boat almost abreast of them, and within hailing distance. Bobby and Jimmy exchanged vocif

e coming of the sun. The sea sparkled. Gulls and other wild fowl soared overhead or rode lightly upon the swell. A school of shining caplin shimmered on the surface of the water. Here and there a

t white sheets, and here and there miniature ice pans rose and fell upon the swell, reminders of the long

h. Presently mirages appeared. Islands seemed to sit upon the tops of other islands, or to hang

irage, and not the thing itself. Hopes loom up and look real, when they're just false. It's a

d Jimmy and Mrs. Abel at the other oars, the boats, laden as they were, and retarded by the skiffs in tow, made such slow progr

tes and desires are not glutted, as ours so often are. And many things that you and I deem necessary they do not miss, because they have never

he right flavor. This was the first cod of the season, and the first cod is always a delicacy, and so th

d Skipper Ed and Abel and Mrs. Abel talked while they waited

n the top some struggling bunches of brush. It was not a large island, but nevertheless Bobby and Jimmy deemed

dark body of a harbor seal sunning itself comfortably upon the surface of the smooth

vered Bobby. It was double-barreled, and a shotgun, but now both barrels were loaded with round ball. And loade

can," suggested Bobby, "and then I'll crawl down

haps, grew restless; and though Bobby was not as near his game as he should have wished, he threw up his gun and fired. The bullet, after the manner of

in disgust, springing to his fe

d Jimmy, "

bear, in the edge of the brush and not twenty yards away. It had apparently been aroused from an afternoon sleep, and not being partia

Don't shoot!

went crashing into the animal's shoulder. The bear stumbled, bit furiously

e more likely than not to become furious, and their fury knows no bounds. Bent upon revenge they will attack viciously and are dangerous enemies. T

Bobby raised his

e had not reached a vital spot. In his eagerness to secure the bear he took the chance

no time to reload, for he knew t

un for your li

ady putting into action all the speed he

verged the bear, probably because he was more plainly in view, chose to follow Jimmy, and followed him so strenuously and with such singleness of purpose that he was presentl

ght of everything. He feared there was not time to reload, but it was the only thing to do. As he ran he drew two shells, loaded with ball, from his pocket. For the fraction of a minute he halted, "broke" his gun, dropped the shells into place, snapped the gun back and threw it to his shoulder, but in the brief interval that had el

again at the wound, this time near its hind quarters, an

e slipped a loaded shell into the empty barrel, that when the time came to shoot he might have two bullets at his disposal instead of

its head for a moment, and then rushed on. Bobby drew a careful bead and fired aga