The old chief was launching his _kiak_ into the seething waters, and to
Ted it seemed incredible that he meant to go in that frail bark in
pursuit of the mighty monster. The old man's face, however, was as calm
as though starting on a pleasure-trip in peaceful waters, and Ted watched
in breathless admiration to see what would happen next. Klake paddled
swiftly out to sea, drawing as near as he dared to where the huge monster
splashed idly up and down like a great puppy at play. He stopped the
_kiak_ and watched; then poised his spear and threw it, and so swift and
graceful was his gesture that Ted exclaimed in amazement.

"Tyee Klake best harpoon-thrower of all the Thlinkits;" said Kalitan,
proudly. "Watch!"

Ted needed no such instructions. His keen eyes passed from fish to man
and back again, and no movement of the Tyee escaped him.

The instant the harpoon was thrown, the Tyee paddled furiously away, for
when a harpoon strikes a whale, he is likely to lash violently with his
tail, and may destroy his enemy, and this is a moment of terrible danger
to the harpooner. But the whale was too much astonished to fight, and,
with a terrific splash, he dived deep, deep into the water, to get rid of
that stinging thing in his side, in the cold green waters below.

[Illustration: "AWAY WENT ANOTHER STINGING LANCE."]

The Tyee waited, his grim face tense and earnest. It might have been
fifteen minutes, for whales often stay under water for twenty minutes
before coming to the surface to breathe, but to Kalitan and Ted it
seemed an hour.