Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1870-11-10
ADVENTURE WITH A SEAL.

A long time ago. when / was a sailor be-
fore the mast, | had a eomrade on board
jolly. good-tempcred fellow, who was a
great favoritc with everybody. His whole
life had been one of adventure and mis-
fortunes.
On nights when we were keeping watch
together, he used to tell me some of his
adventures with so much humor that |
went into fits of laughter When he was
on board with us his i'll fortune did not
forsake him, and several times he escaped
death almost by miracle.
remember once, when he was bathing
during a calm in the Pacific Ocean, con-
trary to orders, he was suddenly terrified
by the appearance of the captain, and he
clambered up on board out of the water.
Not five seconds after his feet were above
the sea. the head of huge shark appear
ed in that very spot.
Another time, during hunting party
in Java, he was only saved from drown
ing in swamp, through which he had
persisted in wading, to shorten the way,
by rope being thrown out to him. In
consequence of this muddy bath, and the
fright he had experienced, he fell sick,
and had to lie taken to the hospital of Ba-
tavia. When few days after we inquir-
ed how he was, we wefe informed that he
was dead.
We were much shocked at this SO sud-
den death of favorite conrade, and de-
termined the next Sunday. to visit his
we went o M iis . EsE 5ds y. .ssEsss S!ss
ful burden, he met u.s. ,Ncompletely cured
The day after his arrival, he had been
placed in different bed, and the occu-
pant of the former bed had afterwards
died. We had, as was the custom there.
asked for our friend by his hospital nam
Der, and not by his name, and thus the
mistake had arisen.
Once, my comrade was on board the
Young Conrad, which sailed to Greenland
to capture seals. All the boats, except
one, were several miles away from the
ship, catching seals. when cry from the
lookout on the maintop announced
"A whale a whale, close by
Soon the agitation in the sea, and q
spout of water in the air. marked the ap-
preach ofthc giant The harpooners were
MI away, so the captain himself sprang
into the last boat and after il was man
ned only MY friend Adolph, tbe cook, and
shc man on the lookout, remained behind
on board.
The first two were to lower the boat
and its crew into the water. But Adolph
was so excited that he did not take the
necessary precautions. The rope round
the pully slid through his hand. and he
let it fall. so that the stern of the boat
suddenly dashed into the water: the boat
itself was broken in pieces, and the men,
with great difficulty saved themselves on
an iceberg, where they were almost fro
zen before the boats on their return came
to fetch them.
Some time after, an ice-feld, with thou
sands of seals ON il, was discovered. Al
available boats were sent thither, and
Adolph had to go, too, this time
Seals are killed by a blow struck OF
their noses, and this plan succeeds wher
they are young. But the old ones arr
much too sly, though they are often Kill
led in their endeavors to save their Young
Adolph's duty consisted in draggin.
the dead seals to the edge of the ice to th,
boats. For this purpose, he was provide,
with cudgcl, at the end of which was
hook, while oh the upper end was sling
the hook was struck into the seal. Will,
the Sing was fastened round his waist
and in thisrway the animal was dragge,
of the ice.
Adolph had already done his utmos.
and collected together whole heap @
seals. He had Just struck his hook aeair
into the tail Of one of the largest seals
when suddenly il awoke. for il had beer
only stunned BY the blow, came to lifi
again. and took Adolph in tow, instead o
his towing ID !
Great was the terror of the poor lad, $,
little prepared for such sudden chang
Of circumstances. In vain he tried TO nc
sist; the seal was stronger than he was
He sat down, that he might be able I.
stop more easily.
But all was of no avail. The seal drag
ged him on quicker and quicker over til,
smooth ice. He could not free himsel
from the rope. It was too tight round him
His shrieks Of terror filed the air. an,
summoned his comrades to the spot.
general chase began. and they tried to Gu
of the seals retreat, bat in vain.
The fugitive had got too good start
and was making the greatest exersions L
rcach the border Of the ice, anu ger int