The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-08-19
WHOLE NUMBER, SS1.

''s' ouss o'er Tue little ridge form.
cd by the jam wers clustered the seals.
With beating hearts the BOYS followed
the men, as, formed in line, they climbed
the low bank of ice and jumped down the
other side. Then the work of destruction
commenced. 1t was so different from
what they had excepted that the bows nj
first stood and looked at the slaughter with.
out striking blow. Keeping ten or twelve
feet apart, so as to give full play to their
clubs, the men rushed upon the helpless
creatures, dealing swift and deadly blows
on every side. In case of resistance BY the
older ones the gaf was used, and the ice
and garments of TIE hunters wero soon
tinged with blood.
The cries and means of the baby seals
were heartrending. The youngest and
smallest were left untouched, as not worth
the trouble of killing, and it was pitiful
sight TO see them clnging to the dead bodies
of their mothers for the protection and
nourishment they could no longer obtain.
The cry of young seal can hardly be dis.
tinauished from that of a child, and the
hunter who can hear it unmoved or mark
the almost human expression of the eye
while he is pursuing his work of death must
have hard heart indeed.
Dan was the first to break the silence
and he did so with trembling voice.
81 can't stand it; and l don't care if the
men do laugh at me. Hear the poor things
cry 1t sounds just like little Fan at home
wouldn't kill one of 'em for thousand
dollars. There' ~
With the last word he threw his club to.
ward the boat with all his strength.
Jonny looked undecided.
''I bate to as bad as you do," he said at
last. "You can do as you like, because your
fathers captain; but promised to help all
| could and don't want to shrk."
"But he didn't expect US to help kill"
urged Dan. awe can help pack the skins
and fat, and that'll be enough. I'm going
down and sit in the boat anyway. | just
wish we could get aboard
Johnny was very willing to be convinced,
and the two hastily recrossed .he ice-ridge,
made their way across the broken and un-
even surface to the clear water, and took
refuge in the boat. They were soon seen
from the schooner, and one of the men left
in charge put off for them in the small
boat.
'It wasn't so funny rs you thought,
them" said the cook, us they climbed
aboard. 81 didn't believe ye'd take to it
right off. KILN seals is just like eatin'
fore you like it. I've been ten voyages,
and never been ashore when KILN was
goin' on. As for takin' part in it, I'd just
about as soon take club and 90 into the
schoolhouse and knock the young ones on
the head
For three days the killing and skinning
went on, the crew hardly pausing to eat or
sleep. Then came the putting on board
and the storing of the fat and skins. That
took nearly three days longer, and in less
than week from the time the "Wolf'' had
entered Green Harber her bows were turn
ed southwark again, with a full cargo, and
the first Of the season. At sunset on the
thrtieth day of March she threw ou. her
plank at the very wharf where she had
been laying month before.
"IIillo, boys!" shouted Tom Crowell, al
most as soon as they set foot on shore.
clad big time, hain't ye."
Dan looked at Johnny and Johnny look
ed back at Dan, but neither answered.
They felt that silence was better than
words, and seorning explanation, they
toiled with eager feet up the long street,
toward the homes and arms that were
waiting to receive them. - Charles Il.
Hwd, in the Independent.