Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-08-28
TWO YEARS VACA TON.
BY JULES VERNE,
Chor Of 1.-THE Toltr Of the World ~ %
Days" ''2O. 600 Leagues Under
The Seas Etc


ing party, as she would be sure to give the
alarm and thus brighten the foxes away,
1t was about eleven o'clock when Donovan
and his companions took their places be-
hind the clumps of shrubbery that Dor
dered the covert, and shortly before mid
night they saw pack of the animals
crossing the open space on their way to the
lake.
The lads waited not without conSidera-
BILE impatienCe, however, until about
twenty of the animals became visible. This
took some time for they advanced with
great caution, as if fearing an enemy might
be lying in wait for them. Suddenly, at
a signal from Donovan, several bullets
whstled tESou-h the air. Every shot
told. Five y s.N rr,;ns fell dead upon the
ground, while the u,uers ran right and
left, most of them MORALLY wounded
At dawn the lads found dozen of the
animals lying dead among the bushes, and
as the massacre was continued for three
consecutive nights, the little colony was
soon freed from these dangerous visitors,
and about fifty handsome gray foN-skins
added greatly to the comfort of the French
Cave.
On the 18th of December the long-talked-
of expedition to Sloughi Bay took place.
The weather being fine, Gordon decided
that the entire colony should take part in
1t, decision that was greeted with bois-
ferrous demonstrations of delight If they
started by day-breuk. they could probably
forced exile grieved him sorely.
After a lunch which ended just as the
MONDAY sun tempted the seals out again
20 e,Yt, III, Nl,1xr l.,
Brian, Donovan, Cross, Webb, Baxter,
Wilcox and Service prepared for the at
tack. During the operation Iverson, Jen-
kins, Jack, Dole and Costar were to remain
at the camp in charge of Moko.
AL the firearms at the disposal of the
colony had been brought with them, to-
gether with asupNly of ammunition which
Gordon had not spared this time, it being
for the common good.
The first thing TO be done was to cut Off
the animals retreat to the sea, and Dono-
van, to whom the direction of the affair
was cheerfully intrusted, thought it ad-
visable to descend the river to its mouth,
keeping ia the shelter of the rocks as much
as possible. This done, it would be easy
to make their way along the reefs that
skirted the beach.
This plan was executed with great pru-
dence; and the young spOrtsmen, stationed
thirty or forty yards apart, soon formed
semicircle between the beach and sea,
then at a signal from Donovan each boy
rose at the same time, each shot was fired
simultaneously, and each shot found its
victim. Those seals that had not been hit
made their way with all possible speed to-
ward the rocks, but many of these were
mortally wounded or killed outright by
the boys pistols.
The massacre lasted but few minutes,
though the frightened animals were pur-
sued to the last ledge of rocks, where the
survivors disappeared, leaving at least
twenty killed or wounded on the beach.
The expedition had proved eminently
successful, and the lads returned to their
camp, which had been established under
the trees on such a footing that they would
be able to spend thirty-six hours there
very comfortably if necessary.
The afternoon was devoted to very
disagreeable task. Gordon himself took
part in it, however; and as it was abso-
lutely necessary, each member of the little
party set resolutely to work. The first
thing to be done was to drag all the seals
that had fallen between the rocks up on
the beach, and though they were only OF
medium size, this cost the boys considera-
BILE labor.
In the meantime Nolo had hung his big
kettle over fire made between two large
stones The flesh of the seals was then
cut up into pieces weighing five or six
pounds and dropped in the kettle, in which
some fresh water, taken from the river at
low tide, had been previously placed. A
few minutes boiling sutiiced to extract a
clear oil which tloated on the surface of
the water, and with which several casks
were successfully filled.
The odor was almost intolerable; but
even the fastidous Lord Donovan did not
rebel at the task, which was resumed the
following morning BY the close of the
second day Moko had secured in this way
several hundred gallons Of oil, so the light
ing of the French Cave for the ensuing
winter was assured. This was fortunate,
as no seals were now visible upon the
rocks or beach, and they probably would
not return to Sloughi Bay again until time
had allayed their fears.
AT daylight next morning preparations
for departure were begun to the great de-
light Of each and everyone. The wagon
had been loaded the evening before, an
early start being imperative, rs the vehicle
would be much heavier returning, and the
road was quite hjllv.
After the last salute to the flag of the
United Kingdoms floating from the sum
init of Auckland Hin, ard a last glance at