The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-07-08

these marks are so small that Il requires
great precision and "A steady hand to 30
shoot a seal that he shall remain mo-
uonleSs on the ice, for that reason most
hunters prefer a seal spear TO a rifle
when In pursuit Of that marine anirsal.
At the tirle of which am writing ,hcre
were so many seals coming out upon
the ice that the men were kept busy
nearly all the time. night and day, hunt
Ing them. And often there was not
man left IN camp.
one day. as / sat In the door Of my
tent cleaning my rife. | saw a seal upon
the ice and gave the customary notice
10 The camp hy calling out "Netchuk TUX
ko'
Owanork. when he heard the cry. hur-
riod out with his seal spear ana started
OF on a dog trot IN pursuit OF Che UNI
suspoCtng animal
The day before re had lost one by an
inaccurate aim and felt kccnly the NOR
uhcaton OF an unsuccessful hunter. Now
De had an opportunity % redeem HIM
self and. so that there should be no
failure tAis time, took his seal spear in
stead OF a rifle.
His face wore a very determined look
as he ran past me and down the hillside
onto the ice. From where | sat could see
him trotting along until 80 near that ne
must lie down and crawl slowly up until
close enough 20 throw his spear with good
effect. ! felt much Interest IN this cnase
and watched him closely with my ned
glass until he seemed 10 be almost WITHIN
touch OF the seal.
"Why don't he throw his spear?' I said
20 myself. for / feared that ne would
lose his opportunity by excess OF eau
ton Presently ! saw him rise Slowly
upon his left arm and poise the spear III
HIS right hand n moment before he threw IL
With great force into the SIDE OF the
sleeping brute. | could see the water
splash up ~ the big animal Owed INTO
the sea, and Owanork holding on Tor dear
GOOD boy" shouted, though well
knew ne could not hear the words oI
announcement. Hold fast" I cried anc
felt my own muscles strained IN sym
/ pathy. But II was 10 no purpose.
I could see the brave little fellow struS-
Cling with an his might, but could also
see that he was gradually being drawn
toward the edge OF the hole suddenly
saw him relax his hold on the line ana
4 trying 10 hold onto the ice with his poor
little hands. ! knew right away Wnat
was the matter. and shouting for help,
started on q run 20 save him If possible
He had passed the loop I'm the end OF
the line over his head and night arm, as
the men do. SO as 10 have a better hold.
IL Is an exceedingly dangerous habit, Tor
II the seal or walrus once gets the ad-
vantage and the hunter falls to slip the
/ loop from his shoulders he is sure TO
be dragged into the water and very ike
| ly drowned.
This is exactly what had happened to
| OwanOrk. and II help had not arrived
! just as II aid he. too. would have per
! when they heard my cry for assistance
hurried after me and my two white COM
| paniOns, who were then in camp, also
/ joined the rescue party.
! II seemed a long distance. In our anX-
| iety. TO where the struggle was progress
! Ing. and ] could not help holding myself
/ I'm q measure responsible for the disaster
because l had given notice OF the seal
Just before We reached the open water
we saw a seal crawl out on the further
| side of a broad tdc-crack We knew n
| was OWanOrk'S seal, for the line stu
hung from It's deeply-wounded side and
| il looked very sick. 1t was evidently
| weak and dying, as IL paid 10 attention
J TO us when one after another drew UP
along the edge Of the open water hole.
l attempted 20 jump upon cake OF
| ice TO ferry myself across the tide crack,
which was only about nftecn feet ~ ldd
hut the cake rolled over and / was
[ thrown into the water. 1t was very
cold but i had no time TO consider any
| such tribe. l struck out for the othel
/ side ana caught the line in my hano
While / crawled out upon another an'
| larger cake Of ice which the men hal
pushed over toward me
pulled the half-drOWned boy, still tan
clei in the fatal loop. out Of the waite
| and cutting the lire loose from the dyin
seal. threw that end 10 the men ON th
main ice field and WAS hauled rapid.
over toward them.
We lost no time in removing poor Owa
L0tk clOinlnE, ana Hl0tI my QlIrtl'
the women rubbed him until Nramth wa
restored % MS body. Then one OF then
took him under her own ample coat I
cary him 10 our camp ON the island.
Just before we started, Owanork locke
around and asked In the most patheti
tone. "Netchuk MAUI (Where is IN
/ sealO
When we told him that it was dea
upon the ice. and that 1t was an ookjooF
one Of the largest Of the seal species
D 90. Ion
/ f.ce and he gave a sigh of relief as If D
would saw: 1T was "a hard struggle nm
i had a narrow escape. but l got the seal.
| philadelphia Press.