The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1894-06-07
DANGEROUS SHOOTING.
Clubs More Reliable Than Gums In
Hunting the Seal.
ne wsaasrfui Eject Of Music on TIN
rfntA Aaimals- a Green Huntsr's
Narrev Escape frc~, Being
Tern 20 Pieces.

Seals are very fond Of music, and the
hunters who pursue them most success
fully often make use of some musical
instrument 70 attract them. In "A
Seal Hunt on the Basket Islands" n
writer In Outing describes an adven-
tire with seals, when a gun proved q
dangerous weapon. The oars dipped
slowly, 0'Brien's eyes were fixed on
the csvcs, and the boatmen sung In
unison . weird, wild song In kind Of
undertone. To the writer this seemed
. curious accompaniment to q seal
hunt; but he was still more surprised
when one of the men produced a flute
and played on II n quaint, sympathetic
air. that echoed and re-echoed among
the caves- The musical effects were
marvellous; but our author turned 70
O'Brien and asked: "What is the
meaning Of all thisp" ooh, IL Is to at
tract the seals. In few minutes you
will sec them basking on the water
and ON the lodges, charmed almost to
Inconsistencies by the music"
And 30 IL hsppcned; for underneath.
on IAN easy ledge" we saw two seals
scramble up and lilo quietly listening
Now IL our time" said O'Brien, and
the boatmen gently rowed toward the
fascinated seals, the Hute-player still
continuing his tune.
Without gun or spear my friend
sprang TO the rocky ledge. He had
with him only . bludgeon and long
knife. Noisslessly advancing upon the
seals he dealt one of them u blow on
the noss and then slid forward and
killed It with his knife. Thus our first
capture WAS made.
why not shoot the poor brutes, and
90 end the AFFAIR." asked.
O'Brisn laughed my dear sir, me
replied. ut Is impossible. I will prove
II 70 you. You have your rifle with
you. Well, the next time we meet n
seal will allow you to do the work
with powder and ball, and we shall see
how you fare"
Then we went over 20 Carrigduff and
endesvored with music to inveigle 9TH
er seals. And we were rewarded, for
far within the great cave" there ap-
peared a splendid male. much larger
than thoso we had before seen--not a
common seal, but one of the large,
bearded seals. lilo was, TO all appear
ance, unconscious of our approach.
The flute player continued his tune,
and tho oars pushed the waters as
noiselessly as possible until we were
within few yards Of the game.
Nov, try your gum" whispered
0'Bricn.
I climbed out OF the yawl and got
close TO the seal. feared to get too
close, lest should frighten him Off the
ledge, 30 rested against the Shiny
rock, and, taking careful aim at point
between his shoulders, fred.
The din Was awful. IL seemed as II
the little island were being blown TO
pieces by some modern battery. be-
came aware, too soon, that my shot
had not killed the animal, and TINT by
series OF curious spine-made move
ments no had come close to me and
caught my ankle In his powerful jaws
I nearly fell. l was too fear-stricken
to cry out.
All this happened In . moment. ]
felt my ankle crunch as though the
foot would come of. A swiftly as
possible reloaded. could scarcely
see the brute that held my ankle. NO
blinded was from pain. And I could
not understand why II was that
oBrien had not come TO my rescue
But there was no time to spare. ]
must lose my log or kill the seal.
Placing. the muzzle Of the rife
against what seemed to be the shout
der of the seal. fred. The hold on
my ankle RELAXED for an instant; then
came . more angry bite on the thick
part Of my leg, and became conscious
of some one near me. A dull blow
sounded. aud tainted.
1t appears that O'Brien, who was
looking on all the while, clambered on
the rock where was engaged with the
seal and with blow of his bludgoon
ended the battle, In all likelihood he
saved me from death.