Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1896-04-23
SEAL KILLING.
This Life Is One Of Much Work
and No Play.
First Steps Toward the Production OF .
Seal Garment - A Dreadful Slaugh-
ter That is Full of Profit
and Danger.


ter That is Fun of Profit
and Danger.
Moth by east half no'thl Out al
lights! And stop that fearful noise be
tween decks!'
SAY, ay, sir!"
TELL the chief to stir up his FIRE care
fully, and not make so much smoke, OF
we will be cut outr'
With this gruff ending the skipper
continues pacing the bridge pulling al
the short stem Of a clay pipe that he
holds between his teeth, and every now
and then taking his binocular from the
rail OF the bridge and casting anxious
glances toward the horizon, where he
can but just discover the outlines Of q
steamer against the sky.
His chief mate, with whom the con.
versation has been conducted, leaves
the bridge and, going forward, eau.
tions the men that the skipper wants
quiet.
The old men understand at once the
meaning of this order, and put sud-
den end to the rollicking Of the young
ones; the squeak of an accordion, to-
gether with the shrill whistle of tin
flute, stops.
The old salts, seeing that the quar-
termaster is lowering the masthead
light, and that the side lights have al
ready been taken from their boxes and
hidden, turn their guilds over in their
cheeks, and one of them, giving an ex-
ira hitch to his trousers, says: 1.-THE
skipper beant goin' ter lead tn way ter
tn banks fur thut tub ter foller!"
'No, thut ee beant," rejoins his com.
panions.
see be on the rang tack, though, fur
this trip, to my thinkin'," says one OF
the men.
"Let 'um alone, mate replies the
first speaker. "The skipper beant
shut ee's lights for nothink. Let 'un
alonew
What vivid contrast between the
commanding officer of this steamerand
that of the crack Atlantic liners. No
gold lace and snowy uniforms. No
jaunty blue cap set on locks fresh from
the hands of the barber. No relief
from the rounds of duty to be found in
a promenade of the deck with little
hand tucked under his arm, and a
chance to whisper soft nothings into
an ear which receives them as YER
table truths.
No chance to escort some pretty maid
to his perch on the spacious bridge,
and there explain to her the intricacies
of the numerous bits of machinery
with which its heavy rail are adorned,
and at the same time, under cover of
the 'dodgsr," press her hand in his
while she wonders at his impudcnce.
No stupcndous air of importance with
which to mystify the timid traveller
and ward off any inquiry as to the
ships rate of speed. Nothing but
hardy follower of Father Neptune, who
long ago received his baptism Of salt
water, and, with it, plentiful sprink-
ling of icy sleet, which has Outlines
held him fast within its stern embrace.
An old seal killer, is he? And the
dodge which he has adopted now in
putting out his lights, although else
where a dangerous trick, is but part
Of his early training in an endeavor to
outwit his companions on the other
ships, and gain the ice before them.
He had noted the winds for weeks
before the time came for him to leave
the harbor on his mission, formed his
own conclusions as to the course he
should sail, and kept this secret closely
locked beneath that sealskin waistcoat
which covered his breast.
Don't imagine this to be the same
dainty fur which protects my lady's
shoulders from the piping visits of
Jack Frost. Not bit Of it. A coarse,
gray, hairy garment this, spotted here
and there with black dots, and so
strong smelling of the oil Of the ami
NAL as to render it's use anywhere but
in the open air, and on the person Of
one Of these sturdy bearers, decided
ly disagreeable experience
The telegraph under his hand indi-
Gates to the engineer to slow his en-.
zines to half speed, while the fremen
open the furnace doors, so that there
may be no lifting Of the safety valves,
md thus, by the escaping steam, be-
tray their whereabouts to the Others of
The fleet who left the harbor at the
same time.
The sky is rapidly becoming over
last, and now and then fake Of snow
s driven by the wind against his
cheeks. 1t is just the weather that he
lad been praying for; for, under the
cover OF the storm, which is rapidly
coming up, he can feel free to shape his
course towards the direction where he
S certain he shall find the seals.
Thicker and thicker falls the snow,
md the wind, rising, drives it in whirl-
ng masses against the canvas sides of
he bridge. No use of man in the
Gro nest" at this time; they are yet
90 far from the object of their search,
Ind the night is too dark, the storm
90 severe, to render this post one of
my Importance.
The telegraph signals Full speed
ahead" now, and the engineer opens
vide the throttle, while the firemea
shovel the Goals into the yawning fur
lace mouth, and stir up the fire, until
H. L. 4 Il. 4