A SEAL-HUNT 177 



they grunted a little and took a turn over the ice. 

 What specially interested them was evidently our work 

 at digging holes in the snow for the grapnels. They 

 flocked about the men who were engaged in this, laid 

 their heads on one side, and looked as if they found 

 it immensely interesting. They did not appear to be 

 the least afraid of us, and for the most part we left them 

 in peace. But some of them had to lose their lives; we 

 wanted them for our collection. 



An exciting seal-hunt took place the same day. 

 Three crab-eaters had ventured to approach the ship, 

 and were marked down to increase our store of fresh 

 meat. We picked two mighty hunters to secure the 

 prey for us; they approached with the greatest caution, 

 though this was altogether unnecessary, for the seals lay 

 perfectly motionless. They crept forward in Indian 

 fashion, with their heads down and their backs bent. 

 This looks fine; I chuckle and laugh, but still with 

 a certain decorum. Then there is a report. Two of 

 the sleeping seals give a little spasm, and do not move 

 again. It is otherwise with the third. With snakelike 

 movements it wriggles away through the loose snow 

 with surprising speed. It is no longer target practice, 

 but hunting real game, and the result is in keeping with 

 it. Bang! bang! and bang again. It is a good thing 

 we have plenty of ammunition. One of the hunters 

 uses up all his cartridges and has to go back, but the 

 other sets off in pursuit of the game. Oh, how I 



VOL. I. 12 



