HUNTING SEA-LIONS. 197 



these occasions attacked and slain in great num- 

 bers. The weapon of attack was a stout lance 

 fixed to a short hickory pole. 



At early daylight, said Teddy, the labor of 

 lilling cask? and cleaning fur-seal skins begar.. 

 About nine o'clock the boating parties were started 

 off for the appointed scene of labor. They pulled 

 or sailed along shore until they discovered the 

 weals, then moored their boats, and dividing them- 

 selves in parties of two, proceeded to the slaughter, 

 which it was necessary to accomplish as silently 

 as possible. 



Teddy confessed that the first time he ap- 

 proached an old lion, for the purpose of lancing 

 him, he was in great bodily fear. 



" As I approached," said he, " the beast gave 

 an awful roar, and lifting up its ugly head, snap- 

 ped viciously with its jaws, plainly showing me 

 that if I got into its clutches once, it would go 

 hard with me. I had received due caution against 

 approaching it from beneath, as in such cases the 

 animals are wise enough to roll over on their at- 

 tacker, and thus overcome him. 



" There was, however, no time for considera- 

 tion. My lion was before me, and the mate wa% 

 watching me from a distance, to see that I suf- 

 fered no damage. So I ran up, man fashion, and 

 plunged my lance into his breast, just as he was 

 preparing to roll over the rocks into the sea. 

 Luckily, the first stab settled him, and with a 



