HUNTING THE SEA OTTER. 169 



As soon, therefore, as it was dark, which was about an 

 hour after we reached the schooner, we weighed anchor ; 

 and under foresail, jib, and staysail ran out to sea, intending 

 to lay-to outside certainly beyond the three miles. But 

 hardly had we started when a gun was fired, and the 

 steamer stood out after us. As the breeze freshened we 

 hoisted the mainsail, and soon had the satisfaction of seeing 

 her port light, showing that she had either not seen us or 

 had abandoned the pursuit, and had turned her bows for 

 Hakodate. Believing everything clear with the departure 

 of the steamer, we put about and beat back to our former 

 anchorage, which we were glad to fetch in the early 

 morning, our last experience of losing touch with the 

 coast having been quite sufficient to last us for some time. 



We were congratulating ourselves next morning upon 

 our good fortune in being left in peace, and so avoiding 

 further complications, when, at about nine o'clock, the fog 

 suddenly cleared off, disclosing to our astonishment and 

 disgust the steamer, which we were under the impression 

 that we had so cleverly avoided, lying placidly at anchor in 

 her old position. 



It was evident, therefore, that there had been two 

 steamers ; the one which we thought had come out after 

 us had in reality been anchored there, though hidden by 

 fog, and had left on the arrival of her consort, having in all 

 probability never seen us. 



The presence of two steamers, probably gunboats, boded 

 us no good. So, full of conjecture, we waited impatiently 

 for developments which were sure to come. It was impos- 

 sible to put to sea, as it had fallen a dead calm, with bright 

 sun and glassy sea ; just one of those beautiful hunting days 

 so rarely met with and so ardently prayed for, yet impossi- 

 ble under the circumstances to take advantage of. In fact, 

 we felt very much like rats in a trap, waiting for the dogs 

 to take a hand in the game. 



After tiffin it was decided to put a bold face on the matter 

 and send the skipper over to reconnoitre. So we lowered 



