SEALS 201 



play and watched them diving into the water, 

 then remounting the ice by gripping it with their 

 fore fins, which are veritable fur-gloved hands, 

 having very sharp nails, however. 



As soon as we approached, they dived. 

 They swam in a line, all diving and reappear- 

 ing at the same moment, elevating half their 

 bodies above the water. 



On one floe, from which we drove a numerous 

 band of these old males, we beheld a dark, 

 motionless mass. 



The men said it was a dead seal, but having 

 just seen it surrounded by others, and well 

 knowing how rarely seals will remain near a 

 corpse, I disagreed with them and determined 

 to examine it closely. 



Passing near the animal, which was lying 

 on its side as though asleep, I observed that one 

 of its fins moved. I decided, as it manifestly 

 was not dead, to capture it alive. 



The men persisted in saying, however, that 

 that would be impossible. Rachlew proved 

 them wrong by stepping on to the ice and 

 running right up to the seal. 



The animal awoke, and attempted to escape, 

 but Rachlew barred the way with his ice-pick, and 

 the seal remained quiet, drawing its head between 

 its shoulders, crouching as if awaiting a blow. 



