276 HUNTING WITH THE ESKIMOS 



Holding his blind before him Eiseeyou was enabled 

 to walk within three or four hundred yards of a seal 

 without startling it ; then he dropped upon hands and 

 knees and pushed the sledge-blind before him. Thus 

 hidden behind the cloth screen, which so blended with 

 the ice as to arouse in the seal no suspicion of danger, 

 he approached within fifty yards before shooting. 

 Seals always lie close to their holes, and it is necessary 

 to hit them in the head, or under the shoulder and 

 have the bullet penetrate the heart, and thus kill them 

 instantly; otherwise they will flop into the hole and 

 sink before it is possible to reach them. 



The dogs are trained to lie down and remain quiet 

 until the shot is fired. With quivering bodies and 

 nerves tense for a run, they watch with the most acute 

 anxiety every movement of their master. The in- 

 stant the report of the rifle rings out they spring to 

 their feet and dash forward with an impetuosity and 

 eagerness that nothing can restrain. 



Eiseeyou was successful, and in spite of anything 

 I could do the dogs broke away in a wild dash to the 

 slaughtered seal, and only the whip preserved the car- 

 cass from being torn to pieces on the spot. While I 

 kept the animals in subjection, Eiseeyou cut a bowl- 

 shaped hollow in the ice and into this bled the seal. 

 Then the dogs were released to drink and feast upon 

 the warm blood. This is their reward for patience 

 and restraint while the master stalks his game, and 

 only his own team is permitted to share in it. 



In this manner Eiseeyou killed two very large 

 seals. These were sufficient for immediate needs. 



