FRACHTENBERG] ALSEA TEXTS AND MYTHS 169 



water. Now as they kept on approaching to the pole he who had 

 charge of the harpoon stood up mside (the canoe). At last they 

 were coming nearer to the seal. ''Let us get close to him!" One 

 man kept on speakmg (thus). Now they continued to approach 

 the pole. The seal floated up just a little. At last they came 

 close to him. Thereupon the pole was hooked and taken hold of. 

 And then he took it, who knew well how to pull a seal. Now he 

 took hold of it. The seal did not swerve (even) a little in various 

 directions; he just kept on going straight (ahead). "A seal does not 

 habitually act thus when he goes very far." Thus it was said. The 

 seal floated up just a little. (However) he was not approached (even) 

 a little whenever he floated up. (No seal) ever acted like that. Then 

 he was pulled. He who had charge of the killing tool stood up inside 

 (the canoe). At last they began to come nearer him. (Still) he did 

 not float up (even) a little. 



However, the sun was setting. The seal was (still) held on to. That 

 seal went very far. (No seal) ever acted like that. It became foggy 

 all over. (StiU) the seal never swerved m various directions; he just 

 kept on gomg straight (ahead), (At last) he was come to a little 

 closer. He was going to be speared right there. "What do you 

 think of that?" (was) the chief's remark. "We have gone far now. 

 We wiU never lose hold of him." (Such was) the chief's speech. In 

 vain they tried to spear the seal. "Your hearts shall not be little." 

 (Such was) the speech of their chief. "(I) wonder where the seal is 

 gomg to go ? " spoke he who held on to that previously mentioned rope. 

 "He wiU not be let loose; that seal has gone with us to a far place." 

 Then it began to get dark. (StiU) they held fast to the seal. "What 

 do you think of that? He never acted like that (before)." (Such 

 was) their talk among themselves. "He wiU not be abandoned." 

 And then at night a mist arose. "Verily, it is going to ram," 

 (such was) the speech of their leader. Still they held fast to the 

 seal. "Your hearts shall not be little." So they kept on going. 

 Finally when daylight appeared all over, one man said: "He must be 

 taking us to the place from wdiere that referred-to (seal) came. He 

 must be going with us there." Thus they said now: "Now, verily, 

 it must be (so). Hold on to him! He wiU not be let loose. (I) 

 wonder to which place he is going with us?" (Thus were) the words 

 of their leader. And then, verily, (the seal) went there, whence he 

 came, as has been related before. Veril}^, he went there. "Now we 

 have gone to a far place. Gone are the breakers; the breakers have 

 disappeared now. It is just calm everywhere; the breakers have 

 disappeared." (These were) the words of the leader. "(I) wonder 

 at what place he is at last going to stop?" (Such was) their talk 



