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Dec] FATAL DISASTER. 305 



of their humbler neighbours do, we should never molest them." Ogden 

 made no reply, but seemed absorbed in some other subject. 



"To-morrow will be a merry day among the genuine Knicker- 

 bockers of New- York," resumed the last speaker. " How runs 

 your favourite quotation about the Christmas holydays V Ogden 

 replied, 



" Whatever pains assailed, or griefs oppress'd, 

 Christmas and New-year always saw me blest." 



They were proceeding with some further remarks to the same effect, 

 when I interposed with a caution of silence, and orders to stand ready 

 for landing, when no man was to speak above a whisper. This ar- 

 rangement is always necessary, as the seal are ever on the alert, and 

 on hearing the least noise, are apt to fly to the ocean for safety. 



It was now about eight o'clock in the morning. The tide was low, 

 and the sea tolerably smooth ; so that w r e effected a landing without 

 much difficulty. Having secured the boats, we all silently crept along 

 the north shore of the island, which is only a mile in circumference, 

 and in a few minutes came in sight of our intended victims, who were 

 lying well up on the summits of the steep rocks. I led the way, 

 closely followed by my six confidential companions, viz. Messrs. 

 Lewis, Johnson, Terry, Ogden, Studivan, and Valentine Lewis. The 

 seal soon scented the approach of an enemy, as we plainly perceived 

 by their suddenly manifesting symptoms of alarm. No time was now 

 to be lost ; but an instantaneous rush was necessary, in order to com- 

 mence the attack before they could recover from their confusion. 



" Come on, my lads !" I exclaimed, in a cheerful but half-suppressed 

 voice ; " come on, and let every blow tell." The rush of my little 

 party was simultaneous ; every nerve and muscle was exerted, and 

 we had reached the opposite side of the rookery, killing several seal 

 in our way, when we found that the other party, under the command 

 of Mr. Burton, had been stopped in " mid-course" about the centre of 

 the rookery, by the immense number of seal that began to pour down 

 the steep rocks and precipices, like an irresistible torrent, bearing 

 down their assailants, and taking several of the men nearly into the 

 ocean along with them. On seeing their danger, however, we " flew 

 to the rescue," and soon relieved them by turning the tide of war in 

 another direction. Several hundred fur-seal were left lifeless on the 

 shore and rocks. 



As the rollers now began to set in with a considerable degree of 

 violence, I ordered the men to commence skinning those which lay 

 nearest to the water's edge first. They applied themselves to the 

 task with alacrity ; but had hardly secured the jackets of more than 

 fifty seal,, when a wave of enormous size came rolling in to the shore, 

 with such velocity as to take off and ingulf in its bosom Messrs. 

 West, Burton, and Ogden. Ten or twelve others, with myself, very 

 narrowly escaped the same disaster. 



" Man the boat !" I exclaimed, and the order was echoed by a dozen 

 voices at once ; and the alacrity of obedience was such, that the men 

 descended a rocky cliff of about two hundred feet in height, apparently 



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