124 
A VOYAGE TO SPITZBEBGEN. 
begins to waddle towards the edge. He lias nearly 
gained the water, when the quick word is given to fire, 
and a volley, well directed, knocks over all but one. 
This one seems to bear a charmed life, for he rallies 
through the crowd of prostrate companions, in a hail 
of bullets, without receiving a single wound, and 
while all on board are madly intent upon the chase, 
no one, not even the steersman, heeds the position of the 
ship, now in such close proximity to the ice, and before 
the danger can be averted, our schooner bears down 
upon the point-end and the jibboom bends like a bow 
as it comes full-tilt against the hummock of ice which 
lately afforded a resting-place to the seals. The loud 
barking of the dog, with the wild shout the sailors 
raised to “ blaze ’em/’ as they say, in order to bewilder 
the escaping seal, was rapidly hushed, and the dead 
silence which ensued was only broken by the falling of 
the head-gear which came tumbling down in conse¬ 
quence of the shock. There lay the seals on the ice 
abeam of us, the old and savage bladder-nose, the 
leader of the family, glaring grimly at us, the loose 
skin over his nose distended to the utmost, giving him 
a hideous appearance ; his whole aspect full of threat¬ 
ening should we dare to approach. Every thought is 
now turned to the safety of the ship, and it is not 
until after proper order is restored on board, that the 
