150 
A VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN. 
hole ” on the ice. An Esquimaux thereupon, in his 
seal-skin garment and hood, formed quite like the head 
of the animal he was in pursuit of, and with lance and 
rope coil, slowly crawled towards the creature. For a 
while it apparently took little notice of him, but at last 
showed indications of being on the alert. The man by 
this time was still far off, but the moment he observed 
the seal watching him, he advanced perfectly seal- 
fashion, and whilst it steadily gazed, evidently mis¬ 
taking him for one of its own species, as he at times 
imitated to very life every phocine movement, he ap¬ 
proached within a very short distance. Then suddenly 
starting up he sent his lance whirling into the creature's 
vitals ere it could scramble in safety to the blow-hole." 
