s now
quiet, although he occasionally made attempts to bite me. I coaxed him
and fondled him a good deal, and then put him into his bag again, and
made him secure, which appeared to annoy him very much, as he was not
half as quiet in a bag as he was when I held him in my lap. I then took
my book to read over again the history of the seal, and I found that
their skins were valuable, and also that they gave a great deal of oil;
but I had no use for oil, though I thought that their skins might be
very comfortable in my bed-place. I shut my book and lay down to sleep,
but I could not obtain any till near daylight, I had been so excited,
and was so anxious about my treasure. The sun shining in my eyes woke
me up; I found my seal was lying very quiet, I touched him to see that
he was not dead; and the cry that he gave assured me to the contrary. I
then walked back to where I had left the bodies of the parents. I found
on examination that they were both dead, and also that their furs were
very beautiful, and I resolved that I would have their skins. But here
was a difficulty. If I took off the skins, I could not carry them with
me, and I was anxious to get the young one home, lest it should die of
hunger; so I decided that I would first take home the young one, give it
food and warm it, and then return and skin the old ones.

I therefore made my breakfast, and leaving the remainder of my provision
in a cleft in the rock, that I might not have the trouble of bringing it
again, I set off on my return, and used such diligence that I was back
at the cabin by noon. I found my birds all well, and apparently quite
satisfied with the provision that I had left them, for they were most of
them asleep, and those that were awake did not notice my arrival.

"Ah," thought I, "you only like me for what I give you; next time I go
away I will leave you hungry, and then, when you see me come back, you
will all flutter your wings with gladness."

I was puzzled where to put my seal so as to keep him safe: at last I
decided upon opening the seaman's chest and putting him in that. I did
so, and gave him a piece of fish which the birds had not eaten. The
little creature devoured it eagerly, and I took my lines and went down
to catch some fish for a further supply. In half an hour I returned
with two large fish, and I then took the seal out of the chest and fed
him again. He ate very heartily; and I was glad to perceive that he
appeare