CHAPTER XVIICRUEL KILLING OF MOTHER-SEALS
It was because Captain Duff wanted more seal-skins, and because the seals insisted in resorting to Bering Sea, that he had taken theSeamewinto those waters. He knew that the Pribyloff seals, in vast numbers, roamed far and wide in search of food; he knew that here they were less shy and more easily secured than elsewhere, and he believed that, hidden by the prevalent and friendly fogs, his swift little schooner could escape the vigilance of meddlesome patrol boats. Of course he ran the risk of losing his vessel by taking her into the forbidden waters for this purpose, and of course he was disobeying a law in so doing, Captain Duff was willing to run the risk, however, and as for laws—while he entertained a great respect for those that protected his interests, he had little regard for such as interfered with his schemes for money-getting. So, having hidden the seal-skins already secured in a place from which he, or those whom he might send, could reclaim them at some future time, and having provided himself with a supply of salted codfish, beneath which the skins that he now hoped to obtain might be concealed, foxy Captain Duff headed theSeamewinto Bering Sea, and sailed her for a day and a night towards the seal-haunted Pribyloff Islands.
Only he of all on board knew whither she was being taken; or if Jalap Coombs suspected, he shrewdly kept his own counsel, as is always best for mates to do unless their advice is asked. He had become sostrangely taciturn during the last two days, that even his boys, as he called Phil and Serge, could extract no information from him.
Early in the morning of the second day theSeamewwas hove to. With the first light the hunters were ordered into their boats, and sent in pursuit of the schools of seals that surrounded the schooner in every direction, as far as the eye could reach through the drifting fog. These were darting, diving, leaping high in air, gambolling with all the playfulness of kittens, and showing themselves by every movement to be the swiftest of swimmers, and the most graceful of marine animals.
Although Phil Ryder was not prepared for a flat disobedience of orders, he still moved towards the boat with such evident reluctance as to attract the captain’s notice.
“I shall pay you the same commission as the other hunters for this day’s work, Ryder,†said Captain Duff, a day or two later, when theSeamewwas well into Bering Sea, “and the hunter making the biggest score to-day will get a ten-dollar bonus. The same will be given to the steersman of his boat, and half as much to his boat-puller.â€
“Hurrah for Captain Duff!†yelled Oro Dunn. “That bonus has got to come to my boat, or I’m no shot.â€
“Don’t ye be too sure of that!†shouted Ike Croly, whose boat had pushed off. “I’ve already laid out to spend that money myself.â€
“Oh, you have, have you?†muttered Phil, with all the old pride in his reputation as a crack shot fully aroused. “Perhaps you’d better not spend it until you get it, though.â€
“Come back to the schooner with each dozen that ye get, and we’ll take care of ’em here,†was Captain Duff’s parting instruction as the boats put off.
Never had Phil imagined that so many seals existed as he saw that day, nor did it seem possible that these could be the same shy creatures he had encountered in the North Pacific. In the excitement of making a score he forgot all that he had said about seal-killing being butchery, and fired at every mark with the reckless ardor of an enthusiastic sportsman.
Five times during that day of slaughter did the mate’s boat return to the schooner, and each time she bore a dozen seals. On the last return trip she was laden to the gunwales with a dozen and two more.
“Never in all my experience did I see sich a day’s haul of seals!†exclaimed Jalap Coombs. “And I only wish my friend, old Kite Roberson, war here to see what a Yankee boy kin do with a pop-gun.â€
“I’m glad he isn’t,†replied Phil, who, weary and aching all over, was beginning to feel ashamed of and disgusted with his day of killing.
As he clambered up over the schooner’s side he caught sight of something that caused him to start back as though he had been struck. On the deck, mingled with blood and blubber, was a white fluid that ran to the scuppers and trickled from them in streams.
“What is it?†demanded Phil, hoarsely, of one of the crew, who was busily skinning a seal. As he asked the question he pointed a trembling finger to a pool of the white fluid.
“That!†answered the man, indifferently. “Why, that’s milk from the cows you fellows have been bringing in to-day.â€
“Cows! Do you mean seal-mothers? Where are their young?â€
“What! the pups? Back on the rookeries, of course.â€
“And what will become of them?â€
“Oh, I don’t know. I suppose they’ll die after a while. But what ails you? Be you sick?†With this the man paused for a moment in his work and gazed curiously at Phil’s pale face.
“Sick! Yes, I am sick at heart!†cried the conscience-stricken lad, before whose mental vision was flashing a vivid picture of the helpless and starving pups whose mothers he had slaughtered that day. He seemed to hear their pitiful little voices growing weaker and weaker with each hour as they called in vain for those who would never return to them. He seemed to see them dying, after days of suffering, and for a moment he felt all the horror that comes to him who has committed a murder.
He was restored to his surroundings by Captain Duff’s loud voice calling out: “Hello, Ryder! Here’s your bonus; for you’re high line to-day. If ye’ll only do as well to-morrow and the day after, I’ll promise to start ye for Sitka by steamer afore the week’s out.â€
Thus saying, the speaker extended towards the lad the reward he had promised for that day’s butchery—a ten-dollar gold piece.
With a cry of rage and a savage motion Phil snatched the glittering coin, and with all his might flung it from him into the sea. Then confronting the amazed man with blazing eyes and a wrathful voice, he almost screamed: “Did you think I would take your blood-money? I’ve sunk as low as murder, I know, but not so low as to take pay for it! And bad as I am, you are a thousand times worse, for I did not know what I was doing, while you knew all the time and urged me on. But never, so long as I live, will I take the life of another of those harmless creatures. Never! never!â€
“What ever does the boy mean? Has he lost his senses and gone mad?†cried the captain, in bewilderment,at the same time retreating a step, as though fearful that Phil was about to spring at him.
At that moment came a startling interruption of this tragic scene. It was the deep boom of a heavy gun, evidently fired from a considerable distance to windward.
Instantly all eyes were turned in that direction, where through the twilight was still distinctly to be seen a white steamer, with a cloud of black smoke pouring from her yellow funnel, and headed in their direction.
The exclamation of “A cutter!†was heard from a dozen lips at once, and, sure enough, it was one of those handy little government cruisers that are so dreaded by evil-doers, and afford so great a protection to honest sailors. She had fired a blank shot from her single gun as a command for theSeamewto lie to and await her coming.
The schooner was under way, and running down the wind to the eastward under easy sail. Captain Duff could not afford to be caught thus, red-handed as it were, with the bodies of recently-killed seals on his deck, and the green hides of others still unstowed. The steamer was yet a mile away. TheSeamewwas remarkably fast in a moderate breeze and smooth water, and night was coming on. He could at least gain time enough to conceal his illegal freight and to transform his vessel, to all outward appearance, into an ordinary fisherman. He might possibly escape entirely, and the chance was worth taking.
“Bring her on the wind!†he shouted to the man at the wheel. “Trim in! trim in! Up with your main-topsail, flying-jib, and jib-topsail! Lively, lads! lively! Drop everything else, and get sail on to her! Mr. Coombs, break out the main-stay sail and set it. Here, you! Help me get in these boats!â€
Phil was so carried away by the excitement of themoment that before he knew what he was about he found himself working furiously with the captain and two other men at getting the boats that were still towing alongside out of the water and on deck.
By the time this was done the schooner was hauled on an easy bowline, which was her best point of sailing, and with every stitch of canvas that could be packed on her, was tearing through the water so swiftly that it seemed doubtful if even a steamer could catch her. Certainly, if the wind held, she could not be overhauled before night closed down. Still, while she was getting into racing trim, and on account of the alteration in her course, the cutter had made a decided gain, and was now much nearer than at first.
“Blow, good wind, blow!†shouted Captain Duff, as he stood on the after-deck, critically eying his sails. Phil Ryder stood a short distance from him, watching the cutter, and experiencing a return of the bitter feelings he had forgotten during the recent period of excitement and action.
“Oh, I hope she will catch us!†he exclaimed, aloud, though unconsciously.
Just then a second gun was fired by the pursuer, and with an angry scream a shot flew over the schooner, and plunged into the water far ahead.
“JUST THEN A SECOND GUN WAS FIRED BY THE PURSUERâ€
“JUST THEN A SECOND GUN WAS FIRED BY THE PURSUERâ€
“Then go below, ye swab, and stay there!†roared Captain Duff, furious at both the shot and Phil’s words. As he spoke he gave the lad a violent shove that landed him at the foot of the cabin stairs, and at the same time the slide was drawn to above his head.