Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 March 1894 — Almost Dragged Under. [ARTICLE]

Almost Dragged Under.

The author of “Eskimo Life” described a day’s hunt, when the men of the village put out to sea, each in his cranky little kaiak, after seals, auks, fish, or whatever other game may present itself. Tobias began by chasing a seal which dived and did not come up again within sight, but the man is one of the best hunters of the village, as the reader may judge by what follows. He had sighted another seal, and was skimming over the sea toward it, when the huge head of a hooded seal popped upright in front of the kaiak, and was harpooned in an instant. It makes a frightful wallowing and dives, the harpoon line whirls out, but suddenly gets fouled under the throwing-stick of the bird-dart. The bow es the kaiak is drawn under with an irresistible rush, and before Tobias knows where he is, the water is up to his armpits, and nothing can be see of him but his head and shoulders and the stern of the kaiak, which sticks right up into the air. It looks as If It were all over with him. Those who Were nearest paddle with all might to his assistance, but with scant hope however to save him. Tobias, however, is a first-rate kaiak man. In spite of his difficult position, he keeps upon even keel while he is dragged through the water by the seal, which does all he can to get him entirely under. At last it comes up again, and in a moment he has seized his lance, and with deadly aim, had pierced the seal through tbe head. A feeble movement, and it is dead. The other men come up in time to find Tobias busy making his booty fast, and to get the piece of blubber to which each is entitled. They cannot restrain their admiration for his coolness and skill, and speak of it long afterward.