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There was swiles every two or three yards a'most, old uns an' young uns, all round everywhere; an' I feeled shamed in a manner: but I got my gaff, an' cleaned un, an' then, in God's name, I took the big swile, that was dead by its dead whelp, an' hauled it away, where the t' other poor things could n' si' me, an' I sculped it, an' took the pelt; for I thowt I'd wear un, now the poor dead thing did n' want to make oose of un no more, an' partly becase 't was sech a lovun thing.
Uncle Johnnie had a tow of three big pelts, and, believe me, heaven and earth wouldn't have made he leave them swiles behind. I'd left mine just as quick as I felt t' shift, and never let on I had any, so's I could rope up Uncle Johnnie's load and hustle him toward t' land.
The Sparrow kep' her men, an' fotch home about thirty-eight hundred swiles, an' a poor man off th' Ice: but they, poor fellows, that I went out wi', never comed no more: an' I never went agen. "I kep' the skin o' the poor baste, Sir: that's 'e on my cap." When the planter had fairly finished his tale, it was a little while before I could teach my eyes to see the things about me in their places.
'T was jest a great, white, frozen raft, driftun bodily away, wi' storm blowun over, an' current runnun under, an' snow comun down so thick, an' a poor Christen laved all alone wi' it. 'T would drift as long as anything was of it, an' 't was n' likely there'd be any life in the poor man by time th' ice goed to nawthun; an' the swiles 'ould swim back agen up to the Nothe!
"It were a wonderful thing them days, for Father were the only Liveyer then that is, as stayed all the year round. He didn't mind being alone, and t' moving in t' schooner every spring and fall were bad for Mother. Fish were plenty every season one side or t'other of Deadman's Cape, and there was lots of fur and swiles t' winter. So he built a house in Sleepy Cove, and there us grew up!
"I believe our skipper knowed it were no good, just as soon as t' watch called him to see for hisself. But he made out as if there was nothing to it, and ordered all hands to be ready to take t' ice, as though 't was a patch o' swiles instead of rocks ahead.
"'Then how does they do for swiles?" was what he asked, and when he was informed that there were no seals in Galilee Dick expressed commiseration for the poor people. "They are a pretty ignorant lot," commented Dad, laughing heartily. "Few of them have the slightest chance of obtaining any education," I replied. "And Mr. Barnett was so nice to him, explaining things.
Fishing isn't as good as it used to be round here, and swiles well, there be'ant one year in a dozen when they comes in any quantity. I reckon I'll rig t' Saucy Lass for a longer trip t' year, and see what luck'll bring lower down t' Labrador."
The people call the seals "swiles." We mostly hauls 'em." Sea-birds have also come in the "swatches" of open water between the pans. A gale of wind and sea has broken up the ice, and driven it out of St. Mien's Bay, which is just round the corner from us. Thousands of "turr" are there, and the men are reaping many a banquet.
I did n' want to look at they beautiful islands no more, somehow. Bumby it comed on thick, an' then snow. "Nex' day swiles bawlun every way, poor things! "So we got abroad, an' the men that was wi' me jes' began to knock right an' left: 't was heartless to see an' hear it. They laved two old uns an' a young whelp to me, as they runned by.
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