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Then a hurried descent to the "'tween-decks" and an anxious peering into the hold below. True too true! It is already half full of water, which seems mounting higher and by inches to the minute! So fancy the more frightened ones! "Though bad enuf, 'tain't altogether so bad's that," pronounced Seagriff the carpenter, after a brief inspection.
"So it may be, Captin'," pursues Seagriff; "but thar's somethin' 'bout these breakin' off an' becomin' bergs ez ain't so well understood, I reckin'; leastways, not by l'arned men. The cause of it air well enough know'd 'mong the seal-fishers ez frequent these soun's an' channels." "What is the cause, Chips?" asked young Gancy, like all the others, interested in the subject of conversation.
"There's an ugly look in their eyes, I don't like," said Seagriff, aside to the Captain, "specially in some of the old women. Wi' them 'tair a thing o' life or death when they get to starvation point, and that's near now. One of 'em 'ud have to be sacrificed, ef not one of us. You hear how they're cackling, wi' thar eyes all the time turning towards us."
Seagriff, still vigorous for he has not much passed manhood's prime and unhampered, reaches the head of the gorge long before the others. But as soon as his eyes are above it, and he has a view of the summit level, he sees there something to astonish him: the whole surface, nearly an acre in extent, is covered with fur-seals, lying close together like pigs in a stye.
An' tame as pet tabby cats! There's enough of 'em to supply seal-skin jackets fur nigh all the women o' New York!" No one makes rejoinder to the old sealer's regretful rhapsody. The situation is too grave for them to be thinking of gain by the capture of fur-seals, even though it should prove "a mine of wealth," as Seagriff called it.
If she'd weathered the gale and put in this way, they'd be sure to sail on for the mainland. In that case, they may sight us when we get well out on the open water." "Jest so, Capting," says Seagriff, "an' as ye perpose, we mout as well make the start now. We kin gain nothin' by stayin' hyar." "All right, then. Let us be off."
"Yes," assents Seagriff, "thet air the best way. 'Sides, thar's no chance o' our gettin' past 'em out o' reach o' thar sling-stones. But I guess we hevn't much to fear from thet lot, ef thar aren't others to jine 'em; an' I don't see any others." "Nor do I," indorses the Captain, sweeping the shore-line with his glass. "It's the only craft I can see anywhere."
A boat full of people putting off from the shore!" "Mout it be the pinnace, Capting?" "No, Chips; it's some sort of native craft. Look for yourself." And he hands him the binocular. "Yer right, sir," says Seagriff, after a look through the glass. "A Feweegin canoe it air, an' I do believe they're Ailikoleeps. Ef so, we may look out for squalls."
So their breakfast is not so bad, after all indeed, to appetites keen as theirs, it seems a veritable feast. While they are enjoying it, Seagriff tells them something more about the plant which has proved of such opportune service.
For, although weeks have now elapsed since the departure of the fishing party, and nothing more has been seen of them or any other savages, nor have any fires been visible at night, nor any smoke by day still the Fuegians may appear at any moment; and their fears on this score are not diminished by what Seagriff says in giving the probable reason for their non-appearance: "I guess they've gone out seaward, along the west coast, seal-huntin'. The old seals are tamer at this seezun then any other, an' easier stolen upon.
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