Esquimau had approached to within a hundred yards, he lay down
at full length and slowly worked himself forward. Meanwhile the seals
raised their heads, but seeing, as they imagined, a companion coming
towards them, they did not make for their holes, which were a few yards
distant from them. Having drawn near enough to render the animals
suspicious, the young giant now sprang up, rushed forward, and got
between one seal and its hole just as its more active companion dived
into the water. In another moment the deadly lance transfixed its side
and killed it. This was a fortunate supply to the Esquimau, whose
powers of endurance were fast failing. He immediately sat down on his
victim, and cutting a large steak from its side, speedily made a meal
that far exceeded the powers of any alderman whatsoever! It required
but a short time to accomplish, however, and a shorter time to transfer
several choice [junks] chunks to his wallet; with which replenished
store he resumed his journey.

Although the man's vigour was restored for a time, so that he travelled
with great speed, it did not last long, owing to the wound in his head,
which produced frequent attacks of giddiness, and at last compelled him,
much against his will, to halt for a couple of hours' repose. Glancing
round, in order to select a suitable camping ground, he soon observed
such a spot in the form of a broad, overhanging ledge of rock, beneath
which there was a patch of scrubby underwood. Here he lay down with the
seal blubber for a pillow, and was quickly buried in deep, untroubled
slumber. In little more than two hours he awoke with a start, and,
after a second application to the contents of the wallet, resumed his
solitary march. The short rest seemed to have quite restored his wonted
vigour, for he now stalked up the banks of the river at a rate which
seemed only to accelerate as he advanced. As has been already said,
these banks were both rugged and precipitous. In some places the rocks
jutted out into the water, forming promontories over which it was
difficult to climb; and frequently these capes terminated in abrupt
precipices, necessitating a detour in order to advance. In other places
the coast was indented with sandy bays, which more than doubled the
distance the traveller would have had to accomplish had he possessed a
kayak. Unfortunately in his hasty departure he neglected to take one
with him; but he did his best to atone for this overs