Note 143 — Chapter XI · THE ALASKAN SEA-LION.

A curious, though doubtless authentic, story was told me in this connection illustrative of the strength and energy of the sea-lion bull when at bay. Many years ago (1847), on St. Paul Island, a drive of September sea-lions was brought down to the village in the usual style; but when the natives assembled to kill them, on account of a great scarcity at that time of powder on the island, it was voted best to lance the old males also, as well as the females, rather than shoot them in the customary style. The people had hardly set to work at the task when one of their number, a small, elderly, though tough, able-bodied Aleut, while thrusting his lance into the “life” of a large bull, was suddenly seen to fall on his back directly under that huge brute’s head. Instantly the powerful jaws of the “seevitchie” closed upon the waistband, apparently, of the native, and, lifting the yelling man aloft as a cat would a kitten, the sea-lion shook and threw him high into the air, away over the heads of his associates, who rushed up to the rescue and quickly destroyed the animal by a dozen furious spear-thrusts; yet death did not loosen its clinched jaws, in which were the tattered fragments of Ivan’s clothing.