“You may leave it, Mr. Ramey,” said Captain Matthews. “I was about to say that I had no objection to your keeping it provided no owner could be found; but as one has appeared, that of course settles the matter.”
As the disappointed lieutenant walked away, he muttered to himself, “I do believe that this is the very chap who claimed the seal-skins. Now it seems that he owns everything else on the island, and I shouldn’t be surprised if he owned this ship before we got rid of him.”
In the meantime Phil was asking the captain’s permission to present the sea-otter skin to his daughter before he should have a chance to lose it. Though the latter demurred at first, on account of its value, Phil so insisted that he finally consented. Thus, to her great delight, Miss May became possessed of one of the finest pieces of fur in all Alaska, while Phil was happily relieved of a responsibility.
A few minutes later the swift cutter was speeding away over the green waters towards the Pribyloffs. Oonimak Island, with its many memories, was fading from view, and a new field of possible adventure was opening before our young seal-hunters.
[CHAPTER XXIX]
A CRUISE ON A BERING SEA CUTTER
Nearly two hundred and fifty miles north from Oonimak lie the Pribyloffs, towards the larger and more northerly of which, the island of St. Paul, the swift revenue cutter Phoca was speeding her way. That day of steaming over the restless waters of Bering Sea was one of unalloyed pleasure to both Phil and Serge. Their troubles were over; they were really bound for Sitka at last, and, en route, were going to stop at the wonderful seal islands, of which both had heard so much as to fill them with curiosity. Above all, they were making this delightful trip in company with congenial companions, some of whom were friends.
It was a real pleasure now to watch the seals, that began to appear when the cutter was fifty miles north of Oonimak, and which increased in numbers as the day wore on. They exhibited very little fear even of the steamer, but would gaze curiously at her until they deemed her too near for their own safety, when they would suddenly sink out of sight and dart away like a flash.
“I never tire of watching the dear things,” said May Matthews, as she and Phil stood together in the narrow space just in front of the pilot-house. “What with their quick movements and lovely great brown eyes, I think they are simply fascinating; don’t you?”