The lads accepted both these pieces of advice, and, after bidding good-bye to the officers and to Miss May, who positively declined to visit people whose sole business was the killing of her dear seals, they set forth from the ship filled with eager anticipations of what they were to see.
“Remember,” called out Miss May from the deck, “that you are to be on board in time to start for Sitka.”
“Indeed we will!” answered both lads at once. “We won’t miss it this time even if we have to accept your father’s invitation to go in irons!” cried Phil. “Good-bye!”
Mr. Ramey, who had obtained permission to go ashore with his beloved camera, for which he hoped to find sunlight enough after a while, went in the boat with Captain Matthews and the lads.
As it approached the shore and the fog began to lift, both Phil and Serge uttered exclamations of amazement. To the left, as far as the eye could reach, literally covering the land, apparently ranged in platoons, companies, regiments, and armies, were the seals in countless myriads, an incredible mass of animal life. They were in ceaseless motion; and all, from old bulls to new-born pups, were roaring, barking, spitting, yelping, or plaintively calling, until the whole formed a mighty volume of sound that is never stilled, night or day, from the time the seals arrive in June until they depart in October.
From this scene, which they looked forward to visiting later, the lads turned their attention to the village of St. Paul, which occupied a rising ground on the right, directly above the beach. Here they were amazed to see a collection of nearly one hundred comfortable-looking frame-houses, a number of warehouses and other company buildings, a Greek church, a store, and a school-house, all painted white and neatly ranged along regularly laid-out, terraced streets. With its general air of prosperity, neatness, and comfort this sealing-station in far-away Bering Sea compared favorably with thousands of other American villages scattered over more favored portions of the country. There were no shade trees, to be sure, nor is there a tree of any kind on the island; but then none is needed, for the almost perpetual fog does away with the necessity. High above the village, from the top of a tall pole, floated an American flag. As Phil Ryder stepped ashore and looked up at this well-loved emblem of his country, he realized as never before what a vast and far-reaching empire it is, and his heart thrilled with pride at the thought that it was his country and that was his flag.
[CHAPTER XXX]
THE THIRD LIEUTENANT’S HUMILIATING POSITION
A throng of villagers were assembled on the beach to witness the landing of the boat, for in that distant community the arrival of a ship bringing news from the great world is an event of general interest. Every one knew Captain Matthews, and all wanted to shake hands with him; but he found time to present our lads to the principal men of the place, such as the government inspector, the company’s agent, the priest, and the doctor who has charge of the hospital in which all sick or wounded villagers are cared for free of expense to themselves. All of these extended a cordial hospitality, and promised that the lads should be well taken care of during their short stay, and shown all the sights.