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Fairy
Tales from the
land of Fairies
THE SEAL-CATCHER’S ADVENTURE
There was once upon a time a man who lived upon the northern coasts,
not far from “Taigh Jan Crot Callow”
(John-o’-Groat’s House), and he gained his
livelihood by
catching and killing fish, of all sizes and denominations. He
had
a particular liking for the killing of those wonderful beasts, half dog
half fish, called “Roane,” or seals, no doubt
because he
got a long price for their skins, which are not less curious than they
are valuable. The truth is, that the most of these animals
are
neither dogs nor cods, but downright fairies, as this narration will
show; and, indeed, it is easy for any man to convince himself of the
fact by a simple examination of his tobacco-spluichdan, for the dead
skins of those beings are never the same for four-and-twenty hours
together. Sometimes the spluichdan will erect its bristles
almost
perpendicularly, while, at other times, it reclines them even down; one
time it resembles a bristly sow, at another time a sleekit cat; and
what dead skin, except itself, could perform such cantrips?
Now,
it happened one day, as this p. 102notable fisher had returned from the
prosecution of his calling, that he was called upon by a man who seemed
a great stranger, and who said he had been despatched for him by a
person who wished to contract for a quantity of seal-skins, and that
the fisher must accompany him (the stranger) immediately to see the
person who wished to contract for the skins, as it was necessary that
he should be served that evening. Happy in the prospect of
making
a good bargain, and never suspecting any duplicity, he instantly
complied. They both mounted a steed belonging to the
stranger,
and took the road with such velocity that, although the direction of
the wind was towards their backs, yet the fleetness of their movement
made it appear as if it had been in their faces. On reaching
a
stupendous precipice which overhung the sea, his guide told him they
had now reached their destination.
“Where is the person you spoke of!” inquired the
astonished seal-killer.
“You shall see that presently,” replied the
guide.
With that they immediately alighted, and, without allowing the
seal-killer much time to indulge the frightful suspicions that began to
pervade his mind, the stranger seized him with irresistible force, and
plunged headlong with him into the sea. After sinking down,
down,
nobody knows how far, they at length reached a door, which, being open,
led them into a range of apartments, filled with
inhabitants—not
p. 103people, but seals, who could nevertheless speak and feel like
human folk; and how much was the seal-killer surprised to find that he
himself had been unconsciously transformed into the like
image.
If it were not so, he would probably have died from the want of
breath. The nature of the poor fisher’s thoughts
may be
more easily conceived than described. Looking at the nature
of
the quarters into which he had landed, all hopes of escape from them
appeared wholly chimerical, whilst the degree of comfort, and length of
life which the barren scene promised him were far from being
flattering. The “Roane,” who all seemed
in very low
spirits, appeared to feel for him, and endeavoured to soothe the
distress which he evinced by the amplest assurances of personal
safety. Involved in sad meditation on his evil fate, he was
quickly roused from his stupor by his guide’s producing a
huge
gully or joctaleg, the object of which he supposed was to put an end to
all his earthly cares. Forlorn as was his situation, however,
he
did not wish to be killed; and, apprehending instant destruction, he
fell down, and earnestly implored for mercy. The poor
generous
animals did not mean him any harm, however much his former conduct
deserved it, and he was accordingly desired to pacify himself, and
cease his cries.
“Did you ever see that knife before?” said the
stranger to the fisher.
p. 104The latter instantly recognised his own knife, which he had that
day stuck into a seal, and with which it had escaped, and acknowledged
it was formerly his own, for what would be the use of denying it?
“Well,” rejoined the guide, “the apparent
seal which
made away with it is my father, who has lain dangerously ill ever
since, and no means can stay his fleeting breath without your
aid. I have been obliged to resort to the artifice I have
practised to bring you hither, and I trust that my filial duty to my
father will readily excuse me.”
Having said this, he led into another apartment the trembling
seal-killer, who expected every minute to be punished for his own
ill-treatment of the father. There he found the identical
seal
with which he had had the encounter in the morning, suffering most
grievously from a tremendous cut in its hind-quarter. The
seal-killer was then desired, with his hand, to cicatrise the wound,
upon doing which it immediately healed, and the seal arose from its bed
in perfect health. Upon this the scene changed from mourning
to
rejoicing—all was mirth and glee. Very different,
however,
were the feelings of the unfortunate seal-catcher, who expected no
doubt to be metamorphosed into a seal for the remainder of his
life. However, his late guide accosting him, said—
“Now, sir, you are at liberty to return to your p. 105wife
and
family, to whom I am about to conduct you; but it is on this express
condition, to which you must bind yourself by a solemn oath, viz. that
you will never maim or kill a seal in all your lifetime
hereafter.”
To this condition, hard as it was, he joyfully acceded; and the oath
being administered in all due form, he bade his new acquaintance most
heartily and sincerely a long farewell. Taking hold of his
guide,
they issued from the place and swam up, till they regained the surface
of the sea, and, landing at the said stupendous pinnacle, they found
their former steed ready for a second canter. The guide
breathed
upon the fisher, and they became like men. They mounted their
horse, and fleet as had been their course towards the precipice, their
return from it was doubly swift; and the honest seal-killer was laid
down at his own door-cheek, where his guide made him such a present as
would have almost reconciled him to another similar expedition, such as
rendered his loss of profession, in so far as regarded the seals, a far
less intolerable hardship than he had at first considered it.
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