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and to heave on ropes； and to reef the stiff sails in sudden
squalls； and to take my turn at the wheel。 But it was not strange； for
the blood of my fathers was the blood of the men of the sea。
'I had thought it an easy task to find him I sought； once I got
among his own people； and when we raised the land one day； and
passed between a gateway of the sea to a port； I looked for perhaps as
many schooners as there were fingers to my hands。 But the ships lay
against the wharves for miles； packed like so many little fish； and
when I went among them to ask for a man with the mane of a sea lion；
they laughed； and answered me in the tongues of many peoples。 And I
found that they hailed from the uttermost parts of the earth。
'And I went into the city to look upon the face of every man。 But
they were like the cod when they run thick on the banks； and I could
not count them。 And the noise smote upon me till I could not hear； and
my head was dizzy with much movement。 So I went on and on； through the
lands which sang in the warm sunshine； where the harvests lay rich
on the plains； and where great cities were fat with men that lived
like women； with false words in their mouths and their hearts black
with the lust of gold。 And all the while my people of Akatan hunted
and fished； and were happy in the thought that the world was small。
'But the look in the eyes of Unga coming home from the fishing was
with me always； and I knew I would find her when the time was met。 She
walked down quiet lanes in the dusk of the evening； or led me chases
across the thick fields wet with the morning dew； and there was a
promise in her eyes such as only the woman Unga could give。
'So I wandered through a thousand cities。 Some were gentle and
gave me food； and others laughed； and still others cursed； but I
kept my tongue between my teeth； and went strange ways and saw strange
sights。 Sometimes I； who was a chief and the son of a chief； toiled
for men… men rough of speech and hard as iron； who wrung gold from the
sweat and sorrow of their fellow men。 Yet no word did I get of my
quest till I came back to the sea like a homing seal to the rookeries。
But this was at another port； in another country which lay to the
north。 And there I heard dim tales of the yellow…haired sea
wanderer； and I learned that he was a hunter of seals； and that even
then he was abroad on the ocean。
'So I shipped on a seal schooner with the lazy Siwashes； and
followed his trackless trail to the north where the hunt was then
warm。 And we were away weary months； and spoke many of the fleet；
and heard much of the wild doings of him I sought； but never once
did we raise him above the sea。 We went north； even to the
Pribilofs； and killed the seals in herds on the beach； and brought
their warm bodies aboard till our scuppers ran grease and blood and no
man could stand upon the deck。 Then were we chased by a ship of slow
steam； which fired upon us with great guns。 But we put sail till the
sea was over our decks and washed them clean； and lost ourselves in
a fog。
'It is said； at this time； while we fled with fear at our hearts；
that the yellow…haired sea wanderer put in to the Pribilofs； right
to the factory； and while the part of his men held the servants of the
company； the rest loaded ten thousand green skins from the salt
houses。 I say it is said； but I believe； for in the voyages I made
on the coast with never a meeting the northern seas rang with his
wildness and daring； till the three nations which have lands there
sought him with their ships。 And I heard of Unga； for the captains
sang loud in her praise； and she was always with him。 She had
learned the ways of his people； they said； and was happy。 But I knew
better… knew that her heart harked back to her own people by the
yellow beach of Akatan。
'So； after a long time； I went back to the port which is by a
gateway of the sea； and there I learned that he had gone across the
girth of the great ocean to hunt for the seal to the east of the
warm land which runs south from the Russian seas。 And I； who was
become a sailorman； shipped with men of his own race； and went after
him in the hunt of the seal。 And there were few ships off that new
land； but we hung on the flank of the seal pack and harried it north
through all the spring of the year。 And when the cows were heavy
with pup and crossed the Russian line； our men grumbled and were
afraid。 For there was much fog； and every day men were lost in the
boats。 They would not work； so the captain turned the ship back toward
the way it came。 But I knew the yellow…haired sea wanderer was
unafraid； and would hang by the pack； even to the Russian Isles； where
few men go。 So I took a boat； in the black of night； when the
lookout dozed on the fo'c'slehead； and went alone to the warm； long
land。 And I journeyed south to meet the men by Yeddo Bay； who are wild
and unafraid。 And the Yoshiwara girls were small； and bright like
steel； and good to look upon； but I could not stop； for I knew that
Unga rolled on the tossing floor by the rookeries of the north。
'The men by Yeddo Bay had met from the ends of the earth； and had
neither gods nor homes； sailing under the flag of the Japanese。 And
with them I went to the rich beaches of Copper Island； where our
salt piles became high with skins。 And in that silent sea we saw no
man till we were ready to come away。 Then one day the fog lifted on
the edge of a heavy wind； and there jammed down upon us a schooner；
with close in her wake the cloudy funnels of a Russian man…of…war。
We fled away on the beam of the wind； with the schooner jamming
still closer and plunging ahead three feet to our two。 And upon her
poop was the man with the mane of the sea lion； pressing the rails
under with the canvas and laughing in his strength of life。 And Unga
was there… I knew her on the moment… but he sent her below when the
cannons began to talk across the sea。 As I say； with three feet to our
two； till we saw the rudder lift green at every jump… and I swinging
on to the wheel and cursing； with my back to the Russian shot。 For
we knew he had it in mind to run before us； that he might get away
while we were caught。 And they knocked our masts out of us till we
dragged into the wind like a wounded gull； but he went on over the
edge of the sky line… he and Unga。
'What could we？ The fresh hides spoke for themselves。 So they took
us to a Russian port； and after that to a lone country； where they set
us to work in the mines to dig salt。 And some died； and… and some
did not die。'
Naass swept the blanket from his shoulders； disclosing the gnarled
and twisted flesh； marked with the unmistakable striations of the
knout。 Prince hastily covered him； for it was not nice to look upon。
'We were there a weary time and sometimes men got away to the south；
but they always came back。 So； when we who hailed from Yeddo Bay
rose in the night and took the guns from the guards； we