Chapter 15 - Page 2

the south and
south-west by masses of rock, that formed a complete protection against
the colder winds of the region. These walls of stone, however, were not
sufficiently near to permit any snows they might collect to impend over
the building, but enough space was left between them and the house, to
admit of a capacious yard, in which might be placed any articles that were
necessary to the ordinary work, or to the wants of the sealers.

Had it been advisable to set all hands at the business of slaughtering,
Roswell Gardiner certainly would not have lost the time he did, in the
erection of his house. But our master was a judicious and wary commander
at his calling. The seals were now perfectly tame, and nothing was easier
than to kill them in scores. The great difficulty was in removing the
spoils across the rocks, as it was sometimes necessary to do so for a
distance of several miles. Means were found, in the end, to use the boats
on this service, though even then, at midsummer, the northern shore of the
island was frequently so closely beset by the ice as completely to block
up the passage. This, too, occurred at times when the larger bay was
nearly free, and the cove, which went by the name of the "Deacon's Bight,"
among the men, was entirely so. In order to prevent a premature panic
among the victims of this intended foray, then, Gardiner allowed no one to
go out to "kill" but the experienced hands, and no more to be slain each
day than could be skinned or cut up at that particular time. In
consequence of this prudent caution, the work soon got into a regular
train; and it was early found that more was done in this mode, than could
have been effected by a less guarded assault on the seals.

As for the materials of the building, they were hauled up the rocks
without much difficulty. The frame was of some size, as is the case
generally with most old constructions in America; but being of pine,
thoroughly seasoned, the sills and plates were not so heavy but that they
might be readily enough handled by the non-sealing portion of the crew.
Robert Smith, the landsman, was a carpenter by trade, and it fell to his
lot to put together again the materials of the old warehouse. Had there
not been such a mechanic among the crew, however, a dozen Americans could,
at any time, construct a house, the 'rough and ready' habits of the people
usually teaching them, in a rude way, a good deal of a great many other
arts, besides this of the carpenter. Mott had served a part of his time
with a blacksmith, and he now set up his forge. When the frame was ready,
all hands assembled to assist in raising it; and, by the end of the first
week, the building was actually enclosed, the labour amounting to no more
than