--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Returning from a hunting trip, Orde-Lees…" description: "\"“Returning from a hunting trip, Orde-Lees, traveling on skis across the rotting surface of the ice, had just about reached camp when an evil, knoblike ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/alfred-lansing-28327_caught-orde_returning-from-a-hunting-trip-orde-lees_1842540.jpg" --- # Returning from a hunting trip, Orde-Lees, traveling on… ![“Returning from a hunting trip, Orde-Lees, traveling on skis across the rotting surface of the ice, had just about reached camp when an evil, knoblike head burst out of the water just in front of him. He turned and fled, pushing as hard as he could with his ski poles and shouting for Wild to bring…” quote by Alfred Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/alfred-lansing-28327_caught-orde_returning-from-a-hunting-trip-orde-lees_1842540.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/alfred-lansing-28327_caught-orde_returning-from-a-hunting-trip-orde-lees_1842540.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/alfred-lansing-28327_caught-orde_returning-from-a-hunting-trip-orde-lees_1842540.jpg) > ““Returning from a hunting trip, Orde-Lees, traveling on skis across the rotting surface of the ice, had just about reached camp when an evil, knoblike head burst out of the water just in front of him. He turned and fled, pushing as hard as he could with his ski poles and shouting for Wild to bring his rifle. The animal—a sea leopard—sprang out of the water and came after him, bounding across the ice with the peculiar rocking-horse gait of a seal on land. The beast looked like a small dinosaur, with a long, serpentine neck. After a half-dozen leaps, the sea leopard had almost caught up with Orde-Lees when it unaccountably wheeled and plunged again into the water. By then, Orde-Lees had nearly reached the opposite side of the floe; he was about to cross to safe ice when the sea leopard’s head exploded out of the water directly ahead of him. The animal had tracked his shadow across the ice. It made a savage lunge for Orde-Lees with its mouth open, revealing an enormous array of sawlike teeth. Orde-Lees’ shouts for help rose to screams and he turned and raced away from his attacker. The animal leaped out of the water again in pursuit just as Wild arrived with his rifle. The sea leopard spotted Wild, and turned to attack him. Wild dropped to one knee and fired again and again at the onrushing beast. It was less than 30 feet away when it finally dropped. Two dog teams were required to bring the carcass into camp. It measured 12 feet long, and they estimated its weight at about 1,100 pounds. It was a predatory species of seal, and resembled a leopard only in its spotted coat—and its disposition. When it was butchered, balls of hair 2 and 3 inches in diameter were found in its stomach—the remains of crabeater seals it had eaten. The sea leopard’s jawbone, which measured nearly 9 inches across, was given to Orde-Lees as a souvenir of his encounter. In his diary that night, Worsley observed: “A man on foot in soft, deep snow and unarmed would not have a chance against such an animal as they almost bound along with a rearing, undulating motion at least five miles an hour. They attack without provocation, looking on man as a penguin or seal.”” [Alfred Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lansing/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A hunter encounters a massive, seal‑like predator on ice, illustrating nature’s unpredictable danger and human survival instincts. **In simple terms:** A dangerous sea creature attacks a man on ice, showing wild unpredictability. Key Takeaway Stay alert and respect wild environments. Themes survival nature’s unpredictability human instinct Mood tense dramatic adventurous Type historical survival nature When to use this quote - Arctic expedition - ski travel - emergency response Key Concepts predator‑prey dynamics extreme environments adventure Questions to Reflect On - What does this encounter reveal about human limits? - How can we better prepare for unexpected wildlife encounters? A Different Perspective Human ingenuity alone may not overcome sudden natural threats. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“A forbidding-looking place, certainly, but that only made it seem the more pitiful. It was the refuge of twenty-two men who, at that very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lansing/a-forbidding-looking-place-certainly-but-that-only-made-it-seem-the/) [Alfred Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lansing/) > [“Whatever his mood—whether it was gay and breezy, or dark with rage—he had one pervading characteristic: he was purposeful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lansing/whatever-his-mood-whether-it-was-gay-and-breezy-or-dark-with-rage-he/) [Alfred Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lansing/) > [“The simple act of sailing had carried him beyond the world of reversals, frustrations, and inanities. And in the space of a few short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lansing/the-simple-act-of-sailing-had-carried-him-beyond-the-world-of/) [Alfred Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lansing/) > [“The whole undertaking was criticized in some circles as being too "audacious." And perhaps it was. But if it hadn't been audacious, it wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lansing/the-whole-undertaking-was-criticized-in-some-circles-as-being-too/) [Alfred Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lansing/) > [No matter what the odds, a man does not pin his last hope for survival on something and then expect that it will fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lansing/no-matter-what-the-odds-a-man-does-not-pin-his-last-hope-for-survival/) [Alfred Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lansing/) > [it's been my experience that most writers don't talk about their craft--they just do it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lansing/it-s-been-my-experience-that-most-writers-don-t-talk-about-their/) [Alfred Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lansing/) > [“He promised to write a book later about the trip. He sold the rights to the motion pictures and still photographs that would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lansing/he-promised-to-write-a-book-later-about-the-trip-he-sold-the-rights/) [Alfred Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lansing/) > [“They were for all practical purposes alone in the frozen Antarctic seas. It had been very nearly a year since they had last been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lansing/they-were-for-all-practical-purposes-alone-in-the-frozen-antarctic/) [Alfred Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lansing/) > [I have a great many opinions about writing, but I'm afraid that all of them are unprintable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lansing/i-have-a-great-many-opinions-about-writing-but-i-m-afraid-that-all-of/) [Alfred Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lansing/) > [“Even at home, with theatres and all sorts of amusements, changes of scene and people, four months idleness would be tedious: One can then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lansing/even-at-home-with-theatres-and-all-sorts-of-amusements-changes-of/) [Alfred Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lansing/) > [In that instant they felt an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment. Though they had failed dismally even to come close to the expedition's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lansing/in-that-instant-they-felt-an-overwhelming-sense-of-pride-and/) [Alfred Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lansing/) > [“Of all their enemies -- the cold, the ice, the sea -- he feared none more than demoralization.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lansing/of-all-their-enemies-the-cold-the-ice-the-sea-he-feared-none-more/) [Alfred Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lansing/) > [“The date was October 27, 1915. The name of the ship was Endurance. The position was 69°5´ South, 51°30´ West—deep in the icy wasteland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lansing/the-date-was-october-27-1915-the-name-of-the-ship-was-endurance-the/) [Alfred Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lansing/) > [“Then he opened the Bible Queen Alexandra had given them and ripped out the flyleaf and the page containing the Twenty-third Psalm. He also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lansing/then-he-opened-the-bible-queen-alexandra-had-given-them-and-ripped/) [Alfred Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lansing/) > [“The ship reacted to each fresh wave of pressure in a different way. Sometimes she simply quivered briefly as a human being might wince…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lansing/the-ship-reacted-to-each-fresh-wave-of-pressure-in-a-different-way/) [Alfred Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lansing/) ## More by Alfred Lansing > [“A forbidding-looking place, certainly, but that only made it seem the more pitiful. It was the refuge of twenty-two men who, at that very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lansing/a-forbidding-looking-place-certainly-but-that-only-made-it-seem-the/) [Alfred Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lansing/) > [“Then he opened the Bible Queen Alexandra had given them and ripped out the flyleaf and the page containing the Twenty-third Psalm. He also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lansing/then-he-opened-the-bible-queen-alexandra-had-given-them-and-ripped/) [Alfred Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lansing/) > [“The date was October 27, 1915. The name of the ship was Endurance. 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Sometimes she simply quivered briefly as a human being might wince…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lansing/the-ship-reacted-to-each-fresh-wave-of-pressure-in-a-different-way/) [Alfred Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lansing/) [Explore all 19 Alfred Lansing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lansing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Returning from a hunting trip, Orde-Lees, traveling on skis across the rotting surface of the ice, had just about reached camp when an evil, knoblike head burst out of the water just in front of him. He turned and fled, pushing as hard as he could with his ski poles and shouting for Wild to bring his rifle. The animal—a sea leopard—sprang out of the water and came after him, bounding across the ice with the peculiar rocking-horse gait of a seal on land. The beast looked like a small dinosaur, with a long, serpentine neck. After a half-dozen leaps, the sea leopard had almost caught up with Orde-Lees when it unaccountably wheeled and plunged again into the water. By then, Orde-Lees had nearly reached the opposite side of the floe; he was about to cross to safe ice when the sea leopard’s head exploded out of the water directly ahead of him. The animal had tracked his shadow across the ice. It made a savage lunge for Orde-Lees with its mouth open, revealing an enormous array of sawlike teeth. Orde-Lees’ shouts for help rose to screams and he turned and raced away from his attacker. The animal leaped out of the water again in pursuit just as Wild arrived with his rifle. The sea leopard spotted Wild, and turned to attack him. Wild dropped to one knee and fired again and again at the onrushing beast. It was less than 30 feet away when it finally dropped. Two dog teams were required to bring the carcass into camp. It measured 12 feet long, and they estimated its weight at about 1,100 pounds. It was a predatory species of seal, and resembled a leopard only in its spotted coat—and its disposition. When it was butchered, balls of hair 2 and 3 inches in diameter were found in its stomach—the remains of crabeater seals it had eaten. The sea leopard’s jawbone, which measured nearly 9 inches across, was given to Orde-Lees as a souvenir of his encounter. In his diary that night, Worsley observed: “A man on foot in soft, deep snow and unarmed would not have a chance against such an animal as they almost bound along with a rearing, undulating motion at least five miles an hour. 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