The True Seals 29 3
between this and the next island. We had gone about half-way over this
dangerous part and were nearly opposite the western sea itself, when suddenly
two young Grey Seals, which were within full sight of the bigger ones, popped
up in the channel within five yards of the rocks among which we had suddenly to
throw ourselves. It was a critical moment, and we dared not move a muscle, but
were soon delighted with seeing the dear little things begin playing and romping
with each other like a pair of puppies. They never once looked at us, but
splashed and bit and sparred with their fore-flippers, till getting tired of their
game of romps they suddenly dived, and we could see them several fathoms down
chasing one another in and out of the green depths like a pair of water-sprites.
After a bit they came up again, this time luckily outside the channel, and as
soon as they again disappeared we hurried on to our point of ‘ abri.’ One glance
over the shelf of rock showed me a solid mass of Seals lying almost within a
stone’s throw. With difficulty I subdued the beating of my heart and got into a
good shooting position. It was necessary to raise oneself a little to get the sight
to bear on the head of the big fellow, but presently like a great lumbering walrus
he moved up his head and shoulder and I put a Mannlicher bullet right through
his brain in the exact spot I desired to hit. Naturally a scene of wild
consternation followed. The majority of the Seals took headers straight into the
breakers, while others began to flop a few yards. One big fellow was slumbering
twelve or fourteen yards from the water, so I had time to fire three shots at his
bobbing neck, the third bullet proving instantly fatal. He lay for a moment
on the edge of the surf. I thought I had secured two grand specimens at any
rate, but it was not to be. As we stood up to run and inspect the prizes a
thundering breaker— the prelude of others to come— came crashing in, immediately
swallowing up the second Seal. Sweeping right up the rocks it just reached the
old patriarch sufficiently to turn him over on to some green weed, down which he
slipped and then rolled over and over till he was lost for a moment in the white
spray. This was staggering, but Mr. Pip at once tore off his clothes and before
I could stop him was in the breakers. His hand was almost on the carcase of
the bigger Seal which was now floating, when it suddenly turned over and sank,
and turning to meet an incoming breaker my brother-in-law had just time to
swim a few rapid strokes and surmount it ere it broke with a terrific crash. The
Seals were now a secondary consideration, for Philip was only a fair swimmer
and was in a really bad place, but it never disturbed him in the least. He made
out to sea at once and then came round to the channel, where I climbed half-way