SEAL -SHOOTING. 91 



panions dashed into the sea, but the wounded seal 

 rolled about on the sand, and then struggled after 

 them. When in the water, in place of only the 

 head, the whole disabled shoulder rose above the 

 surface, and the dives were short and laborious. 

 My boatmen, making sure of their prize, pulled 

 with all their might, but in mid career an oar 

 snapped, and there was no spare one. With the 

 stump of the oar they followed the path of blood, 

 and every time the creature came to the top for air 

 the sea was dyed red all round. Had I and my 

 rifle been aboard I could with the greatest ease 

 have sent a ball through its head before the air 

 supply was pumped out by the death-struggle, 

 when it would have floated till we pulled up. 

 Even with a pair of whole oars there was every 

 likelihood of getting hold of the prey alive, but by 

 lamely following it with an oar stump the creature 

 bravely fought on till it died, and then, quite 

 empty of buoyant air, disappeared at once in deep 

 water. For the truthfulness of my narrative I 

 have entered into these details, but must acknow- 

 ledge that such casualties in seal-shooting fully 

 counterbalance its pleasures. 



