WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS 



not above tenyards from wherehis mortal enemy was lying 

 concealed. The water was deep to the very edge, and the 

 great unwieldy beast clambered up the steep beach, and 

 was very soon high and dry, a few yards from the muzzle 

 of Donald's gun, which was immediately pointed at him, 

 but from the position in which the seal was lying he could 

 not get a shot at the head, the only part where a wound 

 would prove immediately fatal. Donald waited some time, 

 in hopes that the animal would turn or lift his head, but at 

 last losing patience, he gave a low whistle, which had the 

 immediate effect of makino- the animal lift its head to listen. 

 The gun was immediately discharged, and the ball passed 

 through the seal's neck, close to the head. Up ran Donald, 

 and flinging down his gun, siezed one of the immense fins 

 or flippers of the beast, which he could scarcely span with 

 both hands. The seal was bleeding like a pig at the throat, 

 and quite stunned at the same time, but though it did not 

 struggle, it showed a kind of inclination to move towards 

 the water, which obliged Donald to stick his heels into the 

 ground, and to lean back, holding on with all his strength 

 to prevent the escape of the enormous beast. "'Deed, Sir," 

 said Donald, "if you believe me, he was as big as any Hie- 

 land stirk in the parish." Well, there the two remained for 

 above an hour — motionless, but always straining against 

 each other, Donald's object being to keep the seal in the 

 same place till the tide had receded to some distance, and 

 then to despatch him how he best could. Many a wistful 

 glancehe cast at his gun, which he had so rashly flung down 

 without reloading; the said gun being, as he said, "but a 

 bit trifling single-barrelled thing, lent him by a shoemaker 



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