SEAL C A VEEN. 61 



grasped in his right hand, ready for a blow. This 

 man told us, as we returned, that he had killed no 

 fewer than five seals on one occasion within the 

 cavern. 



We were not, however, favoured with so stirring a 



termination to our adventure. No sound proceeded 



. from the interior, as our vanguard passed beyond our 



sphere of vision, and we all in succession followed 



him in. 



We found ourselves in a gloomy chamber of spa- 

 cious area, and so lofty that the united light of our 

 feeble candles could not struggle to its roof. The 

 walls were formed of the plain smooth rock, not par- 

 ticularly damp, and devoid of any incrustation or de- 

 posit of stalactite, the rock being composed entirely of 

 granite, of which lime is no ingredient. There is a 

 low and narrow hole at the farther end of the chamber, 

 into which a man may enter by creeping on his hands 

 and knees. It is believed to lead to another cavity, 

 but none of us cared to explore it. 



Our curiosity being satisfied, we commenced our 

 return, which we effected in the same manner as our 

 entrance, except that in crossing, by means of the 

 ladder, from the cave to the rock where we had left 

 the worthy old Captain, we were more unlucky, for 

 every one was washed off from his hold by the surf. 

 This involuntary bath, however, was no great misfor- 

 tune ; for the beams of the burning sun soon dried 

 our drenched garments. Indeed, the contrast which 

 we felt as we emerged from the chilly cavern into the 



