SEALS 181 



We adopted this method in the present 

 instance and approached almost noiselessly. 

 Unfortunately, the seal was lying on its side, its 

 belly and head being turned in our direction. 

 When we were about forty yards from it, it raised 

 its head and prepared to dive. Before it could 

 do so, I fired and planted a bullet into its neck. 

 It leaped high into the air, then fell back into 

 the sea, dyeing the water with its blood as it 

 sank slowly. We waited some time for it 

 to reappear, but it did not come to the 

 surface again, and we returned to the Belgica. 



Farther on, a second seal was shortly 

 sighted, and we adopted the same tactics. 

 This one was very nervous, however, and dived 

 before we could come within range. After 

 a disappearance lasting several minutes, its 

 head reappeared and I fired. Again it dived, 

 to rise this time right against the side of the 

 boat. A shot smashed its skull, and Jonas 

 harpooned it instantly. 



To get it into the boat was both a difficult and 

 dangerous operation, so large was it. It was 

 so heavy that we ran the risk of being completely 

 capsized. To balance the boat, we were com- 

 pelled to sit on the farther side whilst we got it 

 aboard. Afterwards we pulled to the Belgica, 

 where it was hoisted on deck and skinned> 



