A DAY WITH A SEAL 89 



drive me perspiring after the sparsely sprinkled 

 grouse which my unvarying inaccuracy with the 

 fowling-piece has left upon the small but vicious 

 steeps of the island. The warm sun and still 

 air are certain to tempt a considerable number 

 of seals to bask for most of the day on the 

 reefs of Ardskinish, or the rocks to the south 

 of it, and I mean to stalk and secure one before 

 the day is many hours older. Moreover, to- 

 morrow is a post-day, so that I shall be able to 

 send the skin at once to be dressed if I am 

 fortunate in my efforts. There are two post- 

 days in the week, a preposterous number in the 

 eyes of the local postman, which he generally 

 contrives by self-instituted holidays to reduce to 

 more reasonable proportions. 



Very shortly after breakfast I am under way 

 with a telescope in its case, lunch in a bag on 

 my shoulders, and a small '250 American rifle 

 in my hand. This weapon is not for the benefit 

 of the seals, though I firmly believe it would 

 answer well enough, but for any rabbits or 

 other small game which I may encounter in the 

 course of the four miles which are before me, or 

 later in the day, if fortune favours my main 

 object early. As I pass through the gates of the 

 carriage drive I come in view of a field which 

 almost invariably contains a few black game, 

 and there, sure enough, is an old cock about a 

 hundred and twenty yards from me, but barely 



