236 FORAYS AMONG SALMON AND DEER. 



ground, I succeeded in still further shortening the 

 distance, and at length found myself within a hundred 

 and fifty yards, where I could distinctly make out a cub 

 seal, engrossed in the act of sucking his mother, the 

 latter being apparently of an unusually large size. My 

 reader may think it very barbarous of me to have dis- 

 turbed such a scene of blissful innocence and repose, 

 but opportunities like these are not of so frequent occur- 

 rence as to admit of such scruples in "the savage 

 breast " of one who is a thorough " protectionist " in 

 the cause of the Salmonidae. Accordingly with a fisher- 

 man's sympathy, and regarding them as mine enemies 

 who were the salmon's enemies, I took a steady aim at 

 the mother, and fired. She immediately floundered 

 into the water, the ball, as I afterwards discovered, 

 having passed through the upper part of her shoulder. 

 The youngster was so completely taken by surprise, 

 that he also dashed off into his native element, but on 

 the opposite side of the point to his mother. 



I now expected to see no more of either, at least 

 within shot ; but very soon the old seal re-appeared, 

 about two hundred yards from shore, and not quite 

 opposite the point. But to my astonishment I per- 

 ceived that she at once began to make for her former 

 position. I reloaded my rifle, as she was now evidently 

 in search of her cub, and I might yet have a second 

 shot. 



Twice or thrice she dived ; and during each dive I 

 ran forward, so as to be near the beach to receive her 

 warmly in case she came sufficiently near. At last, I 

 had just reached the water's edge, and was standing at 

 the very point of the promontory, when her head ap- 

 peared above water within fifteen yards of me. Before 

 she could again get under water, 1 fired, and the ball 

 entered her head between her two nostrils, and passed 



