234 SECOND SEAL. 



I put the boat before the wind and ran for home. In 

 passing an island in the loch, I noticed two seals close 

 to the shore at the west end. Whereupon I immedi- 

 ately changed our course, and landed at the other end 

 of the island ; and leaving the boat in charge of three 

 of the men, I started with the fourth to try for another 

 seal. After great trouble I succeeded in reaching the 

 rock near which I expected to find them. Here I lay 

 for nearly an hour watching their movements. Now 

 and then they swam past me, within ten yards of the 

 place where I lay, puffing and sometimes almost yelling, 

 as they rolled about in the water, totally unconscious of 

 my proximity. At length, as my position was not a 

 comfortable one, I became tired of watching, and took 

 aim at one, just as his head rose above the water. The 

 ball passed,through both his eyes ; but he was not shot 

 dead, and at first began to dive, though he was not able 

 to remain below long. Soon, however, he sank to rise 

 no more, and I was pleased that his sufferings were 

 terminated. I dispatched my attendant to run round 

 for the boat and the three other men. By the time 

 they arrived the wind had died away and sailing was no 

 longer possible. As we rowed over the spot at which 

 the seal had sunk, we saw him lying extended in death 

 at the bottom. With the help of the dredge we 

 managed to raise him to the surface, and then passing 

 a noose over his head we towed him home as before. 

 He was not nearly the size of the one I had shot on 

 the previous day, though much fatter, and his skin a 

 beautiful white varied by a few black spots. 



