SEALS GREAT AND SMALL 79 



tunately came from a favourable quarter, and a small 

 boulder projecting from the sand about a hundred 

 yards from the herd looked as if it should provide 

 some sort of cover. The stalk seemed practicable but 

 by no means easy, as very flat crawling over wet sand 

 would certainly be necessary. The channel which 

 appeared so narrow from our post of observation was 

 really at least fifty yards wide, and too deep for wad- 

 ing, but we were prepared for this contingency, as 

 Geoffrey had nothing on which would spoil, and would 

 be so wet and dirty by the time his crawl was over 

 that a swim would be rather an advantage than a 

 detriment. He had girded himself with a coil of rope 

 which he could attach to his quarry for the purpose 

 of towing it ashore. Without some such precaution it 

 is no easy task to bring a dead seal to land through 

 a deep strait, as these mammals are both heavy and 

 slippery to handle. 



My part of the business was over for the present. 

 I found a comfortable seat, lighted my pipe, adjusted 

 the focus of my glass, and awaited developments. 

 Ben nestled beside me, conscious that sport of some 

 kind was going on, but uncertain what we were after. 

 I know nothing more interesting than to watch a 

 good stalk with a telescope from beginning to end. In 

 some ways it is even more amusing for the spectator 

 than for the actor, as the latter is precluded from 

 having a view of his quarry during a large portion 

 of the stalk, while the former watching from an emin- 

 ence can keep both hunter and hunted in view, 

 although both objects may not be within the circle of 

 his telescope at one and the same time. There ought 

 to be some prearranged method of signalling by which 



