80 HAPPY HUNTING-GROUNDS 



the watcher can let the stalker know any alteration 

 in the position of the herd. I know nothing more 

 maddening than to watch a friend advancing to 

 certain failure, which might have been avoided had I 

 had the means of conveying my knowledge to him in 

 time to be of use. There is not so much risk of this 

 calamity in the case of seals as in that of deer ; the 

 former seldom leave their position on a rock except to 

 take to the water if alarmed, and this must necessarily 

 bring about failure, whereas a herd of deer, even if 

 lying down when spied, may at any time rise and 

 move slowly on, when a well-informed spy can furnish 

 information of the utmost use and importance. 



This time, however, there was no contretemps. 

 First I saw the figure disappear behind the sand dune 

 on my left, and after a short interval a recumbent shape 

 emerged on the beach at the angle which interposed 

 the favouring boulder between the stalker and the 

 herd. Now came the opportunity for the exercise of 

 all his hunter's craft ; an absolutely serpentine method 

 of progress was essential, as the rock, the only avail- 

 able cover, was neither wide nor high. As he wriggled 

 slowly forward my attention was next riveted upon 

 the group of seals. Whenever any one of them lifted 

 its head I feared that ear, eye, or nose had perceived 

 some indication of danger ; but all went well, and 

 when I shifted the direction of my glass I ascertained 

 that the moving form had nearly reached the rock, 

 and that a few minutes more would bring him within 

 sight and shot of his quarry. He reached his destina- 

 tion, and I saw him raise his head very cautiously 

 and slowly, to choose the best beast before putting 

 himself into position to shoot 



