no THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. 



are very inquisitive animals ; and as he had not had 

 time to gratify his curiosity, I thought it very likely 

 he might show face again. We always carried two or 

 three bullets in our pocket, to be prepared for such 

 chances. One of these I quickly wrapped round in 

 paper and rammed home above the shot, with which 

 my fowling-piece — a long, single-barrelled American 

 duck gun — was charged. Again selkie broke the 

 surface of the water, this time at a respectful distance, 

 but still within easy range. After taking a good look 

 at the boat, and at me doubtless, who just then covered 

 him with the sights, he turned fairly round and gave 

 a contemptuous sniff of his nose skywards, preparatory 

 to making off. Fatal and unusual hardihood ! it cost 

 him his life, for just then I puUed the trigger, and 

 sent the bullet through his head. I was in the bows 

 of the boat. " Pull men, pull hard ! " I shouted. As 

 we came up to him, I saw he was beginning to sink. 

 A rod there was in the boat, but it had no hook at the 

 end. I seized it, and stretching forward, got it under 

 him, and raised him close to the surface. I tried to 

 keep him up, but he slipped and slipped several times, 

 and at last sank. I could have secured him easily 

 enough, had there been a hook on the end of the rod. 

 The water was very deep, and not clear ; and although 

 I spent that evening and the whole of the next day 

 searching for him with the usual appliances, I was 

 unsuccessful. All these conditions, contingencies, and 

 uncertainties make the sport of seal-hunting surpass- 

 ingly exciting and captivating. 



