70 THE MOOR AND THE LOCH. 



they cunningly chose a bare exposure, all "but safe from sur- 

 prise. On taking a survey with the telescope from the main- 

 land, I arranged a plan by which we had a prospect of getting 

 within 150 yards, but the operation was both difficult and 

 tedious. By landing on the outermost islet, and carrying the 

 coble right across into a creek dividing the first from the 

 second reef of rocks, we could pole down to the shelter of a 

 large stone, which might enable the stalker, by a wet crawl 

 among the sea-weed, to reach the distance I had calculated 

 for a chance. A crew of four was needed for the land-trans- 

 port of our skiff; but to effect this quietly over slippery rocks, 

 although the turning-point of our strategy, was its most trying 

 part. The moist sea-ware caused a few false steps among 

 the rough rocks, but its softness prevented these stumbles 

 from being heard by the seals, so the coble was safely lodged 

 in the creek. It was quickly pushed down this latch, when 

 I had to crawl flat a little way among shingle and sea-weed 

 in order to reach the nearest point for the shot. 



After carefully noting the postures of the unsuspicious but 

 scattered flock, being unable to get two in line, I put up the 

 150-yard sight and selected one of the nearest. Instantly 

 I saw and heard the ball strike my mark true to the aim. 

 Its companions dashed into the sea, t>ut the wounded seal 

 rolled about on the sand, and then struggled after them. 

 When in the water, in place of only the head, the whole dis- 

 abled shoulder rose above the surface, and the dives were 

 short and laborious. My boatmen, making sure of their prize, 

 pulled with all their might, but in mid career an oar snapped, 

 and there was no spare one. With the stump of the oar they 

 followed the path of blood, and every time the creature came 

 to the top for air the sea was dyed red all round. Had I and 

 my rifle been aboard, I could with the greatest ease have sent 

 a ball through its head before the air-supply was pumped out 

 by the death-struggle, when it would have floated till we 

 pulled up. Even with a pair of whole oars there was every 



