262 
IN FOKBIDDEN SEAS 
came down upon us, and, fortunately, one of my 
hunters secured the animal by snapshooting him as 
he broke water close to his boat. As soon as the 
captive had been hauled on board, I signalled an 
order to return to the schooner, as the breeze had 
now reached us. After pulling a short distance, my 
attention was drawn to a commotion in the stern of 
the boat which had secured the otter, and I saw the 
stroke oarsman’s legs go up in the air as he fell back¬ 
wards ; then something enveloped in a coat (the boat- 
steerer had thrown his oilskin over the otter) reared 
up and plunged overboard. Of course I realized it 
was the otter, and that probably £20 or £30 had 
gone. My feelings can be imagined. However, 
signalling the boats to spread, we were soon in 
position, and luckily managed to keep run of the 
truant, notwithstanding the now rough sea, until 
he fell to my own rifle. On examination, I found 
the first shot had only penetrated the skin, and lay 
against the shoulder - blade. The bullet, before 
wounding the otter, had evidently struck the water, 
stunning the animal with the concussion, but not 
having sufficient force left in it to do much more 
injury. 
