ach male
having a certain number of females under his charge--the males being
some six to eight feet long and the females of less dimensions.

The seals invariably frequent the most desolate rocks and caverns, where
they can have ready access to the sea, which is their proper element;
and, in the north and extreme south, they live on the ice-peaks as a
rule, getting the fish they require for their food by diving off and
catching their prey in the same way that an otter does.

The wildest and stormiest seas appear to delight them most. In such
they may be seen, sporting amidst the breakers and rough water, in the
highest of spirits apparently, and escaping scatheless where other
creatures would be dashed to pieces on the rocks that form their
temporary homes. Although they do not assemble on shore in any numbers,
except during the summer months of the latitudes in which they are
found, they are never far-distant from their favourite haunts at any
time, the reason for their not being seen, most probably, being that
they only leave the water at night during the winter, or else because
the stormy weather prevents those who go after them from approaching
their habitats and so noticing them.

By the time Eric descended the cliff, Fritz had the boat ready to shove
off, with their hunting gear inside and all necessary weapons for the
chase; so, the two were soon on their way round the headland, steering
towards the seal-caves on the western side of the island.

"You never saw such a lot, brother," Eric went on to say, when they had
embarked and were working round the coast. "There were hundreds of
small ones, while some were big monsters that had long noses and seemed
to be double the size of the others!"

"Ah, those were probably sea elephants," said Fritz. "I should like to
catch one. The fur, they say, is not so good as that of the common
seal, but they yield an immense lot of oil from their blubber--from
eight to ten barrels, I have been told."

"Really?" observed Eric. "Why, one or two of those gentlemen would soon
fill up our casks!"

"Yes, and I shouldn't regret it," said Fritz. "We should then have a
good stock ready against the time Captain Brown returns to visit us with
the _Pilot's Bride_!"

"Aye, I should like that," replied the other; and then, as both rowing
and sailing--for the wind was light--the boat neared the rock caves of
the western coast, the brothers grew too excited to talk any more.

P