of the
rock; he was pointing westward, and waving his cap.

"The boat! the boat!" he cried out; and the top of the rock was soon
crowded with most of the seamen, eagerly looking out in the direction
towards which he pointed. There, just rising above the blue water, was
seen a tiny white spot, some declaring that it was only the wing of a
sea-bird; but when Harry arrived with his spy-glass, he at once
pronounced it to be the sail of the cutter. So anxious were they all in
watching it that most of them forgot the seals. Captain Twopenny,
however, reminded by the doctor, had made his way, accompanied by Paul
Lizard and one of the soldiers, towards the sandy beach. Here they
concealed themselves among the rocks on either side of it, while Harry
and Willy, with the rest of the party, were watching the approach of the
boat on the top of the rock. First one dark head, and then another, was
seen rising above the surface of the water, and presently the herd of
seals made their way towards the beach. The creatures, after cautiously
looking about them, began crawling up. The first which arrived lay down
at no great distance from the edge; but soon others climbing up, giving
them no very gentle shoves, they crawled on still further, and then
again lay down, the next treating the last comers in the same way; till
at length a herd of full fifty seals had landed, the inner ones being at
a considerable distance from the water. The seamen on the top of the
rock were eager to rush down and attack them.

"They will be off as before, and we shall lose them," said Willy, in a
low voice. Just then a shot was heard, then another and another, and
presently Paul Lizard was seen scrambling along the beach, and followed
by the captain and a soldier, and a regular onslaught on the seals was
commenced. The seamen could restrain themselves no longer, and down
they rushed pell-mell to assist their friends; the only weapons,
however, which they possessed were some pieces of the wreck. The seals
were rushing towards the water, tumbling over each other in their hurry
to escape; a few old bulls, however, the patriarchs of the herd, were
ferociously attacking their assailants. The captain was tumbled over,
the soldier had nearly broken his rifle in defending himself against the
assaults of a fierce bull, while Paul was laying about him right and
left with his club, when the rest of the party arrived to their rescue.
Two seals had been shot, a