y could find. With these they erected
a number of wigwams, within which all the men might lie down and find
shelter. Mrs Rumbelow would not yet let her attendants rest, but back
again they went to the wood, and returned laden with as much fuel as
they could carry. A large fire soon blazed up.

"I wish we had some seal-flesh ready for cooking," observed the
boatswain to her as she began busily to employ herself in roasting the
last of the penguins, and the few remaining eggs which had been brought
from the rock. "This sort of work makes one hungry."

"If the doctor and the rest have any luck, we shall soon have as much as
you and all hands can stow away," she answered. "We'll keep the fire
blazing for them."

The cutter had meantime made her way across the harbour towards the
island. As she drew near it, the doctor and his party distinguished
several large animals, apparently asleep, high on the beach.

"Why, I do believe they are lions!" exclaimed Peter Patch, as a huge
monster, one of the nearest, lifted up its head and stared at the
intruders with its large eyes. The creature's mouth was of a prodigious
size, furnished with teeth, four of which were of great length. It had
long bristles on its lips, and from the neck and shoulders stood up a
thick mane of coarse hair. As they continued to advance, it lifted up
its head just as a dog would do, opening wide its mouth as if ready to
attack them with its enormous teeth.

"I say, Dicey, surely the doctor is not going in to fight these savage
creatures," whispered Peter. "Why they will tear us to pieces and
gobble us up in five minutes."

"They look fierce enough," said Willy. "But they are only seals, and as
they have not got legs, I suppose we can easily manage to keep out of
their way." Captain Twopenny proposed shooting the sea-lion; but the
doctor warned him not to fire, lest he might alarm the remainder, who
might take to the water before they could land. He directed Willy,
therefore, to steer the boat further round, so that they might get on
shore at a little distance from the seals, and then, by creeping on them
unawares, kill as many as they might require.

They soon landed, and the captain and doctor led the way, club in hand,
followed by Willy, Peter, and three of the men, one having been left in
charge of the boat. Willy shortly afterwards missed Peter, who had
evidently no fancy for attacking the lions, as he still believed them to
be. Af