teeth. I considered
it advisable to get between them and the water, that they might not
escape me, and I contrived so to do, before I made my appearance. As
soon as the old one perceived me running to them, it gave a shrill cry,
and then floundered towards the water; as we came close together, it
showed its teeth, and rose upon its flappers to defend itself and its
young one, which kept close to its side; but a blow on its nose with the
axe rendered it motionless, and apparently dead. Delighted with my
success, I seized hold of the young one and took it in my arms, and was
carrying it away, when I found myself confronted with the male seal,
which, alarmed by the cry of the female, had come to her assistance. It
was much larger than the female, with more shaggy hair about the neck
and shoulders, and apparently very fierce. I could not pass it, as it
was in-shore of me, and I had just time to drop the young seal, and leap
behind a rock on one side, with my axe all ready. The animal reared
itself on the rock to pass over to me, when I saluted it with a blow on
the head, which staggered it. I had lost my presence of mind by the
creature coming upon me so unexpectedly, and my blow was not well aimed;
but before it could recover the first blow, another on its nose tumbled
it over, to all appearance lifeless. I then hastened to gain the other
side of the rock, where I had left the young seal, and found that it had
crept to its mother's body, and was fondling it. I took it in my arms,
and retreated to where I had left my duck frock, and throwing everything
else out, I put the animal in, and tied up the end, so that it could not
escape. I then sat down to recover myself from the excitement
occasioned by this first engagement I had ever been in, quite delighted
with my newly-acquired treasure.

I then thought what I should do. It was now within an hour of dark, and
was too late to return to the other side of the island, or I would have
done so, as I was anxious to get my seal home. At last I decided that I
would go farther from the beach, and take up my quarters for the night.
I collected my provision, and with my seal under my arm, I walked away
about one hundred yards from the water's edge, and took up a position
under a large rock; here I ate my supper, and then untied the line which
closed up the frock, and had a parting look at my little friend before I
went to sleep. He had struggled a good deal at first, but wa