st than by the
waterfall; but, of course, as it would necessitate a voyage almost round
the island whenever they attempted it, the other way was more
preferable, although dangerous by contrast.

One or two seals were seen sunning themselves on the rocks; but these
quickly slid off into the sea when the boat approached. Their breeding-
season had certainly not yet arrived, else they would not only have been
more numerous, but have been too much engaged with their families to
mind ordinary intruders. When separated from their fellows, as the
brothers now saw them, however, they were naturally extremely timid
animals.

Proceeding round the southern extremity of the island, the cliff that
encircled the coast seemed the more precipitous the further they
advanced, frowning down destruction on any ship that might approach it
unawares in the darkness--should the wind blow on shore and the set of
the sea prevent escape from its terrors!

Eric steered the boat out a bit here, so that they might tack further on
inwards and so weather the eastern promontory, which stretched to the
left of the bay outwards into the ocean. They were thus able to have a
grand view of the whole island, getting back to their little home, not
long before sundown. Nor did they return empty-handed, either; for, the
kid furnished fresh meat for their dinner, to which their trip besides
added a piquant relish.

What with making things more comfortable in their hut and attending to
the garden, which bloomed out apace each day, the hours did not lag on
their hands by any means during the next week or two. There was
occupation enough, even in this interval, to pass the time pleasantly
away; but, when the month of November was ushered in, the seals then
coming to the island in shoals, they found plenty to do from morning
till night.

There was work of all kinds to be done:-- first, boating round the coast
after their prey; secondly, hunting the animals into their caves and
killing them, taking care to secure their bodies before they sank into
deep water and were thus irrecoverably lost; thirdly, getting off the
skins and salting them down to prevent their putrefying; and, lastly,
boiling blubber--oh, yes, they had enough work to employ them, and no
time to be idle!

Before this busy period, however, every morning, again at midday, and in
the afternoon, Eric would go up and down the tussock-grass ladder by
which he scaled the precipice on to the tabl