y determined to begin their campaign before the
Tristaners should forestall them, hoping to secure a large number by a
newly-organised system of capture--Eric assailing them from the shore by
way of the descent from the tableland on the western coast, while Fritz
attacked them by sea in the boat.

"Talking of expeditions," said Eric, while the two were thus planning
together their future seal campaign--"we haven't been up on the cliffs
for a long time now; suppose we ascend the plateau and see how the pigs
and goats are getting on, eh?"

"That's a very good idea," replied his brother. "The garden is in good
order now, needing nothing further to be done to it for some time;
while, as for reading, I'm sure I have devoured every book in our little
library, including Shakespeare, which I know by heart--so, there's
nothing to occupy my mind with."

"I'm in the same position precisely," said Eric. "You therefore agree
to our hunting expedition, eh?"

"Yes; the more especially as I wish to try and pot that old billy-goat.
He is such an artful old fellow that he always keeps just out of range
of my weapon, as if he knows the distance it carries. He will thus
offer good sport. That other kid too, that we saw, must be grown up by
now."

"He shall be my prey," cried Eric, proceeding immediately to polish his
rifle, so as to be ready for the excursion.

A day or two afterwards, the two ascended the cliff by the now familiar
tussock-grass ladder; but, although Eric could almost have gone up
blindfold this time, the ascent was quite as difficult as it had been at
first to Fritz, who had never climbed it once since the day he sprained
his ankle in coming down, having left the look-out department entirely
to the sailor lad, on account, as he said, of its "being more in his
line!"

As he had not, therefore, seen it for so long, Fritz noticed a
considerable change on going up.

The grass had grown very much taller, while the trees appeared more
bushy; but, besides these alterations, the inhabitants of the plateau
had become changed and more varied.

The droves of wild hogs had increased considerably; while the goats,
headed by the old billy, who looked as lively and venerable as ever, had
diminished--of course, through the ravages of the Tristaners, as
mentioned before.

Still, not even the loss of these latter animals specially attracted his
attention; what he particularly observed was, that the prairie tableland
had a