y were to search for
roots and berries, from the latter of which Mrs Rumbelow announced that
she could make an excellent preserve, could sugar be manufactured. The
doctor promised to exert his scientific knowledge to the best of his
power for the public good.

The wind being light, Harry and his party had to keep close in-shore, to
avoid the tide which was still running up the harbour. Just as they got
off the bay, where Paul and Tom had the adventure with the old sea-lion,
several seals were seen swimming about, apparently fishing, darting
rapidly to and fro in various directions in chase of their prey.
Presently there was a great commotion in the water ahead, and two huge
animals appeared struggling together. "Why, they are fighting," cried
Willy. "What tremendous digs they give into each other's necks with
their sharp tusks."

One was a tiger and the other a black seal. Now they separated, now
they dashed at each other, just like savage dogs, not uttering the
slightest sound all the time. Now they sank below the surface, now rose
again, tearing away at each other as before.

"I shouldn't be surprised that one of them was the big fellow you called
Tippo Sahib, who attacked you the other day, Paul," said Willy.

"May be, sir," answered Lizard. "But see, there's another on the rocks.
That's master Tippo, I suspect. He looks as if he was watching for us,
and I shouldn't be surprised if he was to give chase."

Willy laughed at the notion; but directly afterwards the old lion
plunged into the water, and his snout was seen within a few seconds
rising close to the oars. Harry ordered the men to pull on, as he did
not wish to expend any shot on the animal. Tippo, however, seizing the
blade of Paul's oar, held it so tightly that he nearly hauled it out of
his hands. Not till he had received several blows on the nose from the
other oars would he let go.

"Why, he has nearly bitten my oar in two," cried Paul.

"Better that than your leg," observed Willy.

"That's Tippo; I have no doubt about him," cried Paul. "He means
mischief."

The sea-lion, however, was kept at bay by the oars, while the boatswain
stood up in the stern with a club, ready to give him a blow should he
come nearer. After swimming round the boat for some time, he seemed to
consider that he could gain nothing by a battle with the four-legged
strange creature, as he doubtless considered the boat, and so leisurely
swam back to the rocks he h