ver, had fixed her eyes on him, and continued the pursuit, the
rest of the party following. Before they could get up with the animal,
the boatswain had run a considerable distance in an opposite direction
from the flagstaff. Matters were growing serious; for he had well-nigh
lost his breath, and the seal was so close to him that he could not
venture to turn round and strike at her. Willy and Peter could not help
laughing, thinking the matter very good fun, a notion the boatswain in
no way shared with them. At last Paul and Tom Wall so distracted her
attention that she stopped short, allowing the boatswain to bring up and
face about. The three then dashed at her with their clubs, and quickly
ended her life.

"Well, mates, we have deserved our dinners, at all events," exclaimed
Paul, as he commenced cutting up the seal. "Mr Bollard will have
gained an appetite for his."

"I had rather have gained it in a more dignified way," observed the
boatswain, wiping the perspiration from his brow. "I had no notion one
of these brutes would show so much fight."

"You should have had Tippo Sahib at your heels, sir," said Paul. "He
showed us yesterday that he was ready enough to fight, and he is twice
as savage on shore."

Some time was occupied in cutting up and packing the seal's flesh, and
then, each man carrying a load, they turned their steps towards the
Flagstaff-hill. It was past noon before they got back, but Harry still
hoped to be able to reach the settlement at nightfall. The fire had to
be relighted, and as soon as some of the seal had been cooked and eaten,
they hastened down to launch the boat. It took some time to do so; but
at length she was got afloat; and, leaving the boatswain and two of the
men at the look-out station, Harry and the rest made sail. Though the
weather appeared threatening, he was unwilling to abandon his intention.
The wind was contrary, and he had to stand out some way from land to
fetch the mouth of the inner harbour. He had just gone about when the
wind shifted, and a furious blast from the north-west blew directly in
his teeth, making the boat heel over, and nearly capsizing her. The
sails were lowered just in time to prevent such a catastrophe, but it
soon became evident that it would be a difficult matter to reach the
harbour's mouth. The sails, however, being closely reefed, Harry
determined to try what could be done. The boat looked up bravely for
some time to the gale, bu