and in it we
placed them. On the rock above we cut the name of William Evans, and
the date of the day on which we found him dead. Loading ourselves with
the articles found in the hut, Newman being allowed to take most of the
books as his share, we returned to the boats.

Although a longer time had been spent on shore than the captain
intended, he allowed us to endeavour to capture some of the sea-lions.
After pulling, however, some way along the lagoon, we discovered that
they could not be approached from the land-side, as they had taken up
their quarters on some high rocks, almost islands by themselves, in
advance of the reefs. We were, therefore, compelled to pass into the
open sea before attacking them--the passage by which we entered; and,
waiting an opportunity, we dashed through in safety.

As we approached the largest rock, it was curious to watch the hundreds,
or, I may say, thousands of fierce-looking monsters which covered its
slippery surface. It would have required bold men, not acquainted with
their habits, to attack them, as they looked down upon us from their
seemingly unapproachable fortress. On one side, the surf broke far too
fiercely to allow the boats to venture near; but on the other, although
there was a good deal of surf, Captain Carr told us we might land. The
only way, however, to get on shore was to pull in on the summit of a
breaker; and while those in the bow leaped out on the rock, the rest of
the crew had to pull back the boat again with all their force into
smooth water. We were armed for the attack with two or three harpoons,
a lance, and the boat's stretchers.

"Stand by, my lads--now's the time!" shouted our captain, as the two
boats rolled in towards the shore. He led the way, lance in hand;
Newman and I and old Knowles following from his boat. Our sudden
appearance on the confines of their fortress evidently not a little
astonished the sea-lions. Opening wide their jaws, and gnashing with
their formidable tusks, they glanced at us from the heights above, and
then, with reiterated and terrific roars, began to descend with
impetuous force, as if with their overwhelming numbers to drive us into
the sea. An old sea-lion led the van--a fierce monster, who looked
capable of competing with all of us together. So he might, if he had
possessed legs instead of fins or flappers, the latter only enabling him
to twist and turn and slide down the inclined plane on which we stood
into