"Go right on, sir?" said Will in a low voice.

"Yes. Close on, my lad," said Mr Temple. "Have a good look at them,
boys, before they go."

"You're not going to catch one, are you, father?"

"Oh no! We'll have a good look at them. Wild creatures are getting far
too scarce about the coast as it is."

He kept manipulating the wire as he spoke, sparks and incandescent
pieces falling the while with a loud hiss in the water, making Arthur
start till he was prepared for what was to come. And as Mr Temple
managed the light and stood up in the boat its pale dazzling rays made
the cave as light as day; and at last they were within three or four
yards of the seals, which suddenly, after gliding and shuffling one over
the other in utter astonishment, made Arthur and Dick start back,
falling over into the bottom of the boat.

For, evidently frantic with dread, and helpless as far as relief was
concerned, the three seals, as if moved by one idea, gave a wallowing
movement, and dashed from the rocks together, seeming for the moment as
if they were bent on leaping into the boat, but of course falling short
and plunging into the water with a tremendous splash, which sent the
spray all over those who were nearest; and at the same moment there was
a hiss, and they were in total darkness.

"I won't be afraid," said Arthur to himself; and he clenched his teeth
as his father said loudly:

"Rather startling. I did not expect that. Dropped my magnesium ribbon.
Why, where's the lantern?"

"It's underneath me, father," said Dick in a half-ashamed grumbling
tone. "I tumbled back over it and knocked it out."

"Never mind, Master Dick, I've got some matches," said Will; and after a
good deal of scratching, which only resulted in long lines of pale
light, for every part of the boat seemed to be wet, there was a glow of
light once more, and the lantern was lit; but its rays seemed pitiful in
the extreme after the brilliant glare of the magnesium.

"And now where are the seals?" said Mr Temple, holding the lantern
above his head.

"Out to sea long enough ago, sir," said Josh. "They went under the
boat, and I felt one of 'em touch the oar as they went off. You won't
see no more seals, sir, to-day."

"Ah well!" said Mr Temple, "we've seen some, boys, at all events. Now
let's have a look round here."

He held up the lantern, and as the boat was thrust onward he examined
the rock here and there, taking out his little steel-head