They must then manage to cut off their retreat and knock them on the head.
The hunters, having concealed themselves behind the rocks, waited silently.
An hour passed before the seals came to play on the sand.

They could count half a dozen.

Pencroft and Herbert then went round the point of the islet, so as to take them in the rear, and cut off their retreat.
During this time Cyrus Harding, Spilett, and Neb, crawling behind the rocks, glided towards the future scene of combat.
All at once the tall figure of the sailor appeared.

Pencroft shouted.
The engineer and his two companions threw themselves between the sea and the seals.

Two of the animals soon lay dead on the sand, but the rest regained the sea in safety.
"Here are the seals required, captain!" said the sailor, advancing towards the engineer.
"Capital," replied Harding.