Up at this end of the straits the tide did not rise nearly so high,--not more than eight or ten feet during the springs.
"Now whisht!" said Raed, taking up his musket.

"Back, Guard! Still, or we shall frighten the old gentleman!" "He was lying there all sedate when we slid into the cove," said Kit.
"Asleep, I guess." "We'll wake him shortly," said Wade.

"But you say they are a large species of seal.

Won't he take to the water, and stay under any length of time ?" "That's it, exactly," replied Kit.

"We mustn't let him take to the water--before we riddle him." "But they're said to have a precious tough hide," said I."Perhaps we can't riddle so easy." "Should like to see anything in the shape of hide that one of these rifle slugs won't go through," replied Kit.
"Sh-h-h!" from Raed, holding back a warning hand: he was a little ahead of us.