So the girls were permitted to go on the cruise and help dig up some of the beautiful ferns and wonderful moss found at Sprague’s Cove. A keg full of leaf mould was also taken for the nourishment of the roots of the ferns.
Meantime, Billy planned to land at Adams’ Beach and hunt for rabbits and red squirrels, but before he quite reached the shore he saw a black dog-like head glide through the water. It dove! But it reappeared again and Billy stopped the engine of his launch.
Quietly he waited, for he knew the curiosity of the seal would draw it nearer and perhaps, in range of his rifle. He took great care not to show the gun and thus stood waiting.
His knowledge of the habits of the Harbour seal proved to be correct for the smooth dark head popped up quite near the bow of the launch.
He fired but the seal sank, leaving a pool of blood on the surface of the water.
Billy knew that he had lost his prey unless it was lying in shallow enough water for him to retrieve it: for a dead seal sinks like lead.
He slowly motored over to the place where the red tinge was now mingling with the water, and sounded carefully with an oar.
“Oh, joy! I guess I can get him!” cried Billy to himself as the oar touched bottom at about six feet depth.
“It’s high water now, too, and that’s lucky for me!” he soliloquised.