Harry Nilford (such was my friend’s name) strolled out one evening to indulge in a bath, while I stayed in to cook the supper, it being my day for _chef_ duty; and as we were camped within a mile of the sea, between Blakeney and Morston, I expected him back in about an hour or rather more, but it was upwards of two hours before he returned, looking very excited. He had taken my gun with him, thinking it very probable that he might come across a stray rabbit for the pot, and I naturally inferred, from his sparkling eyes, that he had been successful in his quest. “What do you think I’ve shot, old fellow?” “Rabbits?” “No; guess again. Something bigger and rarer.” “Well, then, a hare?” “No--bigger and rarer still,” said he, smiling at my puzzled look. I guessed all kinds of things, but was every time wrong, so I asked the question-- “Is it fish, fowl, or fur?” I have heard of large fish being shot, so included it in my query. “Well,” said my friend, “it is fur, and I might almost say fish also, for it is a splendid swimmer.” I puzzled over the riddle for some time, and then, after having failed in guessing an otter, gave it up as something beyond me. “Then if you cannot guess, or even get near it, I will tell you. It was _a seal_--a very rare visitor to this coast indeed, in fact, such a thing has not been seen for many years along the hundred miles of coast which bounds the county of Norfolk.” He had shot the seal as it flippered itself along the yielding sand, upon which it had been basking, to make its escape to the sea. Both barrels, however, did not suffice to kill it, and the animal got to the water, and would have made its escape, although severely wounded, had not Harry rushed into the sea and given the soft-eyed seal its quietus with the butt of the gun. It was too heavy for him to bring away, and was, moreover, covered with blood, so he dug a shallow trench in the sand, and placing the body in it, covered it up and left it. We arranged to go down to the beach early in the morning and bring our prize back in triumph; accordingly, about seven o’clock next day, we went, but to our astonishment the seal was gone! Could it have revived and made its escape? We searched about for signs. We noticed footmarks leading down to the water’s edge, and also the prints of a dog’s paws in the sand, and, lower down still, we saw where the keel of a boat had cut its way when rowed ashore and beached. We put these things together, and came to the conclusion that my friend had been watched and the seal stolen after his departure. Anyway it was gone; and although we inquired at both Blakeney and Morston, and offered a reward, we could learn no tidings of the missing animal.