The men did as they were directed; while Willy and Peter scrambled down with the assistance of some bushes which grew in the sides to the bottom of the gully. On making their way towards the sea, they found that the gully was arched over, and they now entered a spacious cavern, down the centre of which the stream made its way. It was separated into two parts by the stream; each part was about fifty feet long and fully twenty wide, while the roof appeared to be nearly thirty feet above their heads. A flood of light came through a round hole in the centre of the roof, and enabled them to survey the cavern. The walls and ground were perfectly dry, and they agreed that it would not be a bad place to live in, provided the wind did not set through it. As they were proceeding on, they heard the captain's voice shouting to them, he wondering where they had got to. Looking up, they caught sight of his head appearing through the hole. "Here we are, all right," said Willy. "Why, boys, how could you get down there?" Willy told him. "What has become of the seal?" asked the captain. "I suppose he is somewhere not far off, if he hasn't reached the sea," answered Peter. "Yes, sure enough, and there he comes." The seal at that moment appeared, rushing back, having encountered the men at the outlet. "Run, Dicey, run," cried Peter, "or he'll be upon us." The midshipmen were caught in a trap. It was more easy to climb down the side of the gully than to get up again. The monster came rushing towards them with open mouth. Willy this time determined not to fly, but, flourishing his axe, stood on the defensive. The consequences might have been serious had not the captain, getting sight of the animal at that moment, fired. The bullet struck it on the head, and though it did not stop its course altogether, Willy was enabled to spring out of its way, and Tom and Dick, coming up, despatched it with their clubs. As no seals had been killed for several days, the meat was very acceptable. "We may have some seal-steaks for dinner, at all events," said Peter, as the men prepared to cut up the animal. Having performed their task, they were directed to carry the remainder of the seal's flesh to the village, while the captain and midshipmen, with a good supply of steaks, made their way up the side of the mountain. Following the seal-track, they at length found the doctor, who was sitting down, waiting their return. "See, our island produces one species of ferae which I did not expect to find," he exclaimed, holding up an animal by the legs. "Why, it's a cat," cried Willy. "Exactly so," said the doctor. "Our feathered friends will be much obliged to me for killing it. Should these creatures increase and multiply, they will in time nearly depopulate the island of its most attractive inhabitants."