The hunters, armed with sticks, could have killed them easily, but they were not guilty of such useless massacre, as it was important not to frighten the seals, who were lying on the sand several cable lengths off.
Los colonos, armados de garrotes, habrían podido exterminarlos fácilmente, pero no pensaron en entregarse a aquella matanza doblemente inútil, porque importaba no asustar a los anfibios echados sobre la arena a poca distancia.