PUFFINS AND AUKS. 35 



in working up to Indian Harbor, and only then would he acknowl- 

 edge himself fairly beaten. 



Saturday, the 22d of August, having yet three days before 

 we were due at Rigolette to meet our Grand River party, we 

 made memorable in the annals of the puffins and auks of the 

 Heron Islands by spending three or four hours there and taking 

 aboard three hundred and seventy-eight of them. Many more 

 of them were killed but dropped into inaccessible places or into 

 the water and could not be saved. 



The sound of the fusilade from over twenty gunners must 

 have resembled a small battle, but it did not drive the birds 

 away, and as we left they seemed thicker than ever. Not only 

 was the air alive with them, but as one walked along the cliffs 

 they would dart swiftly out of holes in the rocks or crevices, so 

 the earth, too, seemed full of them. It was great sport for a 

 time, but soon seemed too much like slaughter, and we would 

 let the awkard puffins, with their foolish eyes and Roman 

 noses, come blundering along within a few feet of our muzzles, 

 and chose rather the graceful, swift motioned auks and guillemots, 

 whose rapid flight made them far more sportsmanlike game. 



The next day, though Sunday, had to be spent in taking 

 care of the best specimens, and the game was not fully disposed 

 of for several days. Our bill of fare was correspondingly im- 

 proved for a few days. 



Three days were consumed in beating up to Rigolette. At 

 Indian Harbor we had heard rumors of the return of some 

 party from Grand River on account of injuries received by one 

 of the men, but the description applied best to the second 

 party, and we decided it must refer to Bryant or Kenaston. 

 Near Turner's Cove we found more rumors, but nothing 

 definite enough to satisfy our growing anxiety, and at last, 

 unable to bear the suspense any longer, three of the party took 

 a boat and started to row the fifteen miles between us and 

 Rigolette, while the vessel waited for a change of tide and 

 a breeze. 



Alternate hope and fear lent strength to our arms as we 

 drove the light boat along, and soon we came in sight of the 



