-198 SEA-SIDE STUDIES. 



varieties I might turn a green countenance and glazed 

 eye, but tlie heart within me bounded like a leopard 

 on his prey. This was worth coming to ! Those poor 

 devils who sit at home at ease, and supply their tanks 

 from commercial sources, were now the objects of 

 pitiless sarcasms for their want of enterprise. In such 

 a mood I hastily secured comfortable lodgings, clean 

 as a Dutchman's, at the Post-office ; swallowed some 

 tea and toast, to appease the baser appetites, and 

 hurried forth to satisfy the hunger of the soul, by a 

 survey of the Bay, and its promises. The promontory 

 on which stands Star Castle, offered a fine breezy 

 walk over downs resplendent ^vith golden furze,* and 

 suffered the eye to take the widest sweep. How thor- 

 oughly I enjoyed that walk ! The dow^is were so bril- 

 liant that one could sympathise with the enthusiasm 

 of Linnaeus on his arrival in Enoiand, and his first 

 sight of furze, as he fiung himself on his knees, and 

 thanked God for having made anything so beautifid. 

 The downs were all aflame with their golden light. 

 Ever and anon a rabbit started across the path, or the 

 timid deer were seen emerging from the clumps of 

 golden bush. A glance at the many reefs and creeks 

 along the wavy shores raised expectation tiptoe, 

 forcing hope into certainty of treasures abounding. 

 Whatever drawbacks Scilly might possibly have in 

 store, this at least was indubitable — the huntingr 

 would be good. Not that any shadow of a drawback 



* The reader who has not seen the furze in Devonshire and Cornwall 

 can form but a faint idea of its rich colour and profusion. 



