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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



from tlie northeastern point and pulled briskly in to look for a 

 landing-place. 



Viewing the island from a distance, it had appeared possible, 

 with the light breeze then blowing, to beach a boat on the south- 

 erly slope ; but, on closer approach, the seemingly narrow line of 

 foam fringing the shewing rock had become transformed into 

 the wash of a heavy swell upon a steep and slijipery shore of 

 granite, on which landing was quite out of the question. 





The Great Auk. 



Indefinite as was most of the information gathered in regard 

 to the Funks during a stop at St. John's, all accounts agreed in 

 locating the best landing on the northern side, not far from Es- 

 cape Point, the eastern extremity. To this spot, known as the 

 " Bench," we were also directed by the crew of a fishing-boat near 

 by ; and, passing the point on which the smooth swells broke into 

 ragged patches of foam, a few minutes later found our boat lying 

 at the foot of a low cliff, whose weathered side rose almost perpen- 

 dicularly from the water. Right in the face of this cliff is a nar- 



