DANGERS OF THE GUNNING-PUNT 443 



masses of seething waters. The wind roared like an 

 express train bearing down on one in a subterranean 

 tunnel, scooping- up the water and flinging- it in our faces. 

 So terrific was its force in these wide and unprotected 

 slakes, that it was impossible to stand or to make our 

 voices heard to each other. As we were carried along 

 in the driving foam, we simply clung to the coamings of 

 the punt, and twice did the wind pick her off the water 

 and literally hurl her over me, who happened to have the 

 leeward berth, S hanging on to windward. Fortun- 

 ately, we managed to hit off a 'gut,' or channel, leading 

 up to the mainland. The depth varied here from two 

 to four feet, and at times the wind fairly scooped the 

 water out of its channel, dashing it bodily upon the black 

 ooze which formed the sides. This ooze was, if possible, 

 more treacherous than the water, affording no foothold, 

 and, on the contrary, tending to anchor one in its slimy 

 depths. In the midst of the hurricane, I well remember 

 seeing close at hand a belated oystercatcher thrown 

 down on the mud, and how quickly the poor bird in- 

 stantly headed to windward. Gulls, too, and the smaller 

 waders seemed equally incapable of flight, as frequently 

 they were dashed down on the muddy ooze, and, crouch- 

 ing low, tried to seek shelter there from the overwhelming 

 elements. 



" For three hours and a half we struggled thus with 

 the storm, fighting foot by foot to gain the mainland, 

 which lay on our beam, as we faced the gale. Eventually 

 we reached the shore near an old barn. To this we crept 

 on all fours, and while lying, half-unconscious, behind its 

 gable, the slates were lifted high in air and carried away. 

 During these three-and-a-half hours, some hundred and 

 seventy fishermen were drowned within a few miles of us, 



