AND OTHER BIRDS 19 



"We were early astir to forestall any wind ; for 

 often in these parts the local breeze, sometimes 

 fresh and somethnes faint, does not blow np till 

 seven or eight o'clock, and we intended to break- 

 fast on the island. There was little swell on the 

 sea as we left our anchorage in Half Moon Bay, 

 and even the drizzle of a raw morning was 

 unable to damp the hopes of our setting forth. 



Before six on October 2nd the "Te Atua" 

 was lying off the island's western shore and 

 opposite the pebble beach. With a rumble of 

 I'unning chain and a splash we had anchored. 

 Our gear was dropped into the towed boat, — 

 camera cases, bread, blankets, lastly McLean 

 and myself and our super-excellent Leask who 

 was to return with the boat. 



Steadying her just outside the break, we 

 waited for a big wave, and running in on its 

 back had hauled her out of the surf before 

 another broke and tilled hei- stern. 



It had been arranged that our stay on the 

 island should be for a couple of nights, but we 

 had taken five days food supplies in addition. 

 Even then Leask pressed fish hooks on us, and 

 the last heard of him was a yelled reminder 

 from the departing boat to l^e careful of them, 

 for the last lot of mutton-birders had been storm 

 stayed and nearly starved. 



The drizzle had by this time become rain, and 

 through the water laden island grass and up the 

 very steep and very greasy path we carried our 

 stuff. The hut stood on the very edge of the 

 island and overlooked the rocks and beach ; half 

 of it was supported on high piles, the other half 

 rested on the levelled soil of the slope. On the 

 landward side extended the narrow lean-to, its 



