A Lesson from the Gun Room 51 
In this I was unsuccessful. Curiously enough the climb, which 
is spoken of even now, was one which, at the time, neither I nor 
my companions considered of any importance. I had long cast 
covetous eyes on the Osprey’s nest at the back of the Rock. It 
was in a bad situation and inaccessible save with a rope. Accord- 
ingly one day, in defiance of all Garrison Orders prohibiting the 
molestation of wild birds on the Rock, and accompanied by a naval 
officer and another soldier, I proceeded to Catalan Bay. Here we 
lunched with the Detachment officer and afterwards started on our 
expedition. After a most fatiguing struggle across the great slopes 
of shifting sand we reached the first serious obstacle, a low cliff. 
Skirmishing on ahead, I picked out a practicable line and we set 
to work to sidle along the narrow terraces, at times not very high 
up and at others several hundreds of feet above the sea. Arrived 
above the Osprey’s nest, we found a nasty sloping terrace of loose 
stones which made it dangerous for two men to lower a third, also 
our rope was totally inadequate for such a purpose. My com- 
panions refused to lower me over, and I am not ashamed to say 
I inwardly rejoiced, for it would have been perfectly foolhardy to 
attempt it in the circumstances. 
Many years afterwards, I revisited the same spot but with 
proper appliances and, despite all orders to the contrary, took the 
eggs! That very night I chanced to be dining at the table of 
the Admiral and among the guests was the Governor and by ill- 
luck the conversation turned upon the Osprey’s nest on the Rock. 
Somebody remarked that no man could get at it and I was 
suddenly appealed to across the table as a known climber and 
expert. To make things worse, some of my guilty accomplices 
were present and eyed me anxiously. Mercifully the question put 
to me was whether I thought it was possible for anybody to 
take the Osprey’s eggs? All eyes were turned on me, as with 
a supreme effort, begot of the perils of my position and with the 
