152 NATHANIEL SOUTHGATE SEALER 



where else in the world is there a like length of coast where 

 the sea has done its work of dissolution on rocks so rich in the 

 remains of ancient life of the Silurian age. Something of the 

 plenty was due to the fact that only one collector had been 

 there before us, and though he had made a good bag, the field 

 was unexhausted, we nowhere found a mark of his collecting. 

 We had trouble in getting to the shore because of the lack of 

 harbors. The only way was to take a chance of a wetting and 

 pounding by driving our light whale-boat right through the surf 

 and dragging it quickly out of the reach of the breakers. When 

 we had gathered our treasures, we watched for a chance, shoved 

 the boat through the breakers and jumped into it when we had 

 passed their line. This often limited our load and was some- 

 times a bit risky; but we became fairly skilful in the business: 

 moreover, we were of an age to be reckless. In such a life dan- 

 ger seems to be an insignificant matter. 



Only once or twice so far as I can remember were we in 

 serious peril. At the west end of the island we anchored the 

 schooner without sounding to find the goodness of the ground 

 for anchoring, and four of us, including the skipper, went ashore 

 in search for fossils. Toward sundown we suddenly discovered 

 that the ship had dragged her anchor and was drifting off-shore 

 before a strong wind. When this was noticed, the party were 

 scattered along a mile of the cliff-front; so by the time we had 

 all got to the boat, the craft was three miles away and drifting 

 rapidly before the gale that had sprung up. Since there was no 

 one but the cook aboard, we started in chase. In a little while 

 we were in a heavy sea-way and with the night coming on, and 

 our goal, though nearer, growing dimmer and dimmer in the 

 fading light. Our boat took so much water from the splash of the 

 waves that it was all we could do to keep it bailed. To make 

 the matter worse, the cook, who had managed, by the exercise of 

 more energy than he expended in all his other days on the voy- 

 age, to get in his anchor, now hoisted sail to work his way back 

 to the shore; our only chance was to guess his tacks, for if we 



