BIRD ROCK 163 



we returned to the Sea Gem we found the captain 

 impatient at our tardiness. We explained that of 

 course we did not suppose that he would care to 

 start in so dense a fog, but he laughed at us. " Fog ! " 

 What had fog to do with sailing when the wind was 

 favorable ? Later he gave us an exhibition of sea- 

 manship in a fog which deeply engraved the name 

 of Captain Taker on our memories. 



However, the wind still held from the right quar- 

 ter not only for the run to the Rock, but for a 

 landing on its one bit of beach, and we quickly 

 hoisted sail for this last stage of a long journey. 



For two hours we watched the Rock grow slowly 

 larger, then its outlines more rapidly assumed indi- 

 viduality, the lighthouse and other buildings on its 

 summit took definite form, its rocky ledges were 

 seen to be lined with rows of white Gannets, and 

 Bird Rock became for us a reality. The storm of 

 circling birds which Audubon described is not to 

 be seen to-day, but enough are left to quickly ex- 

 haust our stock of adjectives. 



A British flag was displayed from the tall staff 

 near the lighthouse. If it had been marked with 

 stars and bars it would have looked less like a sig- 

 nal set as a greeting from the island's keeper to his 

 unknown guests. 



A figure on the rock now vigorously motioned us 

 toward its only landing place, and heaving to the 

 schooner we dropped a dory overboard and sent 

 Captain Taker ashore as our emissary to treat with 

 the representative of the Canadian Government, and 

 explain to him that through the courtesy of his 

 chief, the Hon. J. U. Gregory, we were empowered 



