THE GULL. 33 



three or four times, without coming within his reach, at 

 last became stationary over the ledge of the projecting 

 rock, leaving the bird-catcher apparently without a 

 chance of escape ; for to ascend the precipice without 

 a rope was impossible, and no one was near to hear 

 his cries, or to afford him help. What was to be 

 done ? Death stared him in the face. After a few 

 minutes' pause he made up his mind. By a desperate 

 leap he might regain the rope ; but if he failed — and, at 

 the distance at which it hung, the chances were against 

 him — his death was certain amidst the pointed crags 

 ready to receive him, over which the waves were dash- 

 ing far, far below. Collecting, therefore, all his strength, 

 with outstretched arms he sprang from the rock, and 

 lived to tell the tale — for the rope was caught ! 



Another fact occurred at St. Kilda; where, amongst 

 other modes of catching the sea-fowl, that of setting gins 

 or nooses is adopted. They are fixed in various places 

 frequented hj the birds. In one of these, set upon a 

 ledge, a hundred and twenty feet above the sea, a bird- 

 catcher entangled his foot, and not being at the moment 

 aware of it, was, on moving onwards, tripped up, and 

 precipitated over the rock, where he hung suspended. 

 He, too, as in the preceding case had no companion ; 

 and, to add to his misfortune, darkness w^as at hand, 



D 



