Driving Whales 105 



the flensers, or flenchers, as they are locally called, are 

 soon at work stripping this off, while rough furnaces 

 are erected, and the disagreeable odour which mingles 

 with the fresh breeze from the sea tells what is going 

 on long after the pure waves have washed every trace 

 of struggle from the shore. When all is done, how- 

 ever, there may be a sum varying from 1 5o/. to 400!. 

 to divide among those who took part in the hunt ; 

 and when the terrible Orcadian storms are driving the 

 foam from one island shore to another, and the 

 inmates are seated round the peat fire of the cottage, 

 not the least effective of the many plans for whiling 

 away the winter hours will be to recount the prowess 

 and skill shown in the great whale hunt. 



WILD CATTLE 



SINCE the new line of railway has been opened be- 

 tween Cornhill and Alnwick, the easiest way to reach 

 Chillingham from Edinburgh is to get to Cornhill 

 via either Berwick or Waverley route, and thence to 

 Wooler, where there is now a station. No one, how- 

 ever, who visits this part of the country for the first 

 time can do better than forego the luxury of steam 

 for the last stage ; the wide Roman road is ex- 

 cellent for driving, and leads through a land charm- 

 ing in itself, and full of historical and romantic associa- 



