CHAP. FIFTEEN PIGEONS &' DOVES 



itup,a rollingswell of the sealiftedthe boat nearlyupright, 

 grating her keel on the edge of the rock. I was hoisted with 

 thebowof the boatinto the air.and holdingon lookedround 

 to see what had happened, the day being perfectly calm; the 

 boatmen were pale with fright as we appeared fora moment 

 balanced between life &' death, the chances rather in favour 

 of the latter. The same wave, however, as it receded, took 

 us twenty or thirty yards out to sea, and the men immedi- 

 ately rowed as hard as they could to get a good offing. The 

 wave that had so nearly upset us was the forerunner of a 

 heavy swell and wind from the east, which was coming on 

 unobserved by us, for we had been wholly intent on our 

 sport. I never could understand how our boat could have 

 righted again after the position she was in for a few mo- 

 ments. The face of the rocks were too perpendicular at the 

 place to admit of our making good a landing had we been 

 upset. Once away from the rocks we were safe enough, and 

 rigging out a couple of strong lines with large white flies, 

 we caught as many fish of different kinds as we could pull 

 in during our way over to Cromarty. A large gull made two 

 swoops at one of the flies.and had not a fish forestalled him, 

 we should probably have hooked him also. I do not know 

 a day's sport more amusing than one along these rocks on 

 a fine summer day, what with the variety of birds and the 

 beauty and grandeur of the scenery, takinggood care, how- 

 ever, to avoid the rocks when there is the least wind or swell 

 from the east or north. 



