174 MEMOIR OF FLEEMING JENKIN 



black as colliers, and all the castaways so wetted 

 through that, as they stood in the passage, pools 

 formed about their feet and ran before them 

 into the house, yet Mrs. Murray kindly enter- 

 tained them for the night. On the morrow, 

 however, visitors were to arrive ; there would 

 be no room and, in so out of the way a spot, most 

 probably no food for the crew of the Purgle ; and 

 on the morrow about noon, with the bay white 

 with spindrift and the wind so strong that one 

 could scarcely stand against it, they got up steam 

 and skulked under the land as far as Sanda Bay. 

 Here they crept into a seaside cave, and cooked 

 some food ; but the weather now freshening to 

 a gale, it was plain they must moor the launch 

 where she was, and find their way overland to some 

 place of shelter. Even to get their baggage from 

 on board was no light business ; for the dingy 

 was blown so far to leeward every trip, that they 

 must carry her back by hand along the beach. 

 But this once managed, and a cart procured in 

 the neighbourhood, they were able to spend the 

 night in a pot-house at Ault Bea. Next day, 

 the sea was unapproachable ; but the next they 

 had a pleasant passage to Poolewe, hugging the 

 cliffs, the falling swell bursting close by them 

 in the gullies, and the black scarts that sat like 

 ornaments on the top of every stack and pinnacle, 

 looking down into the Purgle as she passed. The 



