HUNTING THE SEA OTTER. 131 



Although the sun had by this time attained his zenith, 

 there was a crispness in the air suggestive of fog, 

 accompanied by an increase of cold ; and the wind gathered 

 force with a steadiness which promised greater weight 

 presently. Even the butterflies, whose graceful flutterings 

 were watched with childish delight, though sheltered from 

 the wind by a natural parapet, seemed to feel the influence 

 of the damper air. It was time to leave the friendly shelter 

 of the rock, its flowers and butterflies ; so, turning our 

 boats homeward, we found the schooner anchored at her 

 old moorings. In a couple of hours after our return, 

 the hazy vapour had cleared off, the wind dropped, the 

 barometer stood as steady as a church, and we were out in 

 the boats once more. 



It was ten before we reached the ship, all very tired, but 

 with four more otters our best day as yet. It was after 

 midnight before dinner was over, as we performed the 

 necessary work of skinning before sitting down to it. The 

 night was warm ; almost like a summer's night in more 

 favoured latitudes. A splendid comet, bearing north by 

 west, was sleepily admired ; but all hands, except the 

 anchor watch, were soon in their hammocks. 



Invigorated by repose, we breakfasted early off porridge 

 and molasses, satisfying if not appetising, followed by some 

 good coffee and a drop of grog. Without delay, the boats 

 put off again at five ; sea calm and weather fine. Ere 

 eleven a.m. we had shot four more otters, and were already 

 congratulating ourselves on the prospect of equalling, if 

 not surpassing, the sport of the preceding day when a 

 heavy sea set in suddenly from the south-east, quickly 

 followed by a stiff southerly breeze, which effectually put a 

 stop to all further hunting. We could see Baker lost no 

 time in getting sail on the schooner, her unsheltered position 

 being no longer tenable, for in it she would have to en- 

 counter the whole fury of the broad ocean. We ourselves 

 were far out at sea and only caught an occasional glimpse 

 of the white sails standing out in relief against the black cliffs 



K 2 



