142 HUNTING THE SEA OTTER. 



and there with half-submerged rocks, amongst which the 

 never-quiet sea rushed with sullen roar and relentless force. 

 The two smaller rocks were quite inaccessible, but the 

 larger or parent mass, about seventy yards long by fifty 

 wide, seemed equally so, with the exception of one 

 place, which we eventually chose for the attempt after 

 rowing round the rock unsuccessfully. The heavy surges, 

 dangerous alike to ourselves and our craft, rendered our 

 efforts abortive, till backing carefully on the top of a wave 

 we sprang out and clambered on to the rock before the 

 boat receded from under us. But our work had only 

 just begun, for the prospect of getting higher was not 

 encouraging. Scrambling along the black ledge for some 

 distance, we discovered a tiny gully sufficient to wedge the 

 body into ; and, by taking advantage of this, and hanging 

 on to the strong bent grass which grew in greater 

 profusion the higher we ascended, we managed to reach 

 a less precarious position ; our movement upwards was 

 easier, and it became possible to look around us. The 

 ground under us was of a soft, loamy character, covered 

 with long coarse grass, interspersed with a herbaceous 

 plant with leaves like a peony. We found ourselves sur- 

 rounded with puffins ; indeed, the soil was literally honey- 

 combed with their holes, out of which they either suddenly 

 flew, or sat sullenly and defiantly eyeing us as our faces 

 reached the level of their nests. We sank ankle-deep in 

 the undermined soil at every step. At some places, where 

 the ascent was steep, we received knocks on the head 

 from the wings of the startled birds ; our hats had long 

 before been swept off and picked up by the boat's crew 

 beneath. We could feel them struggling under our 

 feet as we would be poking away at some obstinate 

 old sitter, in the attempt to get from under her the one 

 dirty- white egg she was carefully guarding. To thrust in 

 the hand and pull out both together might be the simplest 

 way, but he who has once been made acquainted with the 

 strength of a puffin's bill and the sharpness of her claws 



