The Land of the Hills and the Glens 



being of the sea, and rarely indeed does he fly over even 

 the narrowest strip of land. Farther out from the shore, 

 fulmar petrels cross the bows, their flight strong and free, 

 and excelling that of the gulls. Seldom is it that they 

 move their wings, speeding and glancing with soaring 

 flight above the waves, their wings held out stiffly, more, 

 perhaps, resembling the wings of an aeroplane than those 

 of a bird- And they fly in silence always. 



Ahead, on the port bow, a trawler is seen labouring 

 heavily. And now ahead the grey form of the lighthouse 

 is showing, and one can see the spray being hurled high 

 above the rocks. Making its way with swallow-like flight 

 against the wind, and following the dip of the waves for 

 shelter, a storm petrel crosses the bow, and nearer to the rock 

 solans are fishing. 



It is well on to low spring tide as the anchor is dropped 

 a few hundred yards from the lighthouse, and already a 

 chain of rocks, running out from the main rock to the 

 southward, are beginning to show themselves, and to break 

 the force of the swell at this anchorage. A tern is fishing 

 in the comparatively sheltered waters here, and a rock pipit 

 is resting awhile on migration, while the head of a grey 

 seal swimming close In to the rocks is seen,. 



There is only one small creek where a landing is 

 possible to-day, and a red flag, displayed from the rock, 

 notifies the steamer where that landing is. Even with a 

 strong boat, and a crew knowing the waters thoroughly, 

 it is not easy to reach the landing place, or, once there, 

 to maintain position, for the surf is breaking in and 

 threatens to throw the boat up on to the rocks. 



On landing, it is learnt that the keepers have experi- 

 enced a wild night, with a very heavy tide on the rock, 

 and one can see pieces of tangle lying at the foot of the 

 tower, showing that the tide must have submerged the 

 whole rock. The foundations of the tower are of solid 

 granite, the door being placed, perhaps, twenty feet above 



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