THE BRAZEN WARD. 75 



though many of the sitters held fast to their nests. 

 The guillemots flew out to sea, but the kittywakes, 

 after a turn or two, in which their little black feet 

 contrasted curiously with their snowy plumage, re- 

 turned to pursue their domestic occupation. 



We had lain upon our oars for a few minutes to 

 gaze upon the birds, but time was going, and we had 

 other fish to fry. The men accordingly gave way, 

 and as the boat shot off, the little gulls, as if in joy, 

 could not refrain from hastening our departure with 

 renewed vociferations, which rose at the same moment 

 from every ledge, as if by common consent, of " Get 

 away ! get away ! " 



Near this part the cliffs become much lower than 

 usual. Here, in the time of Charles II., a fort was 

 erected, which was furnished with brass cannon. 

 Local tradition commemorates this circumstance in 

 the title of " The Brazen Ward," still applied to this 

 point ; and the old brass guns themselves are said to 

 be visible in calm weather and clear water, far down 

 in the depths, whither they were thrown overboard by 

 the French when the fort was dismantled. This 

 event took place in the reign of William III. The 

 stratagem by which the unscrupulous Frenchmen got 

 footing on our island, which might well have been 

 deemed impregnable, is curious as illustrating the 

 usages of war. 



The island at that time was more extensively cul- 

 tivated than at present, and supported a population 

 more than twice as numerous. Barley, potatoes, and 



