MOUSE-TRAP AND MOUSE-HOLE. 79 



mentioned, and left the scene of their villanous ex- 

 ploit destitute and disconsolate. 



A little way beyond the Brazen Ward, there is, on 

 a projecting headland, a large square block of granite, 

 with one end resting on a smaller piece, exactly in the 

 same manner as a brick is tilted upon a bit of stick, 

 to form a rude but effective trap for imprudent mice. 

 The block rests on a smooth platform, and stands in 

 dark relief against the sky, while just behind it there 

 is a natural perforation in the rock, through which 

 the light streams brightly. The Mouse-trap and 

 Mouse-hole are the designations applied to these 

 curious objects; and I thought them so interesting, 

 that I begged to be put on shore for a few minutes to 

 sketch them. The swell made landing and re-embark- 

 ing rather a ticklish business ; but I managed to 

 effect both the one and the other without a wetting, 

 and found myself on one of the narrow ledges, just 

 above the water-line, where I made the accompanying 

 drawing of the scene.* 



We now approach Gannet Kock, that church-like 

 mass of granite which I have before mentioned. It 

 stands just in front of a projection of the coast, form- 

 ing, with one of the points which we have just passed, 

 a little bay, somewhat deeper than a semicircle. We 

 understood that the Admiralty had contemplated to 

 select this as the site of the Harbour of Kefuge, which 

 has so long been thought desirable on the internal 



* See page 45. 



