76 <I(A?MBLES OF A <DOfMINI8 



over forests of dark weed swaying dreamily in the 

 current. There was no sound along the shore, but the 

 low swish of the tide as it lifted the long streamers of 

 the sea- wrack fringing all the rocks. An oyster-catcher 

 fluttered up from the shore, and with clear, musical cry, 

 sailed away seaward. Then, wheeling in, he settled 

 down once more to his meal among the weed. Suddenly, 

 from the water near, a seal lifted his sleek brown head 

 for a moment, and then vanished. Now another rose 

 and then sank again. They were not satisfied, appa- 

 rently; for next time their strange, half -human faces 

 rose, they were much farther out, and then were seen 

 no more. 



We grounded the boat among the weed, and strolled 

 along the shore. The grey stones in the low cliff 

 were golden with patches of lichen; dark fronds of 

 spleenwort fringed all the little hollows of the rocks ; 

 blue scabious and yellow hawk-weed brightened every 

 crevice. From beyond the little headland came suddenly 

 into sight a party of cormorants leisurely paddling, all 

 in line, towards some distant fishing-ground ; and as we 

 clambered cautiously round the point we were aware of 

 another company close by, grouped among the rocks, 

 standing as if they had not quite made up their minds 

 for their morning plunge. At last one dropped into 

 the water, and another. Then an anxious movement 

 and the turning of many heads betokened that the rest 

 had caught sight of us. Then they took wing, and, 

 with slow and heavy pace, they flew far down the 

 channel towards the open sea. 



