SEAFOWL SHOOTING SKETCHES. 



However this may be, it certainly was not hig-h water when 

 we pushed off, and yet our nearest way was to go in the boat. 

 Our two men tugged at the oars, and we got along very well, 

 only that the water being very shallow, we occasionally stuck for 

 a few moments, when the water would splash over us (the wind 

 being high) in a style that was rather disagreeable, especially 

 to my friend. 



We at length landed at the island, and, having agreed with 

 our boatmen to wait for us, we strolled off in different directions 

 in search of sport. Going along the shore to my right, I shoved 

 a couple of cartridges in my gun, and, keeping a good look-out 

 for birds, I was rewarded by seeing a lot of purres flying towards 

 me. Dropping on one knee, I awaited them, when, to my dis- 

 gust, they turned and flew over the water at rather a long range. 

 I fired and dropped a couple, which the wind soon brought to 

 land. Hardly were they pocketed before a fresh lot appeared, 

 taking the same direction as before. Again I dropped two or 

 three birds. Then, as they did not seem to be floating nearer, 

 I ran into the water and picked them up. Whilst so doing, 

 still more birds came, and instinctively crouching down, I became 

 very wet and uncomfortable. However, I got some more birds, 

 having five down at once. 



At last, the passage having ceased, and not seeing any signs 

 of my friend or the boat, I determined to return. I had pro- 

 ceeded some little distance when I became aware that the tide 

 was making, and almost at the same moment saw that there was a 

 stream of water six or seven feet wide flowing between my 

 precious person and the part of the island where my friend and 

 the boatmen were. I could not recollect having passed any 

 channel as I was coming along, but the stern fact was there, 

 and after calling several times in vain, I determined to leap 

 the obstacle. There was no danger to life if I stayed where T 

 was, as there are some high cliffs, where anyone would be safe 

 from harm. The risk was in jumping the stream. I have since 

 ascertained that I had unwittingly got on another island, named, 

 I believe, " Little Lee." 



Looking carefully at the place, I saw a ledge of rock two or 

 three feet below the water, on the other side, so I resolved to 

 jump on the ledge rather than endeavour to get right across. 

 Throwing my cartridge-bag well behind it never struck me to 

 toss it over I sprang on to the ledge, up to the middle in water, 

 and scrambled out on the other side. As I drew myself up 

 I was greeted by a hearty laugh, and for the first time observed 

 that a young man and woman had been intently watching and 

 enjoying my proceedings. 



I soon came across my friend, and we compared bags, when 

 I turned out 13 birds, and he five or six, so that, although he 



