1 42* Sea sP Shore Birds 



height of at least six feet two, removing heavy stones 

 as if they were small pebbles. 



Whilst he chucked some one way, the boatman 

 rolled some another ; and I, another. 



At last, as a large stone was removed, my sister-in- 

 law saw a small dark-coloured bird quickly sidling 

 away to hide between those stones which formed the 

 walls of the big hollow we had made. In her eager- 

 ness to look at the petrel she suddenly leant her head 

 over the edge, and I, not seeing this, and equally 

 eager, at that moment threw out a largish stone in 

 the direction where a second before the coast was 

 clear. 



To my horror I heard a moan of pain, and looking 

 quickly up, saw my poor sister-in-law sink back on the 

 bank of thrift close by, with a long stream of blood 

 trickling down her face from her forehead. 



It was an awful moment ! 



Had I struck her temple and killed her ? 



It rushed through my mind that in my excitement 

 I had been horribly careless in not looking to see 

 where I was throwing the stones to. 



And careless no doubt I was. 



All the joy of discovering the stormy petrels, and 

 the sunshine of a perfect spring day, died out. 



Fortunately, with some brandy and fresh water at 

 hand in the luncheon-basket, she soon recovered the 

 faintness which had seized her, and was able to be 

 .-steamed home across the waters at once. 



But she had a poor bandaged head for some days. 

 I remember with what kindliness she received a blow 



