THE BASS ROCK 215 



From June in 1691 until April, 1694, sixteen men 

 held the then little fort against all the forces which 

 William III. and the heroes of the Revolution sent 

 against them. This plucky little band might have 

 held out for many years longer had not provisions 

 run short. However, they surrendered on honourable 

 terms, the cause of the Stuarts being already hopeless. 

 This was the last fort to hold out for the Stuarts, 

 and one can well realise, when looking on this for- 

 midable rock, what an impregnable place it would 

 be to capture when held by a few resolute and well- 

 provisioned men. 



When I found myself on the summit the June 

 sun rays came down on the grassy slope with a force 

 which seemed to be scorching up the scant vegeta- 

 tion. Near I saw a little bird which I knew well, 

 and one I should never have expected to see here. 

 This was a hedge-sparrow ; its song first attracted 

 me, and then it was seen feeding while on the lichen- 

 covered rocks. The little brown bird reminded me 

 of the fields and gardens at home and seemed out 

 of place in such a situation. Then a wagtail flew 

 up and disappeared on the other side of the island, 

 and before one was able to distinguish its species. 

 Meadow-pipits were soaring and singing their trem- 

 bling songs, and they would rise from their nests 

 as I walked along. There were not many species 

 of flowers ; perhaps the most interesting, and which 



