THE WAR OF WATERS. 63 



their disappearance could not be accounted for in 

 this way ; and I think there can be but little doubt 

 that they were forsaken through our interference, 

 and afterwards eaten by either the Great Black- 

 backed Gulls or Hooded Crows. 



As I was anxious to procure a good picture of 

 the war of waters in the gap I have just men- 

 tioned between St. Kilda and the Doon, it was 

 arranged that my brother and I should walk over 

 there one afternoon to take a photograph, and that 

 a boat should afterwards pick us up and convey us 

 to the latter island. We found it impossible to 

 make a picture on account of the showers of fine 

 spray which were being driven through the defile, 

 blurring the lens of our camera the moment it 

 was exposed. 



In a little while the boat hove in sight, and 

 we took off our boots and descended the slippery 

 rock to embark. Seeing a chance of some fun 

 with big Finlay McQuien, who turned out to be 

 one of the rowers, I tied my boots together by 

 the laces, and having no fear of their sinking on 

 account of one of them being composed largely of 

 cork a necessity caused by an early climbing acci- 

 dent I purposely threw them short of where he 

 stood in the bows of the boat ready to make a 

 catch, and they fell with a splash into the sea. 

 Poor McQuien ! I shall never forget his look of 

 alarm at what he supposed to be a very awkward 

 accident, nor his astonishment when he saw the 

 cork boot float and support its companion in the 

 water. When he recovered them he squeezed the 

 former, rolled up the whites of his eyes, and 

 exclaimed, u Vary khood, vary khood!" 



After a deal of difficulty we managed to jump 

 into the boat, which was jigging about like a cork 



