UNEXPECTED SUCCESS. 319 



hunt for the nest of a Richardson's Skua. Presently 

 he arose from his seat upon the side of the 

 turnpike, and came running towards us at a rare 

 pace. I was curious to know what was the 

 matter, and speedily discovered that the liquor 

 had warmed his heart to such an extent that he 

 was bubbling over with Dutch courage, and 

 quite ready to defy a whole regiment of game- 

 keepers. 



We were back in the hotel by six o'clock 



CROFTER'S HUT, OUTER HEBRIDES. 



with pictures of the nest, eggs, or young of four 

 additional species to our collection; and our guide's 

 fortune was greater than that of the Yorkshireman 

 who met a friend and gladdened him with the 

 information, " Ay, lad, but I had a grand day on't. 

 I were drunk by ten o'clock i' t' mornin'." 



In the afternoon, whilst out for a stroll on an 

 inhabited part of the island, we came upon two 

 old men cutting peats. We got into conversation 

 with them, and I volunteered to take a hand with 

 the spade. The one who was using it good- 

 naturedly complied with my request, and it was 

 quite ludicrous to see the pair of them stand agape 

 with astonishment at the skill with which a mere 

 English tourist could handle the tool. 



