Thomas Edward. 167 



The time being no difficulty, Mr. Robertson joined 

 him at the appointed hour, with a message from his 

 wife that she would be very pleased if after the 

 return from Black Pots Mr. Edward would join 

 them at breakfast. After some hesitation he agreed 

 to do so, and in due time came very primly dressed. 

 Speaking of their intention to go that day to Gamrie, 

 they said that they would be delighted with his 

 company. 



He seemed to muse for a moment, and then gave 

 his knee a slap and said that he would go ; that he 

 had a pair of boots to finish, but that he would rise 

 and do them in the morning. 



A conveyance was ordered, and they were soon on 

 their way to Gamrie. They were fortunate in having 

 Thomas Edward with them, since without him they 

 might never have found the place where the shells 

 were exposed. At the place in question beds of sand 

 and clay rise to a height of upwards of three hundred 

 feet above the level of the sea, and at an elevation of 

 a hundred and fifty feet a seam occurs, but only a 

 thin one, of shells of an Arctic type, and the seam is 

 so little broken into that it was difficult even for 

 Edward to find it. The place at the time was all 

 overgrown with gorse, and they were partly indebted 

 to the rabbits which had thrown out the shelly sand 

 for assisting them to find what they wanted. After 

 they had made the necessary inspection and filled a 

 small bag with the sandy clay, Edward took them to 

 a friend of his in the village of Gamrie, where they 

 had tea. After spending an enjoyable day they 

 returned to Banff. The next morning Mr. Robertson 



