256 The Naturalist of Cumbrae. 



appeared to be making little or no way, Mr. Robert- 

 son took one of them. They then pulled with all 

 their might, trying first one side of the river and then 

 the other ; but, after struggling for more than half an 

 hour, and not gaining more than two or three hundred 

 yards at most, they thought it best to draw the boat 

 up and wait till the tide turned. Why neither the 

 men of science nor the bqatman had thought of 

 this expedient before starting, it might be rude to 

 inquire. 



The boatman took advantage of the halt to return 

 home for something he wanted or pretended to want. 

 Robertson and Brady sat down by the side of a little 

 stream, where a great many shrimps were playing or 

 hunting for prey under a little cascade. There was a 

 little shore-crab, Carcinus mcenas, stationed at the 

 corner, making many a grab at the shrimps, but they 

 eluded each and every attempt he made by bounding 

 backwards with wonderful dexterity. 



The two friends now consulted whether it would 

 be better, leaving the boat, to go back and take a car 

 to Ormsby Broad, or to go on with the boat. The 

 tide would not be in their favour for about five hours, 

 and there was some uncertainty how the boat would 

 suit their purpose, how they might obtain accommo- 

 dation at night, and whether their boatman would 

 return, as he did not seem by any means satisfied 

 with his work when he left. Determined by these 

 considerations, they made up their minds to go back 

 and take a carriage to Ormsby Broad. The sensitive 

 reader must be left to imagine with what a pang they 

 left behind them in the boat that stock of provisions 



