WILD PIGEON SHOOTING. 109 



our course about the rocks, which rose like so many 

 pinnacles from the ocean's bed, Nature here, as ever, 

 pointing heavenwards, but not a seal was to be seen, 

 and we were fain to content ourselves with the winged 

 inhabitants of the shore, or the rabbits which were 

 visible, hopping among the rocks, and feeding fearlessly 

 where there seemed barely footing for an insect, 

 or room for a spider to hang his web. Occasionally 

 the boatman pointed out to us a part of the cliff where 

 some unlucky wight had lost his life, or some projecting 

 rock whereon whilom a venturous boat had been dashed, 

 when vainly battling with the violence of the storm ; 

 at the same time pleasantly assuring us, that, though 

 all around was now calm enough to satisfy the most 

 fastidious, yet nothing could be more treacherous than 

 those waves, and that it was quite within the bounds 

 of possibility that a few moments might see them 

 lashed into fury, and ourselves : but I forbear ; no 

 waterwraith crossed our bows, nothing that the most 

 superstitious could construe into an evil omen, cast a 

 shadow on our spirits, or marred the beauty and serenity 

 of the scene. We reached the first of a series of caves, 

 and passing before its mouth, one of the boatmen 

 threw in a stone. We heard the sound as it bounded 

 from rock to rock, and then pitched musically into the 

 still water below. Immediately there followed a con- 

 fused sound of the flapping of many wings within the 

 dusky chamber, and then issued forth a flock of 

 pigeons, their blue and mottled feathers sparkling like 

 a myriad of jewels as they emerged into the sunshine. 

 And now as they darted off in every direction, jostling 

 each other in their fright, we shot at random among 

 them, and brought down three at once, a fourth falling 

 at a little distance. This process was repeated at each 

 successive cave ; though the birds which we had 



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