100 WILD PIGEON SHOOTING. 



Alister offered to accompany me, and as the cliffs 

 were well stocked with rabbits and numbers of wild 

 rock-pigeons, which latter frequented the caves worn 

 in the rock by some volcanic agency operating untold 

 ages ago, while further on was a small heronry, we 

 armed ourselves with ammunition adapted to these 

 several varieties of game, and taking boat started in 

 quest of adventure. 



The morning was fine and sunny, the sea unruffled 

 by one breath of wind. For some time we drifted 

 about with the tide, or were propelled by two sturdy 

 Highlanders along the shore, ever and anon threading 

 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 or serenity 

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



