Wanderings of a Naturalist 



now and again her light was blotted out by a violent squall 

 of hail, as great masses of dark clouds crossed the sky, driven 

 by a fierce wind. Outside the harbour the sea was running 

 mountains high, and though we made good progress against 

 it, the waves were sweeping the small naval motor-launch, 

 so that all on board were soon drenched to the skin. As we 

 forced our way westwards the faint outlines of the islands 

 showed themselves from time to time on the starboard bow, 

 only to be enveloped in mist and rain with the coming of 

 each fresh squall from the wide Atlantic. Once clear of the 

 shelter afforded by Black Head we met the full force of the 

 waves, and the sea increased to such an alarming extent 

 that we were compelled to return to Galway, there to await 

 more favourable conditions. A ventilator had been washed 

 away unseen, and eight feet of water flooded the men's 

 quarters, the launch's head being awash with the sea. 

 Indeed, so low by the head was she, it was impossible to 

 bring her round, and it was only by all hands standing over 

 the propeller to give extra weight to the stern that the screw 

 gripped the water at all. Thus precariously we went 

 astern, great seas following us and rushing across our half- 

 submerged bow. The pumps were choked, so it was im- 

 possible to get rid of the big mass of water on board, and 

 it looked as though any minute the ship might founder. The 

 fore-bulkhead held, however, and in the end we succeeded in 

 making the comparative shelter of a bay about a dozen miles 

 distant and there got the pumps going once more. Fortun- 

 ately the wind shifted north towards sunset, and as next 

 morning opened with a cloudless sky and only the gentlest 

 of breezes, a second attempt to reach the island was made. 



The waters of Galway Bay were of a deep blue in 

 the strong sunlight, and ahead of us were a fleet of sailing 

 trawlers busy at their fishing. Close to the boat there flew 

 black guillemots, in their mottled winter plumage, and a 

 pair of great northern divers were swimming near. 



As we reached the open sea the range of hills, known as 



182 



