THE EAGLES CLIFF. 131 



mirth of the sea-nymph ; and, unwilling to be laughed 

 at by a woman, I took courage, and cautiously committed 

 my person to the skiff ; a change of position was, of 

 course, necessary on the lady's part, and this she managed 

 with such adroitness that the equilibrium of the coracle 

 was undisturbed. In a moment her sculls were flashing 

 in the waters, and we speedily reached the strand. 



The rowing-boat was now afloat, and pulling to the 

 hooker to bring off my kinsman. My sea-nymph tossed 

 her fish and paddles to a little boy, who was expecting 

 her, received with a low curtsey the silver I presented 

 as my passage-money, and, having returned her small 

 purse to her bosom, she threw the curragh across her 

 back, and left me, invoking '* God to bless my honour.'* 



The boat returned with my cousin and our guns ; and 

 while the dinner requisites were being brought ashore, we 

 strolled towards the side of a hill, where we observed a 

 number of rabbits at play. They were very numerous, 

 and exhibited a greater variety than those of the other 

 warrens that I had as yet visited. We selected some 

 of the gayest colour for our practice, and whiled an hour 

 away, until a summons from the cook recalled us to 

 the village. 



The spillets had provided us sumptuously with flat- 

 fish, and a present of shrimps and lobsters completed 

 our cuisins. The best house in the island had offered 

 us its accommodation, and there was an appearance of 

 comfort and rustic opulence in the furniture, that we 

 had not anticipated when we landed. 



There are numerous chances and god-sends incident 

 to these islands, which the other Hues of sea-coast 

 seldom obtain. Frequent and valuable wrecks furnish 

 the inhabitants with many articles of domestic utility. 



