l6o THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. 



of climbing upwards ; on either side, the aiguille crags 

 rose from a seething depth of sea ; in front, a reef of 

 sunken rocks covered with fretful surf, dared the 

 bravest swimmer that ever breasted waves to pass 

 alive. 



The Denschman had evidently reached his present 

 refuge by aid of a large plank belonging to the Erne, 

 which still floated near the cave. When they had 

 recovered every vestige of the wreck which floated, he 

 could not escape. It was beyond the power of man to 

 leave that cave unaided from without. Help must 

 come from ropes lowered from the land above, or boats 

 brought to the cave. And who was there in Unst 

 would bring rope or boat to aid the Denschman ? 

 None! 



" Let him die the death ! " said the men whose 

 homes the viking had devastated. So they ventured 

 nearer, and removed every floating spar or plank, then 

 returned to Widwick ; and it was told in the isle that 

 the Denschman had survived his barque and crew only 

 to meet a more terrible death. No man pitied him ; 

 no man dreamt of giving him succour. Those were 

 days when the gentler feelings had little part in men's 

 warfare, and no red cross of healing followed battle 

 ensigns to the field of fight. 



Next day, a number of boats put off, that men might 

 feast their eyes on the dead or dying viking ; and many 

 saw him. That day, he was seated on the ledge of 

 rock glowering at them ; but he made no sign of either 

 submission or defiance. " He grows weak," they said, 



