3o8 THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. 



morning at the Eela round Hoonie, and afterwards a 

 few hours' rabbit shooting in Balta, where there were 

 great numbers of Kiunnius — Shetlandic for rabbits. 

 The morning was perfectly calm but rather misty. 

 After three hours' fishing we started to row across the 

 sound to Balta. "When about midway the mist got very 

 dense, and we entirely lost sight of land on both sides. 

 Still we rowed on, keeping as we thought a straight 

 course. But we soon discovered that we had not done 

 80, for we failed to reach land after rowing as we knew 

 much further than the distance across. Then we tried 

 a spell first in one direction, then in another, but with 

 no better success. Plainly we had lost our way and 

 had no idea of our bearings. What was to be done ? 

 "We knew it was little use rowing at random, for as 

 likely as not we should only be increasing our distance 

 from the land, perhaps rowing right out into the ocean. 

 So we came to the conclusion that the best thing to do 

 was to do nothing. One attempt we made to ascertain 

 the direction of the nearest land, which for aught we 

 knew might be within a stone's-throw of us. My dear 

 and faithful companion, old Slop, as usual, accompanied 

 us, and it occurred to me if we were at all near any 

 land, his instinct might point out the direction. So I 

 told him to jump overboard, which he was at all times 

 very willing to do. Then I ordered, " Go ashore, Slop, 

 ashore at once." He swam out a little, our hopes 

 revived, and we instantly prepared to follow his lead. 

 But then he hesitated. " Ashore, go ashore," I shouted. 

 He always knew what that meant, and seemed 



