132 THE MOOR AND THE LOCH. 



a tempting and mortifying moment to watch the little trio, 

 within such fair distance at first, quickly paddle out of reach 

 long before I was " shotted." 



Leaving the eider where he fell, we were soon in full chase ; 

 but the American strangers had, on second thoughts, betaken 

 themselves to their wings, when I ran to warn the men to 

 bring the boat, and I have never fallen in with this rare mer- 

 gus before or since. When we returned to pick up the dead 

 drake, the fishermen, far from sympathising with my chagrin 

 at losing such a prize, were firmly convinced that the eider 

 ought to be ample consolation, and was by far the more valu- 

 able " fule " of the two. 



With the exception of the black guillemot, and the great 

 cormorant when dignified by his credentials, my museum now 

 contained all the native sea-birds of the Firth of Forth. A 

 pair or two of these sable guillemots sometimes hatch on the 

 Island of May, whose dizzy crags also afford a secure night- 

 roost to the scart, while its boisterous sea-coves are the favour- 

 ite retreat of the green cormorant or shag. The distance of 

 " the May " from North Berwick is eight miles, but it is neces- 

 sary to be cautious in crossing this channel in an open boat, 

 as a little wind soon raises a heavy sea. 



My usual skipper, Glass, being absent at the herring-fishing, 

 we hired the most sea-worthy fishing-smack in the harbour, 

 belonging to his late pupil and assistant Kelly. Although 

 there were some ugly streamers, what seamen call a " dirty " 

 or " dusty " sky, yet the west wind was gentle, and perfectly 

 fair for our destination, the lighthouse of May. 



Kelly's crew was made up of his father-in-law, an old whale- 

 fisher, and a stout lad who seemed to have been nourished on 

 tobacco and whisky. When the sail was hoisted outside the 

 docks, with the soft west wind just strong enough to fill it, 

 and the Bass and Tantallon spread before us, with all their 

 romantic associations, one's spirit rose as in earlier days. 

 Even our crew appeared to share the enthusiasm not the 



