18 ORNITHOLOGICAL EAMBLES. 



own part desirous of hastening my journey northwards, 

 I determined to abide by its chances of success. 



For two whole days I was unable to venture on the 

 briny sea, bat at last a favourable breeze prevails, and 

 I ordered his boat to be got ready, and equipped my- 

 self for a start. My small pea-rifle, recently built by 

 Mr. Beattie, of Regent-street, and a more ancient 

 distance- killing gun, by Smith, of Princes-street, were 

 the weapons chosen for this occasion. 



On descending together to the water's edge, my 

 eyes at once rested upon a trim-built sailing-boat, the 

 joint construction of himself and his father, moored 

 far out in the tidal current in a bend of the creek of 

 the Kyle of Dornoch . In order to effect an embarka- 

 tion it was necessary to wade out a very long distance, 

 as the creek is extremely shallow at this point, and 

 her draught of water completely precluded her being 

 able to be brought up any nearer to the drier portion 

 of the shore. It would also have been equally im- 

 possible to have made use of a boat for the purpose, had 

 any such been at hand, so slight was the inclination of 

 its sandy bed at this portion of the inlet. 



Taking advantage of Mackenzie's shoulders (for 

 that was the gallant seal-hunter's family designation), 

 I reached the boat dry-footed and secure ; and having 

 disposed my artillery in the most offensive, but at the 

 same time commodious, form, our sails were hoisted, 

 and we were quickly under weigh and making steady 



