.ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 53 



I at once expressed my firm determination to start 

 immediately, and adding that I was prepared to risk 

 whatever consequences might ensue. 



Preparations being rapidly effected for a start, our 

 sails were set ; the canvass strained upon the breeze, 

 and the gallant little vessel, buoyant as a cork, sped 

 along the rippling sea, apparently as intent as her 

 occupants upon the full enjoyment of exciting sport. 

 While rounding a point of a small island, on which, as 

 marking the entrance to the bay, rests upon its solid 

 freestone foundations the " lower lighthouse," looking, 

 with its short truncated tower and lantern surmounted 

 with its leaden dome, like a building that embraces 

 both the style and proportions of an astronomical 

 observatory and a Turkish mosque, the wind slightly 

 shifted to the S.S.E., the sea began perceptibly to drop, 

 the angry little breakers in the open water rose in their 

 strength but sank in weakness, the effervescence of 

 their subsiding fury being more agreeably succeeded by 

 that continuous bubbling echo which marks the speed 

 with which her cutwater divides every opposing riplet, 

 speeding swiftly onwards in her merriment. We had 

 to tack pretty sharply, as the breeze rose more briskly 

 along the lee shore of the island. When getting upon 

 the second or third tack, and gaining the more open 

 water at every stride, Hoy Head, our point of rendez- 

 vous, standing out in all its indistinct and naked 

 ruggedness, loomed upon the starboard bow. 



