30 FLAMBOROUGH HEAD. 



the sea spends its wild fury on the rocks — hard as adamant, not to be moved 

 by the force of the waters. In one place a tall column of spray, 400 feet in 

 height, bounds over the summit of the cliff, and, like the uncertain jet of a 

 fireman's hose, plays upon the fields and sprinkles the sheep that graze on 

 the green pastures, perhaps also giving the unwary naturalist, who is not on 

 the look-out, a good wetting. In another the foam is borne on the wind, as 

 it were, miles into the air ; and occasionally an unwise Guillemot, which has 

 miscalculated the distance, is whirled aloft, and for a moment or two there 

 seems no chance of its getting down the cliff again. Fitfully the wind howls 

 over the bleak old headland — now sinking, now dying almost away, and now 

 swelling forth again with unequalled volume. Faster and faster the sea- 

 horses scud across the horizon. The shriek of the birds and the wail of the 

 Sea-mew are drowned in the uproar. 



Amid this terrible scene of the elements, a weather-beaten seaman, small 



but active, with sinewy arms, though slightly made, is seen standing with a 



rope on the edge of the beetling crags ; it is a long one, and is passed round 



an iron bar. He shakes his head. The old man has not the hardihood to 



venture down to-day ; but you may see him if you come again, when the 



storm has subsided, with his basket on his back to receive the eggs for which 



he is thus jeopardizing his life. From ledge to ledge, with measured tread 



and careful foot, and an eye that takes in all the peril of his situation, he 



pursues his giddy way. Nothing daunts him : the narrow platforms, 



which have blossomed in such various hues, are despoiled of their eggs in 



quick succession, until enough have been gathered. Then comes the 



part which it makes one's blood run cold to see — when the old man 



begins to ascend, with only two people to pull him up, and one of those 



a woman ; but he lessens their labour wherever he can, by helping himself 



with his feet ; and very soon we all breathe freely as we see him safe on 



terra firma. 



