86 ANIMAL LIFE UNDER WATER 



ing where it came in through a hole in the wall. 

 In a day or two the Norwegian left us and 

 promised to send a whaler to take us off in three 

 days. Man proposes but the Atlantic disposes, 

 and we spent ten days on that island before we 

 were able to get away. The weather was rough, 

 but safe on land we were able to enjoy the 

 magnificence of the storm. At times the whole 

 island was swept with spray, but there were 

 intervals of sunshine, during which we dried. 

 When the sea calmed down, seals innumerable 

 landed on the rocks. One evening in the dusk 

 we disturbed a large animal, which bolted down 

 the cliff; it was too dark to recognise what it 

 was, but this was obviously the carnivorous beast 

 that lived in the vault of the chapel and whom 

 we had disturbed. It was not until we were in 

 Stornoway on our way home that we found out 

 what the beast really was. 



When the crofters were taken off the island 

 a few, sheep were accidentally left; at the time 

 of our visit there were about one hundred and 

 fifty head. Once a year, when the weather per- 

 mits, the original owners land and take toll of 

 this flock. On one occasion a storm sprang up 

 and the shepherds had to leave suddenly without 



