A GANG OF DBSrEHADOES. 263 



their oars. Landing on the rock, they run up to the eggers, 

 who, like themslves, are desperadoes. The first question is a 

 discharge of musketry ; the answer another ; now, man to man, 

 they fight like tigers. One is carried to his craft with a frac- 

 tured skull, another limps with a shot in his leg, and a third 

 feels how many of his teeth have been driven through the hole 

 in his cheek. At last, however, the quarrel is settled, the booty 

 is to be equally divided ; and now see them all drinking 

 together. Oaths and curses and filthy jokes are all that you 

 hear ; but see ! stuffed with food, and reeling with drink, down 

 they drop, one by one ; groans and execrations from the 

 wounded mingle with the snorings of the heavy sleepers. 

 There let the brutes lie! Again it is dawn, but no one 

 stirs. The sun is high ; one by one they open their heavy 

 eyes, stretch their limbs, yawn and raise themselves from the 

 deck. But see" a goodly company. A hundred honest fisher- 

 men, who for months past have fed on salt meat, have felt 

 a desire to procure some eggs. Gallantly their boats 

 advance, impelled by the regular pull of their long oars. 

 Each buoyant bark displays the flag of its nation. No weapon 

 do they bring, nor anything that can be used as such, save their 

 oars and fists. Cleanly clad in Sunday attire, they arrive at 

 the desired spot, and at once prepare to ascend the rock. The 

 eggers, now numbering a dozen, all armed with guns and 

 bludgeons, bid defiance to the fishermen. A few angry words 

 pass between the parties. One of the eggers, still under the 

 influence of di-ink, pulls his trigger, and an unfortunate sailor is 

 seen to reel in agony. Three loud cheers fill the air. All at 

 once rush on the malefactors : a horrid fight ensues, the result 

 of which is that every egger is left on the rock beaten and 

 bruised. Too frequently the fishermen man their boats, row to 

 the shallops, and break every egg in the hold. The eggers of 

 Labrador not only rob the birds in this cruel manner, but also 

 the fishermen, whenever they can find an opportunity ; and the 

 quarrels they excite are numberless. While we were on the 

 coast none of our party ever ventured on any of the islands, 

 which these wretches call their own, without being well provided 

 with means of defence. On one occasion when I was present 

 we found two eggers at their work of destruction. I spoke to 



