OUR FIRST LANDINGS 65 
humble venture we had before us. And I thought it 
so hard on Hyland. 
But the men pulled off. 
While we were arranging the tent old Sailor was 
sniffing round, and came to a halt on the top of the bank, 
his ear cocked, pointing down into a crevice. There, 
far down, we found a snow-bunting’s nest which held 
six eggs. It was a pretty incident, and I took it for 
a good omen. 
The sun was getting higher, and the river floes and 
all the banks were flashing wonderfully. 
We could not have landed at a more delightful hour ; 
and we were in the best of spirits. 
