142 Sea ^ Shore Birds 



height of at least six feet two, removing heavy stones 

 as if they were small pebbles. 



Whilst he chucked some one way, the boatman 

 rolled some another ; and I, another. 



At. last, as a large stone was removed, my sister-in- 

 law saw a small dark-coloured bird quickly sidling 

 away to hide between those stones which formed the 

 walls of the big hollow we had made. In her eager- 

 ness to look at the petrel she suddenly leant her head 

 over the edge, and I, not seeing this, and equally 

 eager, at that moment threw out a largish stone in 

 the direction where a second before the coast was 

 clear. 



To my horror I heard a moan of pain, and looking 

 quickly up, saw my poor sister-in-law sink back on the 

 bank of thrift close by, with a long stream of blood 

 trickling down her face from her forehead. 



It was an awful moment ! 



Had I struck her temple and killed her ? 



It rushed through my mind that in my excitement 

 I had been horribly careless in not looking to see 

 where I was throwing the stones to. 



And careless no doubt I was. 



All the joy of discovering the stormy petrels, and 

 the sunshine of a perfect spring day, died out. 



Fortunately, with some brandy and fresh water at 

 hand in the luncheon-basket, she soon recovered the 

 faintness which had seized her, and was able to be 

 steamed home across the waters at once. 



But she had a poor bandaged head for some days. 

 I remember with what kindliness she received a blow 



