130 tttE ZOOLOGlSl. 



Peter now took a coil of codline in his hand, and, watching 

 his opportunity as the light boat rose on the swell, jumped clear 

 of the water on to a dry ledge. Though I did not relish the look 

 of the said "road up," there was no other way of getting to the 

 top ; so I followed him. Peter now explained to me that there 

 were only two " bad bits " — one about half-way up, and the other 

 just at the very top. The first of these is where the rock pro- 

 jects so far as to overhang the sea below, and from where — 

 the men were careful to inform me — a climber had fallen some 

 years before, but, striking the water, was picked up by his com- 

 rades in the boat, escaping with a broken arm and a severe shock 

 from a fall of 90 feet. They added, perhaps unnecessarily, that 

 he did not again attempt the ascent. 



The last fifteen feet, however, according to Peter, was the only 

 really difficult bit. I had on a pair of indiarubber shoes, which 

 are capital for rock climbing as long as they are dry ; but when I 

 had got up fifty feet or so I followed Peter's example and took to 

 stockings, as they afford much greater freedom for the toes. 



The ascent for the first 90 feet is comparatively easy, for the 

 rock, though almost perpendicular, is firm. At this place occurs 

 the first " bad bit," as it is necessary to round a point which 

 projects clear over the water, and the ledges have a nasty outward 

 slope. However, the finger grip is good, and, watching where my 

 guide put his feet, we were soon both past this. Above this part 

 the climbing is comparatively easy till the top is neared. Here, 

 within fifteen feet of the summit, we brought up against what 

 appenred to me a totally unscaleable piece. We were clinging in 

 a sort of shallow niche of the cliff, which above our heads nar- 

 rowed to a crack about eight inches wide. If it had been a foot 

 wider the ascent would have been comparatively easy by bracing 

 the body against the sides, but its narrowness precluded this. 

 I now watched Long Peter's movements with interest, and here 

 was the point where his great height and long arms stood him in 

 good stead, for, stretching himself up the left-hand edge of the 

 crack, he seized a small ledge nearly eight feet above the niche 

 we stood in, and slowly and carefully he drew himself up, finding 

 a crevice for his toes, and, getting another grip higher up, he 

 was at the summit in a few seconds. He then passed the doubled 

 codline down to me, which I fastened under my arms, and, Peter 

 putting a 50 lb. strain on it, I swarmed up the edge of the crack, 



