248 THE RAZOR-BILLED AUK. 



beacon, which, being in form like a huge mounted cannon placed on the 

 elevated crest of a great rock, produced a most striking effect. We knew 

 that the harbour, was within the stupendous wall of rock before us, but our 

 pilot, either from fear or want of knowledge, refused to guide us to it, and 

 our captain, leaving the vessel in charge of the mate, was obliged to go off in 

 a boat, to see if he could find a passage. He was absent more than an hour. 

 The Ripley stood off and on, the yards were manned on the look-out, the 

 sea was smooth and its waters as clear as crystal, but the swell rose to a 

 prodigious height as it passed sluggishly over the great rocks that seemed to 

 line the shallows over which we floated. We were under no apprehension 

 of personal danger, however, for we had several boats and a very efficient 

 crew; and besides, the shores were within cannon shot; but the idea of losing 

 our gallant bark and all our materials on so dismal a coast haunted my mind, 

 and at times those of my companions. From the tops our sailors called out 

 "Quite shallow here, sir." Up went the helm, and round swung the 

 Ripley like a duck taken by surprise. Then suddenly near another shoal 

 we passed, and were careful to keep a sharp look-out until our commander 

 came up. 



Springing upon the deck, and turning his quid rapidly from side to side, 

 he called out, "All hands square the yards," and whispered to me "All's 

 safe, my good sir." The schooner advanced towards the huge barrier, 

 merrily as a fair maiden to meet her beloved; now she doubles a sharp cape, 

 forces her way through a narrow pass; andlo! before you opens the noble 

 harbour of Whapati Guan. All around was calm and solemn; the waters 

 were smooth as glass, the sails fell against the masts, but the impetus which 

 the vessel had received urged her along. The lead was heaved at every 

 yard, and in a few minutes the anchor was dropped. 



Reader, I wish you had been there, that you might yourself describe the 

 wild scene that presented itself to our admiring gaze. We were separated 

 from the rolling swell of the Gulf of St. Lawrence by an immense wall of 

 rock. Far away toward the east and north, rugged mounds innumerable 

 rose one above another. Multitudes of frightened Cormorants croaked 

 loudly as they passed us in the air, and at a distance fled divers Guillemots 

 and Auks. The mossy beds around us shone with a brilliant verdure, the 

 Lark piped its sweet notes on high, and thousands of young codfish leaped 

 along the surface of the deep cove as if with joy. Such a harbour I had 

 never seen before; such another, it is probable, I may never see again; the 

 noblest fleet that ever ploughed the ocean might anchor in it in safety. To 

 augment our pleasures, our captain some days after piloted the Gulnare into 

 it. But, you will say, "Where are the Auks, we have lost sight of them 



