TO ORKNEY AND SHETLAND. 19 



the banquet. They had been too much occupied 

 in finishing the seals to observe that a heavy 

 swell had set in directly upon the rocks; they 

 were about to set off for the shore of Papa Stour, 

 when, perceiving the danger of their situation, 

 they all flew to the boat as quickly as possible, 

 and were successful in getting into it excepting 

 one poor unfortunate fellow who had lingered 

 behind. The crew, unwilling to leave their 

 companion to perish on the rock, made several 

 unsuccessful attempts to back the boat to the 

 skerry, but the swell increasing rapidly they were 

 reluctantly compelled to leave him to his fate ; 

 and having offered up a prayer for his preserva- 

 tion, pulled for the land, which they reached in 

 safety. A stormy night coming on, the deserted 

 Shetlander saw no prospect before him but that 

 of perishing with cold and hunger, or of being 

 washed into the sea by the waves, which every 

 moment threatened to break over the rocks. At 

 length he perceived many of the seals who by 

 flight had escaped the attack of himself and his 

 companions approach the skerry, disrobe them- 

 selves of their watery dress, and assume the form 

 of fairies ; their first object was to assist in the 

 recovery of their friends, who, having been 

 stunned, in that state had been stripped of their 



