48 THE ORNITHOLOGIST^ GUIDE 



Not much liking the idea of remaining here 

 any length of time exposed to the storm, I held a 

 consultation with the boatmen as to the best mode 

 of proceeding. Some were for making a fair wind 

 of it, and advised that we should set sail and run 

 for an inlet about eight miles distant, observing 

 that it was nearly high water, and that when it 

 began to ebb the sea would be still more highly 

 agitated, and consequently the danger would be 

 greater ; others dissented from this opinion and 

 were for taking to the oars again, for the pur- 

 pose of getting into Rona's Voe. Thinking the 

 latter plan the most advisable, we put the boat 

 about and pulled for the voe. The tide was al- 

 ready ebbing, forming another obstacle, and we 

 now had wind, tide, and sea to contend against. 

 We got some shelter for a few minutes behind 

 one of the large stacks, and during this respite 

 baled out the boat, trimmed her as well as we 

 could with the two seals I shot before the storm 

 came on, set my son astride of them, and held the 

 dog so as to keep the boat steady. I then asked 

 the men if the}' thought they were able to pull 

 the boat against wind and tide ; they replied they 

 would try, but the majority were for turning back 

 to the other inlet, a proposition which I would not 

 agree to. I now gave the men a glass of whiskey 



