TO ORKNEY AND SHETLAND. 49 



each and some biscuit, and proposed to makeRona's 

 Inlet : this required a desperate effort. As there 

 was another stack a little distance from the one we 

 were sheltered under, and the sea by this time began 

 to break very fearfully between them, I determined 

 to wait for a c lull', as the sailors call it, which 

 there generally is after three or four seas. Each of 

 us got an oar in his hands ready for the attempt ; 

 we counted the four seas, then pulled with all our 

 strength, and got out from between the two stacks 

 before the sea broke in again ; and being now out 

 of the greatest danger, we pulled on in this way for 

 four miles, during which time such was our anxiety 

 that I think there was not a word spoken by any 

 one. The wind was blowing so strongly against us 

 that we could not tell whether we were making 

 any way or not. When we arrived in the voe we 

 got shelter, and being both wet and fatigued, rested 

 ourselves and took a little more spirits. Several 

 seals had followed us ; we could pay no attention 

 to them at the time, but having now got into shelter, 

 I prepared my guns, as I expected they would come 

 around us ; and I was not disappointed, for as soon 

 as I had my gun ready, one came staring up at the 

 stern of the boat, which I shot instantly. We now 

 pulled to our landing-place, about two miles up the 

 voe, and arrived at home about two o'clock in the 



