214 
IN FORBIDDEN SEAS 
broke at last, and we commenced skinning seals 
again, finishing about 150 more by noon. The 
men, having had no food or water, were not fit 
for more work, so I collected them together and 
started up the mountain. The ascent from this 
side was easier, as we could follow up an old lava 
stream, which offered more solid footing. Making 
our way around the crater lip, it was comparatively 
easy to go down the other side. Two sailors and 
myself were the first to arrive at our boat. After a 
good drink and some food, we pulled off to the 
schooner, which was lying hove to a short distance 
away under the lee of the land. 
A good night’s rest was badly needed, and we 
had one. Next morning I left again with a fresh 
lot of nine men. The wind having shifted more 
to the north, we were able to land, though at 
some risk, farther round the island, which saved us 
some distance in getting over the mountain-side to 
the rookery. A second boat, in charge of S., 
accompanied us, to stand by in case of a capsize in 
the surf while landing. We managed to get ashore 
and haul our boat up all right. Leaving a supply of 
water and food with the boat as before, we started 
over the mountain, and on arriving at the rookery 
skinned the remainder of our seals. The skinning 
was a lengthy job on account of their size and the 
awkward places amongst big rocky boulders in 
which they lay. It was dark before they were all 
taken up to the top of the ledge, from which they had 
to be carried to the cave. We spent another uncom¬ 
fortable night under the cliffs, snow falling at in¬ 
tervals. At daybreak we brought the skins to the 
cave, and afterwards made our way back over the 
