I was searching for a cave, but nothing of the sort could I come across;
but at the head of a little valley, very near to where I left the Dean,
I discovered a place that would, in some measure at least, answer the
same purpose. Its situation gave it the still further advantage, that we
commanded a perfect view of the sea from the front of it.

"I have said that it was not exactly a cave. It was rather a natural
tent, as it were, of solid rocks. At the foot of a very steep slope
there were several large masses of rough rocks heaped together,
evidently having one day slid down from the cliffs above, and afterwards
smaller rocks, being broken off, had piled up behind them. Two of these
large rocks had come together in such a manner as to leave an open space
between them. I should say this space was ten or twelve feet across at
the bottom, and, rising up about ten feet high, joined at the top like
the roof of a house. The rocks were pressed against them behind, so as
completely to close the outlet in that direction. I climbed into this
place, and was convinced that if we had strength to close up the front
entrance with a wall, we should have a complete protection from the
weather. But then, when I reflected how, if we did seek shelter there,
we should keep ourselves warm, I had great misgivings; for then came up
the question of all questions, 'What should we do for a fire?'

"Although this place was not a cave, yet I spoke to the Dean about it as
such, and by that name we came to know it; so I will now use the term,
inappropriate though it is. I also told the Dean about some other birds
that I had discovered in great numbers. They were very small, and seemed
to have their nests among the rocks all along the opposite side of the
island, where they were swarming on the hillside, and flying overhead in
even greater flocks than the ducks. I knew they were called 'little
auks,' from descriptions the sailors had given me of them.

[Illustration: The Dean makes provision for a change of diet.]

"'But look here what I've got,' exclaimed the Dean, with an air of
triumph, as soon as I came up with him. 'See this big duck!'

"The fellow had actually caught a duck, and in a most ingenious manner.
Seeing the ducks fly off their nests, the happy idea struck him that, if
he could only contrive a trap, or 'dead-fall,' he might catch them when
they came back. So he selected a nest favorable to his purpose, and
then piled up some stones