Page:The Great Secret.djvu/147

Rh suffered most, although, all being drenched through, there was not much to choose amongst them. They looked like pinched masqueraders returning from a late ball, and suffered from those keen blasts bitterly, even although they walked as quickly as they could, and hid their exposed parts as much as possible, the men by tying their handkerchiefs round their heads, and burying their hands in their pockets, the women by making shawls of their thin skirts, lifting them up and wrapping them round their shoulders and faces.

After a couple of miles of this active misery they came to a gully, bare as was the ridges of any trees, yet plentifully scattered with rocks and stones.

It was warmer in the shelter of this gap, and the snow was not so deep as they scrambled down; also, for the first time since landing, they saw grass growing—a coarse description of grass, full of moisture, and bog-like.

They were not long, however, in reaching the sea-shore, which they found smoother here, for they were within the shelter of a bold headland, and walking upon firm sand, the tide being out, while in front of them spread a harbour-like bay, well protected from the incoming breakers by a number of rocky islands.

Outside these islands they could see the white surf leaping high up as it broke against the outer barriers, but inside the waves were only slightly disturbed. On the rocks, also, they could see the basking seals and sea-lions resting, their smooth bodies and round heads glistening with the wet; this was a favourite fishing-ground of theirs evidently, for they were in considerable numbers.

Crowds of bird life hovered above them—the long-winged and snowy albatross, penguins, teal, petrels, gulls,