Part 36 (2/2)

The catching of this bird was the saving of the crew, and it afforded them a good deal of mirth in the dividing of it. The heart and a small part of the breast fell to Ailie--which every one remarked was singularly appropriate; part of a leg and the tail fell to King b.u.mble; and the lungs and stomach became the property of Jim Scroggles, whereupon Briant remarked that he would ”think as much almost o' _that_ stomach as he had iver done of his own!” But there was much of sadness mingled with their mirth, for they felt that the repast was a peculiarly light one, and they had scarcely strength left to laugh or jest.

Next morning they knocked down another bird, and in the evening they got two more. The day after that they captured an albatross, which furnished them at last with an ample supply of fresh food.

It was Mr Markham, the second mate, who first saw the great bird looming in the distance, as it sailed over the sea towards them.

”Let's try to fish for him,” said the doctor. ”I've heard of sea-birds being caught in that way before now.”

”Fish for it!” exclaimed Ailie in surprise.

”Ay, with hook and line, Ailie.”

”I've seen it done often,” said the captain. ”Hand me the line, b.u.mble, and a bit o' that bird we got yesterday. Now for it.”

By the time the hook was baited, the albatross had approached near to the boat, and hovered around it with that curiosity which seems to be a characteristic feature of all sea-birds. It was an enormous creature; but Ailie, when she saw it in the air, could not have believed it possible that it was so large as it was afterwards found to be on being measured.

”Here, Glynn, catch hold of the line,” said the captain, as he threw the hook overboard, and allowed it to trail astern; ”you are the strongest man amongst us now, I think; starvation don't seem to tell so much on your young flesh and bones as on ours!”

”No; it seems to agree with his const.i.tution,” remarked Gurney.

”It's me that wouldn't give much for his flesh,” observed Briant; ”but his skin and bones would fetch a good price in the leather and rag market.”

While his messmates were thus freely remarking on his personal appearance--which, to say truth, was dreadfully haggard--Glynn was holding the end of the line, and watching the motions of the albatross with intense interest.

”He won't take it,” observed the captain.

”Me tink him will,” said b.u.mble.

”No go,” remarked Nikel Sling sadly.

”That was near,” said the first mate eagerly, as the bird made a bold swoop down towards the bait, which was skipping over the surface of the water.

”No, he's off,” cried Mr Markham in despair.

”Cotched! or I'm a Dutchman!” shouted. Gurney.

”No!” cried Jim Scroggles.

”Yes!” screamed Ailie.

”Hurrah!” shouted Tim Rokens and Tarquin in a breath.

d.i.c.k Barnes, and the doctor, and the captain, and, in short, everybody, echoed the last sentiment, and repeated it again and again with delight as they saw the gigantic bird once again swoop down upon the bait and seize it.

Glynn gave a jerk, the hook caught in its tongue, and the albatross began to tug, and swoop, and whirl madly in its effort to escape.

Now, to talk of any ordinary bird swooping, and fluttering, and tugging, does not sound very tremendous; but, reader, had you witnessed the manner in which that enormous albatross conducted itself, you wouldn't have stared with amazement--oh, no! You wouldn't have gone home with your mouth as wide open as your eyes, and have given a gasping account of what you had seen--by no means! You wouldn't have talked of feathered steam-engines, or of fabled rocs, or of winged elephants in the air--certainly not!

Glynn's arms jerked as if he were holding on to the sheet of a s.h.i.+fting mainsail of a seventy-four.

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