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 Bumble;
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, Bumble,
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 constitution," 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 Bumble.

"No go," remarked Nikel Sling sadly.

"That was near," said the first mate eagerly, as the bird made a bold
swoop down towards