ached the water than down pounced a bird upon it, rising immediately
with the hook in his mouth. This time the sailors, instead of pulling
the line up, had to haul it down, just as a paper kite is hauled down
from the sky; and, at length, by running forward, the huge bird was
brought on deck. Still it fought bravely with its wings, which it would
have been dangerous for any one to have approached. At length Mr
Hooker put an end to its sufferings by a blow from a boat's stretcher.
The other albatrosses, in no way disconcerted by the disappearance of
their companion, still followed the ship. Two more were caught; one
hauled out of the water, the other hauled on deck like the first.

A young gentleman going out to Japan then made his appearance with a gun
in his hand; and in spite of my warnings of what might be our fate
should he kill one, began firing away at the birds. Even a practised
marksman would not have found it easy to hit one of them, although they
were in no way scared by the report of the gun. At length, however, a
bullet struck one of them on the head, just as he descended into the
water. In an instant down pounced his companions, driving their beaks
into the dead body; and in a few minutes, while it still remained in
sight, they had torn it almost to pieces.

"I hope no harm will come of that shot of yours," I said to the young
civilian; "but look out!"

The young gentleman laughed, and said he did not believe in such
nonsense. Mr Hooker was soon busily employed in skinning his
albatrosses and preparing the skins for stuffing.

CHAPTER FOUR.

I PERFORM A SATISFACTORY EXPLOIT.

Scarcely had the albatross been shot, than the wind, which had hitherto
been moderate, increased considerably, and in a short time we had two
reefs in our topsails. The weather, however, was in other respects
fine, and away the ship went, careering over the foaming seas like a
high-bred hunter, dashing them aside as she rushed onward on her course.
There was something very exhilarating in the movement. The air, too,
was bracing, and everybody seemed in high spirits. As I happened to
pass the caboose, however, I heard Potto Jumbo, the black cook,
grumbling greatly. Some one had told him that he would have to roast
one of the albatrosses for dinner. Although generally a very merry,
good-natured fellow, this had made him excessively irate.

"No good ever came from shooting albatross!" I heard him exclaim. "Dey
l