Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-03-08
Lost ON Dhu- COrTig.
By STANDISH O'GRADY
copyright, 1924, H. American Press AssOcia-
toni
By STANDISH O'GRADY
CHAPTER XVI.

l DOW stood and listened with ears
/ which famine had rendered prcternatu-
rally acute, hoping that l might some
where hear the sullen gursle of water
or the tapping of waves upon stone.
stood so a long time; then, waving a
torch. | stepped rapidly forward. had
only advanced Il few yards when heard
! something which caused me to start so
violently that the torch fell from my
hands. it was not the noise of regur-
gitatIng water or tapping waves, hut a
cry loud, clear and distinct, echoing
far and wide in the Convolutiuns of the
huge cave. Il cry repeated in quick sue
cessiOn again and again, Il cry, rather
a new or bark, resembling both
sounds. but the latter more than the for
mer. | was in that condition in which
fear can at any moment burst out into
frantic terror. But l recovered myself
in a moment The noise which l had
heard was tie barking Of Il seal. l had
not spent nv luvhCOd in this coast
without having acquired that much o.
seaside knowledge. l knew that it wa
a seal and even Il young seal. Yes, the
tidal water had here somewhere an en-
trance into the cave. l went on in the
direction of the noise and was about to
extinguish the burning timber which
held in my hand when the increased en-
orgy and frequency of the barking con-
WINGED me that the seal, so far from be-
ing terrified ly the light, seemed to like
it. and as l believed was endeavOring
to approach it. | stood again and lis
tened and could hear its fiappings and
druffiings. Still going ON, l came rath-
er suddenly within view of the crea-
turc. The water, which l could now
see, was a good many yards behind it
and already, mad with hunger, l could
see and smell chops and steaks of the
little seal frizzling in one of my fires,
for of course l had determined to lose
no time about killing and eating this
animal which Providence had so unex-
pectedly cast in my way. But when l
saw the poor creature, my solo fellow
occupant Of the gloomy prison. still flap
ping and Topping toward me and the
pathetic look in its eyes. for the seal
can look very pathetic, an involuntary
feeling Of compassion rose within me.
1t WAS not in the least afraid of me even
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because Ii was 80 much pleased by the
light. No doubt ere long famine would
har" driven ont pity-a man feeling
all the vulturr in his jaws will eat any
thing. But at this moment the light of
my torch fell On something shining ON
the edge Of the water. 1t was a good
sized salmon. Just little mbbled at
tluut the neck and shoulders AS in
flush perceived that this little moan
in. suppIiant whom a few minutes be-
fore | had been on the point of killing
might l'the means of my preservation.
This large fish was never killed by my
small friend: it was killed by its par
tnts and brought thithvr as food for
their offspring. | wuald keep the child
CluSe prisoner and compel the parents
t. feed roth il and me, The fishing line
of which l have spoken | had with me
still fastened To the rod. | unwound its
twisted cords and fastened one end round
tn, SEALS neck with Il KIN, that would
MT slim and made the other end fast
round the projecting corner of a bowl
de-. Then. rejoicing. | bore away the
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