The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-09-11
LAUGHING FRIENDS.
THEY WERE GULLS ANO WERE &C
QUAlNTED WITH THE PURSGR.

| They Had Noises to which Each Answered
When CalIed-uovering Over the Vessel
to 10 Fed-No Wonder the Passenger
Was Interested.
Tho air was filed with strange laughter
=" Hn, hal" in very high notes; cha, ha,
har in tho deepest bass, then u chorus of
wild cries that appeared to come from any
where, everywhere, greatly astonishing IL
little boy that stood OH the spray washed
deck of an out bound steamer.
IT'S tho laughing gulls," said tho
purscr, who noticed his nmazomont. Then,
following tho motion of his hand, tho lit
tic passenger glanced upward and saw tho
cause of all tho noise On tho gilt ball
that surmounted the topmust Of tho roll
ing steamer sat II largo white gull, sway
ing to and fro In its efforts to preserve its
balance. On tho foromnst porchod anoth-
or, whilo tho booms and other points of
vantage werc similarly occupied by gulls
Of various colors.
AFRO they laughing at us?" asked tho
boy.
'No indccd," replid the good naturcd
pursor ~ am not quito sure, but
imngine that they arc asking me to give
them their dinner.
why, do they know you?" said tho boy.
~ should think So, said the officer.
"Why. they follow no from San Pedro To
tho island and back, 80 miles, every day
except Sunday"
Won't they fly on Sundnys?" asked tho
boy again.
"Oh, yes was tho reply, "hut thu
steamer doesn't sail on Sunday now, hit
every other day they join mo ana nymlong.
tt,,,,. Il ~.
steamer, and thoy all seem TO he very fond
Of trying to balance themselves on tho
masthead. You SEQ, it is very sipuc-y.
and when the boat is rolling about they
hnvo to work very hard especially .Jack.
who has but ono log"
II wish could see him, " said the little
boy, who was greatly Interested i'm the
birds.
That's u very easy matter" responded
the officer Go into the cabin whcro the
birds emit SEQ you and will have Jack
down here III 20 time
Tho boy moved into the cabin, where
tho other passengers had gone to escape
wind and spray. whilo the pursor stopped
10 tho side Of the steamer.
Iii, there, Jackl' lie shouted, snaDpi,l.,
his fingers over the rail and thrusting his
other hand into tho pocket of his pea
jacket.
The gull on the gold ball slid OF, while
u lutterin: cloud of white wings. present
ing u striking contrast to tho blue water.
appeared rs if by magic ut tho stern and
over the deck, all laughing loudly in thci.
way.
AS tho rurscr held up his hand down
swooped largo and Beautiful gull, ana
lowered In the air not seven fcot above the
deck, just over him, turning its head this
way and that in eager expectations ii
was not disappointed, for the officer tossed
II bit of meat into the air, which tho pull
deity cnught.
That's jack, d" the purscr called to the
little boy, who WAS pcuping Gus of tho OPEN
window.
Jack had been shot and ono of his lc,.s
was gone, while tho other leg, which had
probably bern wounded, hung directly
down, as though lie were holding it out 10
shake hands.
That big brown fellow is old Tom, ="
said tho officer. Ho rarely misses trip,
and tho ono chasing tho other call Smnk-
or because he onco picked up IA cigar thut
some one threw ovor, hut he very soon
found out his mistake. | call them nv
laughing travellers, " continued the purscr
tossing some meat into tho air. which the
birds caught, because they travel with
me all day, and are always laughing
Whether 1T is really laughing | don't
know" added tho officer ''Whcn thov are
standing OH shore, they bow their heads so
that tho bill almost touches the ground,
then they raise it high in the air, ana just
then comes the la, hu! Now, what would
you say"
Why. should think they were laugh
ing ut Something among themselves, " was
the reply.
Anyway" continued the purscr "thcy
have good deal 10 laugh about, as ever
day bring them some bread ana meat,
and give them u feast, and they all know
me-
Don't you ever forget thcm?" asked
the little boy.
{" did once, was the reply.
And did they laugh just the Same that
day."
81 think they did" said tho officer
Then l think they arc very cheerful
birds, said the boy.
SO they are" laughed tho purscr
Here, Tom" no called, holding up his
hand. Whcrcupon gull approached with
in two or three feet of it and cnught the
piece of meat he tossed, whilo the other
birds came lowering about
To tho little passc ngcr it was a wonder
jul sight, us, despite the fact that the
steamer WAS moving rapidly, tho birds
lowered overhead without moving wing
an pinon, seemingly carried along with
the vessel.
Some of the gulls left tho steamer at the
big island and did not return until tho
next day, and many were the tricks ard
FRANKS that they played upon tho seals.
tho pclcans and the fishermen. Ii IL fish
erinan left fish exposed for II moment,
they would nlight on tho beach and wall;
by it with % very innocent air, then finally
grasp it directly from under tho man 5
eyes and fly away with resembling laugh,