The Irish standard., 1915-06-12
CHAPTER XVII.
FRIENDS MULTIPLY.


played. Accordingly began to whistl,
in low tone plaintive air. The mo.
ment I began, however, the elder AMI.
mails took the alarm, tapped away dow.
the sloping rock, tumbled into the wa
ter and disappeared, not, however, be.
fore one of them had attempted to carr,
off the youngster in its jaws. just as
bitch would puppy. Seals, may oh
serve, give suck to their young just a
animals do. My little friend had go.
beyond this stage and was beginning t.
eat on its own account.
Now that the parents were alarmed
for the sake of their offspring, knew
that they would not go far. bright
ened my fire SO as to illuminate some
what the whole pool, lay down beside
it upon my weedy couch and continued
to whistle. Presently, IN a distant part
of 1t, close beside a dark rift or aper-
ture in the rock, saw four round eyes
apparently watching me and perfectly
motionless. I continued whistling SO
at intervals for more than two hours,
hardly making any perceptible motion,
during which time the animals had so
far dismissed their fear that could see
them swimming about the pool and
sometimes coming to the edge and rest
ing there. was particularly anxious
to make friends with these animals, for
I feared that in their alarm they might
desert the youngster, who was almost OF
an age and size to shift for himself, and
who. I knew, might gnaw through his
tether at any time and make away, or
his parents might cut it for him. Ac-
cordingly I now resolved to make the
tether as strong as I could. This, for
tunately, I could do. The "nostle' OF
my line-viz, the part between the line
proper and the hook-was of wire, and
in my hybook, which contained many
sundries, I had good roll of the same
article. As l feared, however, to ap-
proach the pool while the parents were
there, ceased whistling and waited till
the parents should disappear. Though
l was in an agony of drowsiness, con-
trived to keep myself awake and at
length had the satisfaction of seeing
them, one after the other, dive through
the cleft. Then l wound the wire strong
ly round the whole length of the tether,
and also very close and firm round the
loop which encircled his neck. My lie,
l felt, depended on the excellence of my
workmanship, and did not spare pains.
Then returned to my fire, and after
having covered up the burning embers
deep in ashes lay down and in an in
slant was fast asleep. l slept profound
~, without a dream even at the moment
of waking. When awoke, thought
was in my own bed at home; but, alas,
the touch of tho dry seaweed quickly
banished that thought. Very cautiously
and gradually, and whistling low all
the time, I revived the fire. When the
light was sufficient, could see the par
ents lying beside their offspring and per-
fectly motionless. Then, too, l gladly
perceived fish. contrived gradually
to edge my way toward them, whistling
all the time. Though they made slight
motions Of alarms, they did not flap off
till I had come within half dozen yards
Of them. found near the little seal a
white trout and young pollock, injur-
ed only by the marks of teeth, and after
petting and making much of my little
friend, who testified his pleasure at see-
ing me with many cries and awkward
little jumps, returned to my fire and
cooked my breakfast. OF course had
determined to make an exploration of
the whole cavern, but did not dare to
do so until had first established per-
fectly friendly relations with the crea-
lures upon whose presence my life de-
pended. / perceived, too, that, owing
to the intelligence and ! might almost
say humanity Of these amiable and i'll
teresting animals this, though difficult,
was only work Of time. I may add
that I now began to regulate my life
according to the time Of day and night
and to keep myself related with the up
per world by going to sleep at about 10
O'Clock. No one who has not known
such solitude as mine can be aware how
much society there is in a watch and
its friendly, scarce audible ticking.
The whole of that day, with the excep-
ton Of the time that I spent taking ex-
ercise in the vicinity Of Curry's Win
dow and in the genial light of day. de :
voted myself to making friendly ad-
vances to the seals. 1t was slower work
than had expected, bot at the end of
the fifth day they allowed me to touch
them and stroke down their smooth polls
just as I would dog. Next day, as I
approached them still very cautiously,
they uttered cries Of Joy and affection,
and by the evening our relations were
satisfactory in every respect. That day,
having for some time perceived that the
little seal was pining for the water, l
let it flap thither, and holding the tether
in my hand sat for more than an hour
watching it's delighted gambols as it
dived and rose there, romping with it's
parents in a manner that would have
delighted the hardest heart. Every day
after this allowed it to indulge in the
same amusement even for several hours
knew that this swimming exercise
was necessary for ito health. Yet only
half my work with the seals was now
accomplished. The little seal might die.