stay for a time. There were other gulls around, 
to whom, of course, he quickly made himself a 
nuisance. Still there was nothing to be found 
here like the food he had known in his summer 
home, and, for some reason he could not explain, 
nobody ever threw any fish scraps into the water. 
One morning a man crossed the bridge ac- 
companied by a little girl, who carried her books 
in one hand and a paper bag in the other. She 
saw the big gull and at once began to throw 
something into the river. Hardheart came 
forward with a great rush; doubtless this meant 
fish scraps. He picked up one of the articles, 
but it was nothing but a peanut. In disgust 
Hardheart dropped it and before long resumea 
his journey on down the coast. It was evident 
that this was no place for a gull who possessed 
spirit and a healthy appetite. 
It was some time in November when he 
reached Kinnekeet. This, I am sure, is one of 
the queerest towns a sea-gull ever saw. Few of 
the houses are painted and they sit around on 
the sand without any streets or roads between 
them. Many of these houses do not stand level, 
20 
