show that he at least was not afraid of the new- 
comer. For this act, however, I am afraid he 
was sorry for many days after. Before he re- 
alized what had happened the eagle had struck 
him on the back and knocked him senseless into 
the waves. When Hardheart recovered the tide 
was bearing him out to sea, and it was a very 
sore and discouraged gull that arose and slowly 
flapped back to the beach at Kinnekeet. 
Poor old outlaw, he had done many wrongs 
in his lifetime, but he was now rapidly learning 
that the bird who does not behave will sooner 
or later get into deep trouble. After this second 
encounter with Hatteras Joe he felt so sick and 
his back hurt him so much, that nearly all the 
gulls had gone north before he felt strong enough 
to yield to the spring impulse that impelled him 
to seek the northern waters. 
Even a more humiliating, if less harmful, 
experience awaited him. While flying along the 
New Jersey coast a high wind arose and the little 
company of gulls of which he was now the meek- 
est member, was blown inland. He was flying 
along over a town, when who should attack 
26 
