THE OCEAN AND ITS LIFE. 105 



they seem to awaken in storms, rising like islands from 

 beneath, and snorting through the angry spray ! Perhaps 

 they graze peacefully in the unbroken cool of the ocean's 

 deep bed, when To ! a hungry shark comes slily, silently 

 around that grove ; its glassy eyes shine ghost-like with 

 a yellow sheen, and seek their prey. The sea-dog first 

 becomes aware of his dreaded enemy, and seeks refuge 

 in the thickest recesses of the fucus forest. In an instant 

 the whole scene changes. The oyster closes its shell with 

 a clap, and throws itself into the deep below ; the turtle 

 conceals head and feet under her impenetrable armor, and 

 sinks slowly downward ; the playful little fish disappear 

 among the branches of the macrocystis; lobsters hide un- 

 der the thick, clumsily-shapen roots, and the young walrus 

 alone turns boldly round and faces the intruder with his 

 sharp, pointed teeth. The shark seeks to gain his un- 

 protected side. The battle commences ; both seek the 

 forest; their fins become entangled in the closely inter- 

 woven branches ; at last the more agile shark succeeds 

 in wounding his adversary's side. Despairing of life, the 

 bleeding walrus tries to conceal his last agony in the 

 woods, but, blinded by pain and blood, he fastens himself 

 among the branches, and soon falls an easy prey to the 

 shark, who greedily devours him. 



A few miles further, and the scene changes. Here lies 

 a large, undisturbed oyster bed, so felicitously styled, a 

 concentration of quiet happiness. Dormant though the 

 soft, glutinous creatures seem to be, in their impenetrable 

 shells, each individual is leading the beautiful existence 



of the epicurean god. The world without, its cares and 

 5* 



