33^ The Albatross 



the westerly gale, level with her mizenmast head and a 

 little to windward is poised her snowy companion, 

 apparently motionless, except for an almost imper- 

 ceptible bending of the wings or tail for steering 

 purposes. The bird seems to be held in the vicinity 

 of the ship by some non-understandable magnetic 

 force, for in no other way does his effortless main- 

 tenance of station appear possible in relation to the 

 ship while the latter is fleeing over the ocean at the 

 rate of from fifteen to seventeen miles an hour. 



And then, if aught be dropped from the ship, 

 the great bird gives a sudden swerve, sometimes 

 rearing in a horizontal position and, stretching forward 

 his wide-webbed feet, descending almost straight 

 upon the spot where his piercing eye can see something 

 that may be eatable. If that something has sunk, 

 the Albatross will dive, despite the hampering of his 

 huge wings, and by great exertions swim downward. 

 Then, when the food has been secured, or whatever is 

 there found to be eatable, the bird takes off from 

 the crest of a wave, just melts into the air as it were, 

 without any exertion, and although the ship by this 

 time may be out of sight, an inappreciable portion of 

 time serves to bring her attendant into station again. 



Or in the midst of his steady accompanying of 

 the vessel he will suddenly swerve to one side or other, 

 as the case may be, and disappear, so swiftly yet so 

 easily that the eye can barely follow him. The time 

 passes, there is a sense of loss, for indeed in those 

 latitudes during a heavy gale, their normal weather, 

 the sea seems very lonely ; when presently, behold 

 our friend is visible in his old station, his beautiful 

 snowy head with its dark solemn eyes turning gravely 

 from side to side in keenest watchfulness. As he went, 

 so he returns, so he remains, without effort, and the 



