Parental Amenities 345 



lest he should. Presently he too had eaten his fill, 

 and I noted with terror that he was swimming steadily 

 towards my mother, who swam away, it is true, but 

 not with any vigour, although I could see her glancing 

 apprehensively over her shoulder at him. Presently 

 he was by her side, and laying his great beak across 

 her neck he caressed her gently, at the same time 

 uttering a pleasant little musical sound entirely unlike 

 the usual strident shriek of our people. What it 

 meant I did not know. Curiosity overcame my fears, 

 and I swam heavily towards the pair to see, if I could, 

 what this behaviour meant, when to my horror the 

 new-comer suddenly turned and, rushing at me, struck 

 me so heavy a blow with his hooked beak that the 

 flesh was torn off a portion of my back and my snowy 

 plumage became red. I tried to escape, but still could 

 hardly move, until suddenly the impulse came upon 

 me to disgorge a portion of what I had eaten. As 

 1 did so, I felt easier and was able to rise. With all 

 the strength at my command I fled away, nor even 

 looked behind until I regained the old spot where I 

 had been hatched. There I waited, full of miserable 

 apprehensions lest that terrible bird should come 

 and destroy me. Had I only known it, or my fears 

 have allowed me to look back during my headlong 

 flight, he was not pursuing me — I was altogether 

 beneath his notice, except when I came too near 

 him. 



The day passed slowly away, but my mother 

 did not return. I became hungry, but I was afraid 

 to move. Flocks of my neighbours returned from 

 their labours and settled down on their respective 

 spots, inquisitive little birds and cunning crabs ran 

 all about me, but I was entirely alone. In vain I 

 strained my eyes longingly seaward, until the sudden 



