My First Lesson 379 



had been necessary in order to keep me warm when I 

 did not move, but now as I needed it no more it had 

 gone. 



So day by day I became stronger and more daring, 

 until, almost unthinkingly, I dashed out of the narrow 

 opening between those mighty rocks and was on the 

 glorious sea, my real, my splendid home. And in 

 that wonderful moment I felt all the joy of living, 

 the delight of being in my rightful place and master 

 of my surroundings. I felt eager to emulate my 

 parents, to do what they could not do, although in- 

 stinctively I followed their every movement. Another 

 surprise, and an essentially pleasant one ; as my father 

 swooped down the side of a wave, I saw him snatch 

 at a little white wriggling thing there and swallow it. 

 There was another by its side at which I dashed, 

 seized it, and gulped it down. Delicious first morsel, 

 how sweet it was to feel that I had gained it, and that 

 all this wide feasting ground was mine ! 



For a few days this finishing portion of my edu- 

 cation went on, I growing more and more impatient 

 of being taught, until one day my father and I hooked 

 our beaks into the same squid, a bigger one than usual, 

 and I fought savagely with him for the possession of 

 it. Unknown to me the parting of our ways had come. 

 From henceforth he was no more to me or I to him 

 than any two chance-met members of our family, 

 and although we returned to our home that night 

 it was for the last time together. I slept soundly 

 tiU dawn, then waking to instant activity, as is the 

 custom of all our people, sped outwards to sea to find 

 myself, as far as my two parents were concerned, 

 quite alone. As I have before said, for a little time 

 it was very lonely. But soon the natural adjustment 

 took place, pride in my ability to do as my parents 



