38o 



The Petrels 



had done, even better than they, took the place of 

 my first sense of loss, and I went on with my task of 

 getting food whole-heartedly. 



But now I felt no desire to return to that quiet 

 little nook which had hitherto sheltered me. I did 

 not feel the need of shelter at aU. Nor did I feel the 

 necessity of companionship. Blithely I fluttered from 

 wave to wave intent on finding food, nor noting how 

 the grim peaks of Kerguelen were fading, even from 

 my keen sight. I felt as if I had just been released 

 for a long, long holiday, the mighty ocean for my 

 playground, abundant food at my feet, and the possi- 

 bility of weariness withheld. Ah, I was so happy ! 

 I flew on and on, unheeding whither, taking note of 

 an occasional lordly relation, a huge albatross, or a 

 flight of Petrels of much greater size, but, as I noted 

 with satisfied pride, far less vigorous than I, only with 

 none of them did I speak or Stay for one moment. 

 What had I in common with them — I, the self- 

 sufficient, the weariless one ? They must perforce 

 rest upon the waves now and again ; I, never. They 

 could not feed as I did, their great bodies disdaining 

 the tiny succulent morsels upon which I feasted so 

 royally, and I was glad, so glad. 



When night fell and the sky darkened I still re- 

 joiced ; when the mournful wind began to wail over 

 the great spaces, and the waters snarlingly rose in 

 protest, I hovered twittering, content. I was satisfied, 

 why not they ? Steadily rose the wind, higher mounted 

 the waves, what cared I ? I was master of the whole 

 wild scene, the tumult of the elements was but a 

 lullaby, not to rock me to slumber, but to please my 

 delighted ear, as, unconscious of effort, I still sped to 

 and fro in the darkness of the great night. 



By morning I was hungry, so eager for food that 



