192 AFTER THE FRAY, THE FEAST. 
impenetrable wall, or a net with closed-up meshes which incessantly 
advances. The unfortunate fish, driven into a cul de sac, and per- 
ceiving that no outlet is practicable, spring up into the air in an agony 
of desperation. A pleasant sight for the pelicans, but one which does 
not move them from their impassive composure. They know better 
than to yield to a rapacious appetite which would break their ranks 
and open up a means of escape to the captives. On the contrary, as 
the moment for enjoying their harvest approaches they redouble their 
watchfulness. At length they touch one another breast to breast, the 
water does not rise above half-way up their legs, and the fish, shut up 
within the fatal circle, piled together in heaps, float in a sort of stupor. 
Now the conquerors may disband without danger. The order to slay 
and plunder echoes down the line ; and all at once the elongated necks 
armed with large bills are thrust into the mass, and the game-bags are 
filled, and filled, even to over-filling. When the operation is well 
conducted, and the fishers muster in sufficient numbers, an essential 
condition of success, the booty will amount to as much as ten pounds 
weight for each depredator; and, observe, the pelican admits only 
choice morsels to the honours of his table, disdaining the small fry. 
A pelican who has captured a fine fish seldom denies himself the 
pleasure of exhibiting his dexterity. He sends the prize spinning in 
the air, to render all his comrades jealous of his good fortune, and 
witnesses of his skill ; and then takes care to receive it, head foremost, 
into his vast pocket. 
To labour and fatigue succeed the happiness of repose and the 
pleasure of the feast. Just as a merry troop of deer-stalkers, after a 
successful day's sport on the heather-purple moorlands, with appetites 
keen-set by the fresh mountain air, eagerly direct their steps to the 
clump of rowans where rest and refreshment await them, so do our 
phalanx of fishers, loaded with plunder, seek the shelter of the scarped 
clifi", the height of which protects them against surprises from without, 
to enjoy a well-earned banquet. This is the time for friendly chat, * 
and for comparing notes on the various incidents of the day ; the time 
for criticism and praise, for self-laudation and long prosy narratives of 
individual exploits ! Each empties his pouch to display his booty, and 
