56 
THE NORTHLAND BIRD LIFE 
Laughing Loon was at her wit’s end to keep 
them from getting right into the singers’ 
seats. And that would never have done at 
all, for they couldn’t sing a note. But Baby 
Laughing Loon had stayed right where her 
mother told her to. Her mother, however, 
had gone on and on, following the other too 
eager bird children beyond this wave and 
that, until poor Baby Laughing Loon was left 
quite out of her sight. 
Suddenly the music stopped. There was 
a shrill scream, and in a moment all the 
Puffins were crying, “Pirates! Pirates!” 
“Pirates! Pirates! Run! Run!” came 
from land. 
“Pirates! Pirates! Swim! Swim!” 
sounded from the sea. 
“Pirates! Pirates! Fly! Fly!” was 
echoed in the air. 
All was confusion and noise, and in the 
midst of the commotion somewhere, alone, 
was Baby Laughing Loon. 
Perhaps we believe that there are no longer 
pirates on the sea, but that is a mistake. 
