I had become accustomed to seeing the dolphin, which I knew by its scars, and missed it whenever it took occasional excursions away from the sloop.

One day, after it had been off some hours, it returned in company with three yellowtails, a sort of cousin to the dolphin.

This little school kept together, except when in danger and when foraging about the sea.

Their lives were often threatened by hungry sharks that came round the vessel, and more than once they had narrow escapes.

Their mode of escape interested me greatly, and I passed hours watching them.