First had the men clustered on the rigging like bees; then at the word to lay out they fearlessly extended themselves along the yard-arm, and whilst they took in the reefs the ship pitched and rolled so heavily that one felt anxious for their safety: but there they swung securely between high heaven and the sea.
SEA-BIRDS.
The sea-birds held their holiday in the stormy gale.

The lordly and graceful Albatross, whose motion is a very melody, swept screaming by upon the blast.

The smaller Cape pigeons followed us fast, passing and repassing across the vessel's track.

At last one of them spies a fragment on the waters, which has been thrown overboard: a moment it hovers above, then plunges down.

But the other birds have seen it too; and all, pouncing on the spot, move their wings confusedly and seem to run along the waters with a rapid and eager motion.