Everyone being impatient for breakfast that work might be begun at
once, the cow and goats were milked, and, having enjoyed a comfortable
meal of biscuit boiled in milk, I prepared to start for the wreck, in
order to obtain planks for the proposed bridge.
Ernest as well as Fritz accompanied me, and we were soon within the
influence of the current, and were carried swiftly out to sea. Fritz
was steering, and we had no sooner passed beyond the islet at the
entrance of the bay, so as to come in sight of its seaward beach, than
we were astonished to see a countless multitude of sea-birds, gulls and
others, which rose like a cloud into the air, disturbed by our
approach, and deafened us by their wild and screaming cries.
Fritz caught up his gun, and would have sent a shot among them had I
permitted it. I was very curious to find out what could be the great
attraction for all this swarm of feathered fowl; and, availing myself
of a fresh breeze from the sea, I set the sail and directed our course
towards the island.
The swelling sail and flying pennant charmed Ernest, while Fritz bent
his keen eyes eagerly towards the sandy shore, where the flocks of
birds were again settling.
Presently he shouted, `Aha, now I see what they are after! They have
got a huge monster of a fish there, and a proper feast they are making!
Let's have a nearer look at it, father!'
We could not take our boat very close in, but we managed to effect a
landing at a short distance from the festive scene; and, securing the
raft by casting a rope round a large stone, we cautiously drew near the
object of interest.
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