The Advance of Science in the Last Half-Century

l things. I've often seen pictures of the great ugly creatures, and

ed Ben. "We'll start the f

s through a ship's side, and Eric a light smooth-bore, the accuracy of which he had proved by frequent practice. As they would be away all

amed about the interior, and furnished the wreckers with abundant meat; while during the winter the morse, or walrus, and the great Greenland seal paid the beaches reg

not run back to the corral. They then made their way cautiously to the edge of the bank thrown up by the waves

citement, as he pointed to the beach in fro

sense to put into words. "Beauties!" he thought to himself. "W

, their terrible tusks, and their bulging eyes. They looked as ugly as some nightmare vision. Plucky as he was, Eric coul

l take the big fellow to the right, and when I say '

as steady as he drew the musket to his shoulder, and took careful aim at the nose of the walr

een good; for while the remainder of the little pack of walruses lumbered off into the water snorting with terror, the two that had been picked out as targe

ng a good opportunity, put another charge of slugs into the strugglin

sfaction. "We've got them both, and no mistake.

. Drawing a big knife from his belt, Ben approached his walrus to sever the head from the body, Eric standing a little distance off to watch him. They were quite sure the creature was dead; but the i

God's sake!" cri

lrus's head, and his great fangs closed tightly in the soft part where the head joins the neck. Uttering a roar quite equal to the dog's, the morse turned upon his new assailant; but just as he d

a hug that fairly squeezed the breath out of him. Then, without a word, he turned to

you've saved my life, and it's only tit for tat. All right, my lad; so long as there's a

e was evidently quite experienced at the work. They wanted only the tusks, but to get them out in perfect condition, it woul

the afternoon. They both felt that they were now bound to each other by ties of peculiar strength. Eric, uncertain and full of difficulty as to

sy dells abounded with rabbits and the marshy lake and ponds with wild fowl. The rabbit-shooting was really capital sport. The bunni

help; but no suspicion of this fact ever dashed his bright spirit, and not for the world would Eric have hinted it to him. His redeeming quality lay in his retrieving, for he had been carefully trained to fetch and carry, and he qui

forth their funny little whelps. These looked like amphibious puppies as they sprawled about the beach or s

in a pen, that Eric built for him, with constant, kind attention, the captive became so contented with his new life, and so attached to his young master, that he was

tion of fine days to foul is very small on Sable Island. For a whole week at a time the sun would not

contained something valuable, brought it carefully ashore. When he broke it open he was much disgusted to find that it conta

e box carefully away at the back of his bunk, and thenceforth, when compelled to stay indoors, was never without a

uture looked. Ben, of course, could now be relied upon to the uttermost. But while his protection availed so long as they remained upon the island, matters would, no doubt, be different when the t

them and their booty home. This schooner now became the supreme object of his concern. In it he saw his best, if not, indeed, his only hope of deliverance. Many an evening when he seemed deep in his

ot wish to confess that he had no plan himself, or whether he thought it best no

ll see. I'll do my best

ghest hills, peering out across the waves in search of the schooner. They did not know just when to expect her. Indeed, had a date been fixed,

did not make the hot temper of the wreckers any more amiable, and Eric, worried as he was w

ay they were let alone. But when day after day and week after week slipped by, and the schooner did not arrive, the boy began to notice a change. U

the delay of the schooner to strike at Eric. He suggested to the men that the boy's presence was the cause of the vessel's non-appearance. He had brought them ill-luck, for not

eeling, half-fear, half-admiration, that they held toward Ben s

rning in May, the welcome cry of "Sail ho! sail ho!" rung out lustily from

ght. But Evil-Eye, again foiled in his base designs, snarled s

habitants of the island were already on the beach to welcome her. Presently a boat was lowered, and three persons getting in, it was rowed swiftly ashore.

ghly greeted. After the first excitement was over

em, whereupon they shook th

done. We're quite sure

pless solitude, or be taken to Boston, and there got rid of somehow-in such a way that he could give no trouble to the wreckers. On the latter, surrounded although it was