on between
Captain Davis and the captain of the menhaden steamer. Tom Joy amused
himself by bargaining for blue-fish, and actually bought three big
flapping specimens for a dollar and a quarter. They were deposited on
the bottom of the "Cornelia," where they leaped painfully up and down,
while the girls retreated for refuge to the upper deck, till Captain
Davis at last caught the fish and stowed them away in his little cabin.
It was not till the last loop of the seine was emptied, the last fish
secured, and the boats were making ready for another cast, that the
"Cornelia" finally glided away; and by that time a soft crimson glow had
gathered in the west and the sun was nearing the horizon edge. The wind
blew more freshly now, and with a zest and coolness which it had not had
earlier in the afternoon.

Captain Davis pointed out to Candace the light-ship anchored in the
offing between Point Judith and Brenton's Reef, and told her how the men
who lived on board of her did not see a face from land for weeks
together sometimes, when winds were stormy and waves rough. Candace
listened eagerly. The rest of the party had gone back to their old
places, but there was not so much chatter now. The dreamy influences of
the hour were felt by every one. Dick Foster was quoting Tennyson in a
low voice to pretty Julia Prime. Berry Joy and Georgie still kept up a
fitful conversation with their cavalier; but Gertrude had grown silent,
and Tom Joy was whistling softly to himself, with his eyes fixed on the
sunset.

The "Cornelia" sped silently seaward. Suddenly they were in the shadow
of a deep cove at the very end of Conanicut; and close by them rose out
of the sea an immense square table of rock, over which, still as it was,
the surge was constantly flinging showers of white spray. The whole top
of this rock was black with large sea-birds. Candace had never imagined
such a sight. The birds seemed crowding each other on every inch of
space. Each moment some of them would rise, wheel in air with wild cries
and screams, and then settle again to dispute for room, while the
seething foam splashed over them; and the incessant flutter of their
wings, the dashing spray, and the long wash of waves at the base of the
rock gave to their place of refuge the effect of movement, so that it
seemed to sway and float in the sea.

"Oh, what a wonderful place!" cried Candace. "Such big birds, and so
many of them,--what do you call them, Captain?"

"Wa