several thicknesses of canvas
strongly tied at every turn. The whole resembled in some degree the
padding which actresses place upon their knees, to prepare them for the
agonies and supplications of the fifth act.

This binding completely accomplished, Gilliatt rose from his stooping
position.

For some moments, while he had been busied in his task, he had had a
confused sense of a singular fluttering in the air.

It resembled, in the silence of the evening, the noise which an immense
bat might make with the beating of its wings.

Gilliatt raised his eyes.

A great black circle was revolving over his head in the pale twilight
sky.

Such circles are seen in pictures round the heads of saints. These,
however, are golden on a dark ground, while the circle around Gilliatt
was dark upon a pale ground. The effect was strange. It spread round the
Great Douvre like the aureole of night.

The circle drew nearer, then retired; grew narrower, and then spread
wide again.

It was an immense flight of gulls, seamews, and cormorants; a vast
multitude of affrighted sea birds.

The Great Douvre was probably their lodging, and they were coming to
rest for the night. Gilliatt had taken a chamber in their home. It was
evident that their unexpected fellow-lodger disturbed them.

A man there was an object they had never beheld before.

Their wild flutter continued for some time.

They seemed to be waiting for the stranger to leave the place.

Gilliatt followed them dreamily with his eyes.

The flying multitude seemed at last to give up their design. The circle
suddenly took a spiral form, and the cloud of sea birds came down upon
"The Man Rock" at the extremity of the group, where they seemed to be
conferring and deliberating.

Gilliatt, after settling down in his alcove of granite, and covering a
stone for a pillow for his head, could hear the birds for a long time
chattering one after the other, or croaking, as if in turns.

Then they were silent, and all were sleeping--the birds upon their rock,
Gilliatt upon his.

VIII

IMPORTUNAEQUE VOLUCRES

Gilliatt slept well; but he was cold, and this awoke him from time to
time. He had naturally placed his feet at the bottom, and his head at
the entrance to his cave. He had not taken the precaution to remove from
his couch a number of angular stones, which did not by any means conduce
to sleep.

Now and then he half-opened his eyes.

At intervals he heard loud