"The child's in its cradle, Mr. Macy," returned Jenkins, who was a wag as
well as the mate. "In my judgment, the best mode of rocking it to sleep
will be by knocking over all these grim chaps that are so plenty in our
neighbourhood."

"Let 'em have it!" cried Macy, making an onset on an elephant, as he
issued the order. In an instant, the rocks at that point of the island
were a scene of excitement and confusion. Hazard, who was near at hand,
succeeded in restraining his own people, but it really seemed as if the
Vineyard-men were mad. A great many seals were killed, it is true; but
twenty were frightened to take refuge in the ocean, where one was slain.
All animals have their alarm cries, or, if not absolutely cries, signals
that are understood by themselves. Occasionally, one sees a herd, or a
flock, take to its heels, or to its wings, without any apparent cause, but
in obedience to some warning that is familiar to their instincts. Thus
must it have been with the seals; for the rocks were soon deserted, even
at the distance of a league from the scene of slaughter, leaving Hazard
and his gang literally with nothing to do, unless, indeed, they returned
to complete some stowage that remained to be done, on board their own
craft.

"I suppose you know, Mr. Macy, all this is contrary to orders," said
Hazard, as he was leading his own gang back towards the cove. "You see I
am obliged to go in and report."

"Report and welcome!" was the answer. "I have no commander but Captain
Daggett;--and, by the way, if you see him, Hazard, just tell him we have
made a glorious morning's work of it."