I
didn't know why till I--I found out t'other day he was blind---stone
blind.
"Some thinks birds don't know nothing, or ain't much account in this
man-world----But, as I was sayin', I lay another course. I'll never
forget one v'y'ge I made on the brigantine _Hermione_. That was 'fore
the day of steam-winches and we carried a big crew--thirty-two men
for'ard and a big after-guard.
"Well, ma'am! Whilst she was hove down in a blow off the Horn an
albatross came aboard. You know what they be--the one bird in all the
seven seas that don't us'ally need a dry spot for the sole of his foot.
If Noah had sent out one from the ark he'd never have come back with
any sprig of promise for the land-hungry wanderers shut up in that
craft.
"'Tis bad luck they do say to kill an albatross. Some sailors claim
ev'ry one o' them is inhabited by a lost soul. I ain't superstitious
myself. I'm only telling you what happened.
"Dunno why that bird boarded us. Mebbe he was hurt some way. Mebbe
'twas fate. But he swooped right inboard, his wing brushing the men at
the wheel.
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