Wisely has it been said that “the king’s name is a tower of strength.”  They who have the law on their side, carry with them a weight of authority that it is not easy to shake by means of pure reasoning on right or wrong.  Men are much inclined to defer to those who are thus armed, legal control being ordinarily quite as effective in achieving a victory, as having one’s “quarrel just.”  In a certain sense, authority indeed becomes justice, and we look to its proper exercise as one of the surest means of asserting what “is right between man and man.”

“The commodore says that the critturs are to be treated delicately,” said Macy, laughing, as he lanced his first seal that morning, a young one of the fur species; “so take up the pet, lads, and lay it in its cradle, while I go look for its mamma.”

A shout of merriment succeeded this sally, and the men were only so much the more disposed to be rebellious and turbulent, in consequence of hearing so much freedom of remark in their officer.

“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.”

“Ay, ay; you will have your hands full enough to-day, Macy; but how will it be to-morrow?”

“Why, just as it has been to-day.  The devils must come up to blow, and we’re sartain of ’em, somewhere along the shore.  This day’s work is worth any two that I’ve seen; since I came upon the island.”