One of Davy 's friends was the great lamp , which was lighted at sunset , and burnt all night , to guide the ships into the harbor . To Dan it was only a lamp ; but to the boy it seemed a living thing , and he loved and tended it faithfully . Every day he helped Dan clear the big wick , polish the brass work , and wash the glass lantern which protected the flame . Every evening he went up to see it lighted , and always fell asleep , thinking , `` No matter how dark or wild the night , my good Shine will save the ships that pass , and burn till morning . '' Davy 's second friend was Nep , the Newfoundland , who was washed ashore from a wreck , and had never left the island since . Nep was rough and big , but had such a loyal and loving heart that no one could look in his soft brown eyes and not trust him . He followed Davy 's steps all day , slept at his feet all night , and more than once had saved his life when Davy fell among the rocks , or got caught by the rising tide . But the dearest friend of all was a sea-gull . Davy found him , with a broken wing , and nursed him carefully till he was well ; then let him go , though he was very fond of `` Little Gulliver , '' as he called him in fun . But the bird never forgot the boy , and came daily to talk with him , telling all manner of wild stories about his wanderings by land and sea , and whiling away many an hour that otherwise would have been very lonely . Old Dan was Davy 's uncle , -- a grim , gray man , who said little , did his work faithfully , and was both father and mother to Davy , who had no parents , and no friends beyond the island . That was his world ; and he led a quiet life among his playfellows , -- the winds and waves . He seldom went to the main land , three miles away ; for he was happier at home . He watched the sea-anemones open below the water , looking like fairy-plants , brilliant and strange . He found curious and pretty shells , and sometimes more valuable treasures , washed up from some wreck . He saw little yellow crabs , ugly lobsters , and queer horse-shoes with their stiff tails . Sometimes a whale or a shark swam by , and often sleek black seals came up to bask on the warm rocks . He gathered lovely sea-weeds of all kinds , from tiny red cobwebs to great scalloped leaves of kelp , longer than himself . He heard the waves dash and roar unceasingly ; the winds howl or sigh over the island ; and the gulls scream shrilly as they dipped and dived , or sailed away to follow the ships that came and went from all parts of the world . With Nep and Gulliver he roamed about his small kingdom , never tired of its wonders ; or , if storms raged , he sat up in the tower , safe and dry , watching the tumult of sea and sky .
Often in long winter nights he lay awake , listening to the wind and rain , that made the tower rock with their violence ; but he never was afraid , for XXXXX nestled at his feet , Dan sat close by , and overhead the great lamp shone far out into the night , to cheer and guide all wanderers on the sea .
Dan Nep Newfoundland evening lobsters night sea-gull second shark storms