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 Nep 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 . Close by the tower hung the fog-bell , which , being wound up , would ring all night , warningly . One day Dan found that something among the chains was broken ; and , having vainly tried to mend it , he decided to go to the town , and get what was needed . He went once a week , usually , and left Davy behind ; for in the daytime there was nothing to do , and the boy was not afraid to stay . `` A heavy fog is blowing up : we shall want the bell to-night , and I must be off at once . I shall be back before dark , of course ; so take care of yourself , boy , '' said Dan . Away went the little boat ; and the fog shut down over it , as if a misty wall had parted Davy from his uncle .
As it was dull weather , he sat and read for an XXXXX or two ; then fell asleep , and forgot everything till Nep 's cold nose on his hand waked him up .
Gulliver daily horse-shoes hour nights playfellows shark violence week whale