Thalassa remembered all these things; he remembered also how startled they were, the three of them, at the unexpected sound of a kind of throaty chuckle near by, and turned in affright to see a large bird regarding them from the shadow of the rocks--a sea bird with rounded wings, light-coloured plumage, and curiously staring eyes above a yellow beak.

When it saw it was observed it vanished swiftly seaward in noiseless flight.
The division, commenced good-humouredly enough, soon developed the elements of a gamble between Robert Turold and Remington.

They forgot Thalassa's existence as they argued and disputed over the allotment of certain stones.

The foot or so of flat rock became the circumference of their thoughts, ambitions, and passions--their world for the time being.
In that sordid drama of greed Thalassa seemed to have comported himself with greater dignity than his two superiors by birth and education.

He even took it upon himself to reason with them on their folly.