he was a small boy, a group of narwhals were beached and slaughtered by the islanders for their valuable horns. The narwhals cursed them and the boat shipping the islanders and horns to the mainland was sunk, the Birdman's father among them. Next illness and death struck the island, then the plants began to fail, chickens stopped laying and all the islanders left except the Birdman and his mother. Mrs Woodcock had sworn she would not leave her husband's ghost alone, but when the well runs dry she is forced to leave. Before they do, the curse claims the Birdman's hearing, making him deaf. Daniel asks the Birdman to teach him to carve, and soon begins to become expert. One day he tells the two children about a large amount of valuable timber which has washed up on one of the island's shores. The islanders all gather to collect and hide this timber before the coastal authorities arrive and try to claim it for themselves. While searching the island they ask to see in Gracie's attic, where they find nothing except the carved seabird that the Birdman gave Gracie. Jack asks where it came from and Gracie insists that Daniel made it. When Daniel shows several of his new carvings, Jack apologises and the seabird is proudly displayed in their home. The First World War begins, and Gracie's father decides to go and fight in the Navy; as an experienced sailor, he feels it is his duty. As he is the only man to go from Bryher, it leaves Gracie's mother in charge of feeding the two of them. Clem is unable to catch enough fish so Daniel and Gracie take the boat out themselves. Getting lost in a thick fog they accidentally land on Samson, discovering the dry well, the graves of the old islanders and one of the narwhal horns. When they arrive home, Daniel's father is furious as he insists that they have brought a curse back with them. Days later a telegram comes saying that Gracie's father has been lost at sea and is presumed dead. Gracie sees it as the Samson curse and blames herself. The islanders gather around to comfort Clem and Gracie and the Birdman delivers gifts of produce, fish, honey and eggs. Clem suspects that the Birdman has been talking to the children but leaves well alone. After a great storm, Daniel,