without any nest; and so
faithful were the hens to their trust, that they allowed themselves to
be captured rather than desert them. The most remarkable and beautiful
of those we saw, however, were the frigate-birds, whose nests,
constructed of a few sticks, were seen in all the surrounding trees.
The old birds, as they flew off, inflated their blood-red pouches to the
size of a child's head, looking exactly as if large bladders were
attached to their necks, and not at all improving their appearance,
handsome as they were in other respects. We at once filled our pockets
with eggs; choosing such as looked the freshest. We also knocked down
as many birds as we were likely to require for our dinner and supper.
This discovery raised our spirits, as we had now as much animal food as
we could require.

On our return along the sea-shore, we met with several large crabs. One
big fellow had caught a snake, and was walking off with it wriggling in
his claws, when down pounced a frigate-bird, and carried off both crab
and snake together. Whole armies, too, of soldier-crabs, with their
shells on their backs, were moving about in search of prey, or looking
out for more commodious homes; it being their wise custom not to leave
one home until they have found another. When they neglect this
precaution, their soft tails are nearly sure to be nabbed by one of
their numerous enemies. The snakes, as far as we could judge, were not
venomous; though, as we were not certain of that fact, we agreed that it
would be as well to avoid them. The tropic-birds were the tamest,--or I
should rather say the least aware of the harm we might do them,--and
allowed us to put our hands under them and carry off their eggs without
showing the slightest fear.

We had to hurry back, as the tide was rising, and our retreat might be
cut off.

On reaching the bay where we were cast ashore, we found that Tillard had
made some progress with his forge.

"If I can once get the bellows to work, it will not be long before we
shall have as many nails as we want. But we must have patience, sir,"
he observed to Mudge; "patience will overcome all difficulties."

We none of us were disposed to dispute this; so, just then, being rather
anxious to cook our eggs and birds, I inquired how we were to get a
light to kindle our fire. No one till then had thought of that
important point. We each of us searched in our pockets for flint and
steel, but none were to be