eir friends. They did not forget also
to stuff their pockets full of pears. Well pleased with the result of
their excursion, they returned to the settlement.

The admiral, who set an example of activity to all the rest, undertook
an expedition to visit the neighbouring islands, giving leave to Gilbert
and Fenton to accompany him. As they pulled along, they saw a number of
birds flying towards a small island. On landing, they discovered a vast
number of eggs, the size of hens' eggs, which had been laid upon the
sand, the heat of which apparently assisted to hatch them. The birds
were so tame that they allowed the men to come among them without
moving, so that they could be knocked down with sticks. In a short time
a thousand birds were caught, and as many eggs, so that the boat was
loaded almost to her gunwale. Here was a further supply of welcome
food, adding to the variety of that already obtained. One night, the
boats returning from an expedition, the crews landed on an island to
cook their supper, when, greatly to their surprise, they found
themselves surrounded by birds which perched on their heads and arms, so
as to almost cover them, many flying directly into the fire.
Notwithstanding the shouts and laughter of the men, the birds came in
still greater numbers, apparently attracted as much by the noise as the
light, while they answered the shouts by a curious hooting; from which
reason, and from their blindness, the men called them sea-owls. After
this, the boats were frequently sent over, and by simply waving, a
firebrand, sea-fowls invariably collected round them, so that they in a
short time could kill as many with their sticks as would fill the boats.

Not far off from the settlement was a sandy beach. Gilbert and his
ever-constant companions were one evening returning homewards, when they
caught sight of a creature crawling out of the sea. They hid themselves
to watch what it would do; another and another followed, when, making
their way up to a dry part of the beach, they were seen to stir up the
sand, and to remain for some time at the spot. Vast numbers of others
followed, and continued coming, till darkness prevented their being
distinguished. Although neither of the lads had seen turtles, they
guessed what they were, and, rushing out of their hiding-place, were
quickly in their midst, endeavouring to catch some of them; but the
creatures bit at their legs, and they, not knowing the art of tur