oft felt hat
over his hand before seizing it. The second prize was landed safely
in the boat and the two explorers pulled back to Ancon. As there were
only two or three fishermen in the entire village beside
themselves, there were plenty of vacant houses in which to put the new
pets, but Paul put them into a room in which he had previously placed
a young condor. When the lashings where taken off the ninas, they
waddled to a corner and sat there.

The children of the sea are a species of penguin. Their bodies are
furnished with a downy covering which is neither hair nor feather.
They stand about two feet eight inches high and have very short, but
very strong legs terminating in web feet. They are of a grey color with
white breast. Their necks are short surmounted by a bird shaped head
with a powerful but stumpy bill, the lower part is V shaped into which
the upper snugly fits. They are also armed with a pair of minute
flippers much of the same conformation as those of a seal and their
eyes are large, round and soft, surrounded by a black circle. They
walk, or rather waddle much after the manner of an over fat man. When
resting, their bodies never touch the ground; but bend over to within
an inch of it, giving them the appearance of doing a very difficult
balancing act, though as a general thing they sit upright.

Paul's prizes were very sullen and refused to take the fish offered
them, so the door was shut and they were left alone with the condor.
That night the Captain and the Peruvian, who slept next door, were
awakened by an awful uproar in the room where the pets were confined.

"Ah," exclaimed Paul, "do you hear that? The condor is killing the
children of the sea."

They were too tired and sleepy to investigate, however, and in a little
while the noises ceased. At daybreak, after their usual plunge in the
surf, they went to ascertain the condition of their pets. To their
amazement they found the condor gasping its last breath, while the
ninas were comfortably pluming themselves in their corner. Two or three
days passed before the ninas could be induced to take food; but they
would snap viciously when approached. At last the male took a small fish
from Paul's hand, and then he knew they were conquered. Both began to
feed and in a few days became the most affectionate pets, following him
around like dogs. They would swim into the breakers with him without
showing the least inclinati