they were just as stupid and uninteresting as they were at first;
however, they never left me, nor indeed showed any intention to leave
me, after the first season of the birds returning to the island. They
were useful but not very ornamental, and not at all interesting to one
who had such an intelligent companion as Nero.

Having new brought up my history, in a few words, until the time
referred to, I come to the narrative of what occurred to produce a
change in my condition. I have said that in the chest there was a
spy-glass, but it had been wetted with salt-water, and was useless.
Jackson had tried to show me how to use it, and had shown me correctly,
but the glasses were dimmed by the wet and subsequent evaporation from
heat. I had taken out all the glasses and cleaned them, except the
field-glass, as it is called; but that being composed of two glasses,
the water had penetrated between them, and it still remained so dull
that nothing could be distinguished through it, at the time that Jackson
was showing me how to use the instrument; it was therefore put on one
side as useless. A year afterwards I took it out, from curiosity, and
then I discovered that the moisture between the two glasses had been
quite dried up, and that I could see very clearly through it, and after
a little practice I could use it as well as anybody else. Still I
seldom did use it, as my eyesight was particularly keen, and I did not
require it; and as for any vessel coming off the island, I had gradually
given up all thoughts of it. It was one evening when the weather was
very rough and the sea much agitated, that I thought I saw something
unusual on the water, about four miles distant. I supposed at first it
might be a spermaceti whale, for numbers used to play round the island
at certain seasons, and I used to watch their blowing and their gambols,
if I may use the term, and Jackson, often told me long stories about the
whale-fisheries; but a ray of the setting sun made the object appear
white, and I ran for the glass, and made out that it was a boat or a
very small vessel, with a sail out, and running before the gale right
down to the island. I watched it till it was dark with much interest,
and with thoughts of various kinds chasing each other; and then I began
to consider what was best to do. I knew that in an hour the moon would
rise, and as the sky was not cloudy, although the wind and sea were
high, I should probably be able to