tly by
nature, if we were not so thoroughly accustomed to them! Storm, and
noise, and war of elements last night,--to-night, silence, calm, and
peace! At present, darkness profound,--in half an hour or so the moon
will rise, and the sands will be like a sheet of silver. This moment,
quiet repose,--a few moments hence, it may be, all will be turmoil and
wildest action--that is, if the turtles come."

"True," assented Lawrence, "and we may add yet another illustration: at
one moment, subjects of contemplation most sublime,--next moment,
objects the most ridiculous."

He pointed as he spoke to Quashy, whose grinning teeth and glaring eyes
alone were distinctly visible in the background of ebony. He was
creeping on his hands and knees, by way of rendering himself, if
possible, less obtrusive.

"Massa," he said, in a hoarse yet apologetic whisper, "I's come to ax if
you t'ink de turtles am comin' at all dis night."

"How can I tell, Quash, you stupid fellow? Get away to your own ajoupa,
and keep quiet. I wonder the Indians haven't let fly a poisoned arrow
at you. Go,--and have patience."

Poor Quashy shut his mouth and his eyes--it was as if three little
lights had gone out--while his dusky frame melted into its native gloom.

No sound was to be heard on the sand-flats after that until about
midnight, when the moon appeared on the horizon. Just then a sound was
heard on the river.

"Here they come," whispered Pedro.

The sound increased. It was like a swirling, hissing noise. Soon they
could see by the increasing light that the water of the river seemed
actually to boil. Immediately afterwards, thousands of turtles came
tumbling clumsily out of the water, and spread themselves over the
flats.

Evidently egg-laying was no joke with them. The well-known sluggishness
of the creatures was laid aside for this great occasion, and wonderful
activity marked their every movement from first to last. You see, they
had to manage the business in a wholesale sort of fashion, each turtle
having from thirty to forty eggs, or more, to deposit in the sand,--on
which sand, in conjunction with the sun, devolved the duty of subsequent
maternal care.

That the creatures acted on pre-arranged principles was evident from the
fact that they worked in separate detachments, each working-party
devoting its energies to the digging of a trench two feet deep, four
feet broad, and sometimes 200 yards long. Their zeal was amazing;