our oar, Peterkin.--Up with the
mast, Ralph; I'll see to the sail. Mind your helm; look out for
squalls!"

This last speech was caused by the sudden appearance of a dark-blue line
on the horizon, which, in an incredibly short space of time, swept down
on us, lashing up the sea in white foam as it went. We presented the
stern of the boat to its first violence, and in a few seconds it
moderated into a steady breeze, to which we spread our sail and flew
merrily over the waves. Although the breeze died away soon afterwards,
it had been so stiff while it lasted that we were carried over the
greater part of our way before it fell calm again; so that when the
flapping of the sail against the mast told us that it was time to resume
the oars, we were not much more than a mile from Penguin Island.

"There go the soldiers!" cried Peterkin as we came in sight of it. "How
spruce their white trousers look this morning! I wonder if they will
receive us kindly?--D'you think they are hospitable, Jack?"

"Don't talk, Peterkin, but pull away, and you shall see shortly."

As we drew near to the island, we were much amused by the manoeuvres and
appearance of these strange birds. They seemed to be of different
species: for some had crests on their heads, while others had none; and
while some were about the size of a goose, others appeared nearly as
large as a swan. We also saw a huge albatross soaring above the heads
of the penguins. It was followed and surrounded by numerous flocks of
sea-gulls. Having approached to within a few yards of the island, which
was a low rock, with no other vegetation on it than a few bushes, we lay
on our oars and gazed at the birds with surprise and pleasure, they
returning our gaze with interest. We now saw that their soldierlike
appearance was owing to the stiff erect manner in which they sat on
their short legs--"bolt-upright," as Peterkin expressed it. They had
black heads, long, sharp beaks, white breasts, and bluish backs. Their
wings were so short that they looked more like the fins of a fish, and
indeed we soon saw that they used them for the purpose of swimming under
water. There were no quills on these wings, but a sort of scaly
feathers, which also thickly covered their bodies. Their legs were
short, and placed so far back that the birds, while on land, were
obliged to stand quite upright in order to keep their balance; but in
the water they floated like other water-fowl. At first w