COCOS— THE ISLE OF PIRATES 231 



green the island showed a host of unsuspected ra- 

 vines and peaks, the onrushing downpour fiUing the 

 first and silhouetting the latter, giving depth and 

 perspective to the whole island, before blotting it out. 



About nine o'clock at night the wind arose in 

 earnest and was soon blowing half a gale. All the 

 boats were tied alongside, rocking and pitching in 

 the rising waves. The night was black as ink, with 

 occasional squalls of rain, each followed by an 

 equally brief and even more sinister duration of 

 calm. Our lights were all on and the brilliant glow 

 made the surrounding darkness the more impene- 

 trable. 



Throughout this entire night of storm, boobies 

 by the hundred and noddy terns by the score flocked 

 to the steamer, covering the deck and filling the 

 boats. They seemed to lose all control of themselves 

 when they came within range of the glare from the 

 electric lights. Yet they did not dash into the light, 

 but merely alighted near it and remained quiet, 

 or flopped about and fought with each other. 

 Nothing showed the complete absence of man from 

 this island as much as this. The terrific wind and 

 blinding rain utterly confused the birds. All doors 

 had to be closed, for otherwise they filled the state- 

 rooms and laboratory, and their long, thrashing 

 wings worked havoc until we ousted them. 



Taking a bird by the tip of one wing I would 

 swing it about my head and cast it far into outer 

 darkness, when, like a boomerang, it would right 

 itself, describe a wide circle and return. I tied 

 my handkerchief to the leg of one giant, green- 



