2 BULLETIN No. 34. 



cause I could write her name in Greek, an J he confiJeJ to me 

 that he had told her about the little " Rough birds." 



Three times a week the tug went up to Beaufort for gro- 

 ceries, etc., and the little birds seemed to think it was a pleasure 

 trip for their special enjoyment. In town they tried to make 

 friends with the Sparrows about the wharf, and came near hav- 

 ing a pitched battle over some building material one day, but their 

 watchful guardian scattered the contestants and brought away 

 half a bucket full of rubbish for them to select from in peace. 



Then there were eggs at last. When John tried to peep 

 at them, the little hen " bit him " and he had the finger to show 

 for it too. She was " scrabbich too much " he said. Trouble 

 was nearby. A- big derelict was drifting around somewhere 

 about Cape Romain and several ships had narrowly missed dis- 

 aster by it. The Hercules was ordered to put to sea, fmd it and 

 blow it up. Away she went bright and early one morning, and 

 was gone five days. When she came back a very dragged 

 looking little Swallow was on the truck above the pennant. The 

 other, Johnny had tucket away somewhere below. When the 

 first big sea struck her down on the bar, Johnny had pulled out 

 the plug and rescued the little mother, but her eggs and nest 

 were past his aid. A day or two they mourned around, but soon 

 set up housekeeping again in the same place. All went well and 

 a young brood tried their wings from the rail of the Hercules but 

 never came back. The same little pair, much more sober and 

 sedate now and with much less chatter than in their younger 

 days, at once began to renovate their old quarters. But the 

 Hercules was ordered to Norfolk with all her crew. When she 

 started off gayly that morning with much saluting of whistles 

 and all her gay bunting flying, do you suppose those wise little 

 birds went with her .-' No indeed. 1 became Johnny Greek's 

 residuary legatee. For they came on board the Nantucket, 

 made a careful survey and then took up their residence in one 

 of the peep holes of the conning tower. Wiien the Nantucket 

 in tiu'n was taken away, they were at some fashionable winter 

 resort in the tropies. 1 look for them back this Spring. The 

 Accomac has just as good haWse-pipes as those they liked so 

 well on the Hercules. 



W. J. HOXIE, Beaufort, S. C. 



