258 Life of Audubon. 



brated islets. A few hotn-s before sunset the joyful cry 

 of ' land ' announced our approach to them, but as the 

 breeze was fresh, and the pilot was well acquainted with 

 all the windings of the channels, we' held on, and dropped 

 anchor before twilight. If you have never seen the sun 

 setting in those latitudes, I would recommend you to 

 make a voyage for that purpose, for I much doubt if, in 

 any other portion of the world, the departure of the orb 

 of day is accompanied with such gorgeous appearances. 

 Look at the great red disc, increased to triple its ordina- 

 ry dimensions. Now it has partially sunk beneath the 

 distant Hne of waters, and with its still remaining half ir- 

 radiates the whole heavens with a flood of light, purpling 

 the far-off clouds that hover over the western horizon. 

 A blaze of refulgent glory streams through the portals of 

 the west, and the masses of vapor assume the semblance 

 of mountains of molten gold. But the sun has now dis- 

 appeared, and from the east slowly advances the gray 

 curtain which night draws over the world. The night- 

 hawk is flapping his noiseless wings in the gentle sea- 

 breeze ; the terns, safely landed, have settled on their 

 nests ; the frigate pelicans are seen wending their way 

 to distant mangroves ; and the brown gannet, in search 

 of a resting-place, has perched on the yard of the vessel. 

 Slowly advancing landward, their heads alone above the 

 water, are observed the heavily-laden turtles, anxious to 

 deposit their eggs in the well-known sands. On the sur- 

 face of the gently rippling stream I dimly see their broad 

 forms as they toil along, while at intervals may be heard 

 their hurried breathings, indicative of suspicion and fear. 

 The moon with her silvery light now illumines the scene, 

 and the turtle having landed, slowly and laboriously 

 drags her heavy body over the sand, her * flappers ' be- 

 ing better adapted for motion in water than on the shore. 

 Up the slope however she works her way, and see how ia- 



