14 SPOET IN NORTH AMERICA. 



house, but he principally occupied himself with 

 making garlands of sea-weed, plaiting rush mats, or 

 picking up shells to make bracelets and necklaces 

 for his sister. Frequently he was to be found lying 

 under a rock behind the paternal hut, with his 

 eyes fixed upon the white sails of some ship, or 

 on the tide, watching the swarms of blue bream, 

 bass, or vagabond bonitos. Sometimes, with the 

 help of a jug, the child fished up the algae, or sea- 

 weeds, which the storms had torn up from the 

 submerged pastures of the sea, and thrown up 

 upon the shore. This was the only work which 

 Ben could ever accustom himself to, and both his 

 sister and brothers loved him so much that they 

 could never find it in their hearts to reproach him 

 for his instinctive idleness. 



From the first time I saw him, Ben conceived a 

 fondness for me, although he was usually very 

 timid on the appearance of any stranger upon that 

 desert shore. The second time I paid a visit to the 

 island, he entreated me to spend a few days with 

 him. I consented, and all the more readilj^, be- 

 cause Ben promised to show me plentj^ of fishes, 

 birds, and animals of which I had no acquaint- 

 ance. 



And really the little fellow did not deceive me. 

 He knew every habitat, and could climb up the 

 rocks, and lay his hand upon the penguin's eggs 

 without frightening the parent as she sat upon 



