THE TURTLES OF SAND-lvliY ISLAND. 209 



at Hetera, where we cast anchor in a deep creek, 

 sheltered from every wind. At the far end of the 

 creek we found a tent and a hut built of intertwined 

 foliage, which Downing told me was the home of the 

 ''wreckers." They had just returned from a very 

 fortunate adventurCj which they narrated to us even 

 to the minutest detail. After Downing had intro- 

 duced me to their chief, we sat down to supper. 



The "wreckers" had good store of fish, which 

 they served up with all manner of sauces ; venison 

 steaks had, however, the preference, and there were 

 roast wild ducks and curlews. It will surprise no 

 one that such a meal, set before men whose strong 

 appetites were sharpened by the salt air of the sea, 

 was disposed of in silence until the edge of hunger 

 was taken oil; but when the dessert was set on, con- 

 sisting of bananas and other Bahaman fruits, they 

 began to give toasts and sing. To this day I re- 

 member a verse of one of the wreckers' songs, and it 

 ran somewhat after this fashion : — 



Sparkle flames with gleams of gold, 



From the sea-crag let 'em flash, 

 Let them warn the helmsman bold. 



Lest upon the rock he dash. 

 Wreckers ! lend a hand to save 

 Human life from wat'ry gi-ave ! 

 But whatever we can snatch 



From stern Neptune's gloomy powers, 

 In reward for careful watch, 



Brothers, friends, the treasure's ours. 

 That is the law ! 

 It is the law ! 



