FAR AND NEAR 



my stars for my wakefulness, for there low in the 

 southern horizon hung the Southern Cross, — four 

 large, bright stars, one in each arm of the imaginary 

 cross. I aroused my companion that he, too, might 

 see this splendid spectacle of the southern heavens. 

 It was the first and only view that we got during 

 our stay on the island. This bit of new astronomy 

 made me forget the pests of the sand. It was not 

 long now till daylight, and something Uke an hour's 

 sleep was snatched at the last moment. Before the 

 sun was up I was washed and combed and Hstening 

 to the vocal performances of the mockingbirds. It 

 was not engaging music to me. I do not know how 

 much this West Indian species falls short in musical 

 ability of that of our own mockingbird of the South- 

 ern States, if any. But it was not a songster that I 

 wished to take home with me as I did the solitaire. 

 It was not equal to our catbird's song, and the 

 morning carol of the robin would have made it seem 

 cheap and trivial. It was bantering, hilarious, fes- 

 tive, but it had no sweetness, seriousness, or feeling. 



We had our Primus stove with us sans alcohol, 

 and my patience, even my temper, was sorely tried, 

 and many matches were wasted, in trying to evoke 

 with kerosene oil alone the intense blue flame that 

 crowns success with this stove. But despite the 

 wind, this feat was at last accomplished, and our 

 breakfast of bacon, eggs, tea, and toast was achieved. 



Then we rowed round the pond, and found the 



^5Q 



