168 THE HISTORY OS 



believe me. But jest you hatcli out that 'ere, and you '11 

 see TTOt '11 come of it.' 



" ' But they must eat a great deal ? ' said Sap. , 



" ' Scarcely anything,' replied the mariner; 'that 'a the 

 beauty on 'em. Don't eat as much aa Bantams.' 



" 'Are they good layers ? ' 



" ' You can't help 'em laying,' replied the seaman, 

 enthusiastically. 'They lay one egg every week-day, and 

 two Sundays.' 



" ' But when do they set? ' queried Green. 



" ' They don't set at all. They lays their eggs in damp, 

 hot places, and natur' does the rest. The chicks take keer 

 of themselves as soon as they 're out of the shell.' 



"'Damp, hot place! 'said Sap. 'My Eccaleobion is 

 the very thing, and my artificial sheep-skin mother will 

 bring 'em up to a charm. My friend, what will you take 

 for your egg?', 



" ' Cap'n,' said the mariner, solemnly, ' if I was going to 

 stay ashore, I would n't take a hundred dollars for it ; but, 

 as I 've shipped ag'in, and sail directly, you shall have it for 

 forty.' 



"The forty dollars were instantly paid, and the hen- 

 fancier retired with his prize, his conscience smiting him for 

 having robbed a poor, hard-working sailor. 



" 0, how he watched the egg -hatching machine whik 

 that extraordinary egg was undergoing the steanung pro- 



