114 NIMROD OF THE SEA; OS, 



interrupted drought. Making another inroad on our store 

 of flesh, and slinging our water-bottle over the shoulder, 

 we retraced our steps to the camp, which we reached about 

 noon. We were made more of as lost and found than we 

 really deserved. But we took the petting kindly, and prom- 

 ised to be careful thereafter. With one hundred and fif- 

 teen terrapin of all sizes secured, we then returned to the 

 ship, whose decks were crowded by our sleeping captives, 

 and the cook's galley steamed with a new and savory odor. 

 But no artful mess of the "doctor" seemed to equal our 

 home-made dish on the mountain top. 



On the following day all hands had liberty on shore — fish- 

 ing, hunting seals, to be used in future caps, gathering beau- 

 fnl small shells for a sweetheart's work-basket, and swim- 

 ming, forming the staple amusements of the day. With im- 

 provised spears, we pierced and captured numbers of large 

 skates, or " stingarus," and on a small island to weather of 

 the anchorage we found numbers of large, clumsy land- 

 crabs. The sailors claim that these creatures have power 

 in their claws to strip the husk from the cocoa-nut; but 

 why they should amuse themselves thus is more than I can 

 understand, as they surely can not crack the shell. 



On the next morning, to the song, 



' ' The windlass ply, the cable haul ; 

 With a stamp and a go and a Yo-heaye oh ! 



Onr sails to the winds let fall. 

 Joys of the shore we must forego, 

 To brave the storms, and to seek the foe. 



And win the spoils of victory," 



we brought the anchor to the bows, and stood to the north 

 for Cocos Island, to take in water. The second day out we 

 lay top-sails aback, with two good whales alongside; and 

 after cuttipg-in, we braced forward and stood on such course 



