THE PET-HOUSE. 251 



pet of the doctor, the clanging of its home being 

 heard at all hours. Other pets were a gorgeous 

 purple gallinule and several rails that were blown 

 ashore in a gale of wind, while a pet goat — 

 " Bon " — a white heron, and a sooty tern shared 

 the affections of the whole party. 



The pets increased so in numbers that finally 

 the doctor had a large inclosure made out from 

 the boatswain's quarters, in which various pets 

 were kept, affording much amusement and de- 

 light to their youthful owners. 



Not a day passed but something occurred to 

 form the topic of interesting conversation. Sud- 

 den squalls or storms would drive strange birds 

 ashore, while the following day the beaches 

 would be strewed with shells and the flotsam and 

 jetsam of the gulf. 



One day Tom heard cries of a gull in dis- 

 tress, and was witness to one of the contests of 

 Nature. A wily laughing-gull had alighted on 

 Long John's pelican and, quickly snatching the 

 fish from its bill, soared aloft with cries of de- 

 light; but before it could make way with the 

 prize a man-o'-war bird — another thief — heard 



