VERY MUCH FRIGHTENED.

23

the iron bars of the cage with such force that, had they not been very strong, it must have broken them. As it was, they shook and rattled so that pieces of mortar fell from the stones. Tommy shrieked; and, fortunately for himself, fell back and tumbled head over heels, or the lion's paws would have reached him. Captain Osborn and Mr. Seagrave ran up to Tommy, and picked him up: he roared with fright as soon as he could fetch his breath, while the lion stood at the bars, lashing his tail, snarling and showing his enormous fangs.

"Take me away-take me on board the ship," cried Tommy, who was terribly frightened.

"What did you do, Tommy?" said Captain Osborn.

"I won't throw any more stones, Mr. Lion; I won't indeed," cried Tommy, looking terrified towards the animal.

Mr. Seagrave scolded Tommy well for his foolish conduct, and by degrees he became more composed; but he did not recover himself until they had walked some distance away from the lion's den.

They then looked at the other animals which were to be seen; Tommy keeping a most respectful

24

RETURN ON BOARD.

distance from every one of them. He wouldn't even go near to a Cape sheep with a broad tail.

When they had seen every thing, they went back to the gentleman's house to dinner; and, after dinner, they returned on board, when Tommy's adventure with the lion was told to his mother, who declared that she never should be able to trust him out of her sight.

THE following morning the fresh water and provisions were received on board, and once more the Pacific stretched her broad canvas to the winds, and there was every prospect of a rapid voyage, as for many days she continued her passage with a fair wind and flowing sheet. But this did not continue: it fell calm, and remained so for nearly three days, during which not a breath of

wind was to be seen on the wide expanse of water; all nature appeared as if in repose, except that now and then an albatross would drop down at some distance from the stern of the vessel, and as he swam lazily along with his wings half furled, pick up the fragments of food which had been thrown over the side.

"What great bird is that, Ready?" inquired

William.

"It is an albatross, Master William, the largest

WONDERFUL PROVISION OF NATURE.

27

sea-bird we have.

Their wings are very long.

I have seen them shot, and they have measured eleven feet from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other when the wings have been spread out." "It is the first one that I have seen," said William.

"Because you seldom meet them north of the Cape, sir people do say that they go to sleep on the wing, balancing themselves high up in the air."

'Papa," said William, turning to Mr. Seagrave, who stood by, "why is it that one bird can swim and another cannot? You recollect when Tommy drove the hens into the large pond, they flounced about, and their feathers became wet, and would support them no longer, and then they were drowned. Now, how does a sea-bird contrive to remain so long on the water?"

"Because a sea-bird, William, is provided with a sort of oil, on purpose to anoint the outside of its feathers, and this oil prevents the water from penetrating them. Have you not observed the ducks on shore dressing their feathers with their bills? They were then using this oil to make their feathers waterproof."

"How odd!"

"Don't say how odd, William; that is not an