116 A STRANGE RESTING-PLACE.

great difficulty in obtaining possession of them. [|
carried them to the great cabin, and there, after
having lavished upon them caresses to which they
were rendered insensible by their state of uneasi-
ness, I restored them to liberty. Whether they
foresaw the storm which we encountered the fol-
lowing day, or whether, as no land was in sight,
they were afraid to trust themselves to the open
sea, I know not; but, after a few moments of un-
certain flight, they returned by the same window
whence I had let them fly. From that time they
never quitted the great cabin; and if, when
frightened by any noise, they went out of one of
the stern windows, or by a port, they were sure to
come back by another. Although of different
species, they lived in the greatest harmony. They
played upon those terrible machines which deal
death and destruction at a distance, and it was
upon a cannon even that was placed their little
provision of fresh water and crumbs of bread. It
served them also as a resting-place. Their confi-
dence was unbounded; they fluttered over a table
at which twenty persons, somewhat noisy, were
daily seated, and with their chirping and quick
motion enlivened our monotonous abode. On our
approach to the coast of the island of Candia, our
pretty and interesting navigators hastened to fly
away, and took leave of us by uttering a few shrill