Blown to Bits - or, The Lonely Man of Rakata by R. M. (Robert Michael) Ballantyne
page 41 of 478 (08%)
page 41 of 478 (08%)
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graceful fronds of the palm-trees admiring the exquisite view, eating
and drinking cocoa-nuts. "I suppose you have plenty of other kinds of food besides this?" said Nigel. "Oh yes, plenty. Most of the fish in our lagoon be good for eating, and so also the crawbs, and we have turtle too." "Indeed! How _do_ you catch the turtle? Another nut, please.--Thank you." "The way we gets turtle is by the men diving for them and catching them in the water. We has pigs too--plenty, and the wild birds are some very nice."[1] When the artists had finished they proceeded to the shore, and to their surprise and amusement found the cockleshell in possession of a piratical urchin of about four years of age in a charmingly light state of clothing. He was well known to Kathleen, and it turned out that, having seen the cockle start at too great a distance to be hailed, and having set his heart on joining in the excursion, he had watched their movements, observed their landing on the islet--which was not far from the main circlet of land--and, running round till he came opposite to it, swam off and got into the boat. Being somewhat tired he had lain down to rest and fallen sound asleep. On the way home this urchin's sole delight was to lean over the bow and watch the fish and coral groves over which they skimmed. In this he was imitated by Nigel who, ungallantly permitting his companion to row, also |
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