The Young Emigrants; Madelaine Tube; the Boy and the Book; and Crystal Palace | Page 3

sky, think what danger they were in! Such a voyage as
ours, they could never have ventured on."
"Listen!" cried Mrs. Lee, "do you know, I fancy I hear the twittering of
birds."

"Yes, ma'am, and no mistake," said the mate, who was pacing the deck,
near them, wrapped up in a great dreadnaught coat, and occasionally
stopping to look up at the sails, or at the compass, or over the ship's
side; "Mother Carey's chickens are out in good numbers to-night."
"Are they not a sign of rather rough weather, Mr. James?" asked Mr.
Lee.
"Why, so some say, sir; but I have heard them night after night in as
smooth a sea and light a wind as you would wish for."
"What a funny name they have," said Annie. "I wonder it they are
pretty."
"Can we catch them?" asked Tom, eagerly.
"I have caught them," said Mr. James, "but it was many years ago, and
perhaps they have grown wiser; but we can try if you like. Only
remember, no killing; we sailors think it very unlucky!"
"It would be very cruel, because very useless," said Mrs. Lee; "but are
they not also called Stormy Petrels?"
"Yes, ma'am, in books, I believe; but come, Tom, fetch some good
strong cotton, such as your mother sews with, and I will show you how
to catch some of Old Mother Carey's brood."
Off ran Tom, and soon returned with a reel from Annie's work-box; Mr.
James fastened together at one end a number of very long needlefulls,
which he tied to the stern of the vessel, where they were blown about
by the wind in all directions. Tom and Annie were very curious to
know how these flying strands could possibly catch birds, but their
father and mother could not explain, and Mr. James seemed determined
to keep the secret. So they had no alternative but to await the event. As
they leaned over the stern to fasten their threads, they were surprised to
see the frothy waves which the vessel left behind shine with a bright
clear light, and yet the moon cast the great black shadow of the ship
over that part of the sea. Their astonishment was increased, when their

father told them that this luminous appearance was produced by a
countless number of insects, whose bodies gave forth the same kind of
lustre as that of the glow-worm, and Mr. James assured them that he
had seen the whole surface of the ocean, as far as the eye could reach,
glittering with this beautiful light.
"And now, children," said Mrs. Lee, "I think it is bed-time--say good
night to Mr. James."
"And kiss father!" cried Annie, as she jumped at his neck, and was
caught in his ever-ready arms.
The children were beginning to doubt Mr. James's power of catching
Stormy Petrels, when early one morning, as they were dressing, they
heard the three knocks he always gave on the deck when he wanted to
show them something. They hurried up, and to their delight found
him-untwisting the cotton strands from the wings of a brownish-black
bird, which had entangled itself in them during the night.
"Oh! what a funny little thing!" cried Annie; "what black eyes! and
what black legs it has!"
"Is that one of Mother Carey's chickens?" asked Tom; "I thought they
were much larger."
"Yes," replied Mr. James, "this is one of the old lady's fowls, and a fine
one, too; her's are the smallest web-footed birds known. Just feel how
plump it is--almost fat enough for a lamp."
"For a lamp!" cried Tom. "What do you mean, Mr. James?"
"Just what I say. Master Tom. I once touched at the Faroe Islands, and
saw Petrels often used as lamps there. The people draw a wick through
their bodies, which is lighted at the mouth; they are then fixed upright,
and burn beautifully."
"How curious they must look!" said Annie.

"Rather so; but now watch this one running on the deck; it can't fly
unless we help it by a little toss up such as the waves would give it."
The odd-looking little thing, whose eyes, beak, and legs were as black
and bright as jet, ran nimbly but awkwardly up and down, to the great
amusement of the children. Annie made haste to fetch her mother and
father, George, and even Willie, who laughed and clapped his hands,
and cried, "Pretty, pretty!" At length Mr. James thought the stranger
had shown himself quite long enough, so taking it up, he threw it into
the air, and it disappeared over the ship's side. Every one ran to get a
look at it on its restless home, but in vain--it could be seen nowhere.
Mrs. Lee, however, was surprised by the color of the water