and.

A cursory glance was also given to the movements of the curious little
rock hoppers and petrels. These made burrows in the ground under the
basaltic debris at the foot of the cliffs, just like rabbits, popping in
and out of their subterranean retreats in the same way as people
travelling in the American backwoods have noticed the "prairie dogs" do;
but, both the brothers, as well as the men from the _Pilot's Bride_,
were too busy getting the hut finished while daylight lasted and
carrying up the stores from the beach to the little building afterwards,
to devote much time to anything else.

When, too, the captain and seamen returned on board and the ship sailed,
leaving Fritz and Eric alone, they had quite enough to occupy all their
time with unpacking their things and preparing for the night, without
thinking of the penguins; although they could hear their confused
barking noise in the distance, long after nightfall, above the singing
of the wind overhead through the waterfall gully and the dull roar of
the surf breaking against the western side of the coast. The brothers,
however, were too tired to keep awake long, soon sinking into a heavy
sleep that was undisturbed till the early morning.

But, when day broke, the penguins would not allow their existence to be
any longer forgotten, the brothers being soon made aware of their
neighbourhood.

Eric, the sailor lad, accustomed to early calls at sea when on watch
duty, was the first to awake.

"Himmel!" he exclaimed, stretching his arms out and giving a mighty kick
out with his legs so as to thoroughly rouse himself. He fancied that he
heard the mate's voice calling down the hatchway, while summoning the
crew on deck with the customary cry for all hands. "What's all the row
about--is the vessel taken aback, a mutiny broken loose, or what?"

"Eh?" said Fritz sleepily, opening his eyes with difficulty and staring
round in a puzzled way, unable at first to make out where he was, the
place seemed so strange.

"Why, whatever is the matter?" repeated Eric, springing up from amongst
the rugs and blankets, which had made them a very comfortable bed. "I
thought I was on board the _Pilot's Bride_ still, instead of here!
Listen to that noise going on outside, Fritz? It sounds as if there
were a lot of people fighting--I wonder if there are any other people
here beside ourselves?"

"Nonsense!" said his brother, turning out too, now thoroughly awake.
"There's no