you are mistaking the state of
the case altogether. You will be surprised to learn that the total of
people on the island is double that. It is twenty-two."

"Twenty-two!" exclaimed the captain; "twenty-two people on this island?
What do you mean?"

"The opportunity has not occurred," answered Ben Zoof, "for me to tell
you before, but I have had company."

"Explain yourself, Ben Zoof," said Servadac. "What company have you
had?"

"You could not suppose," replied the orderly, "that my own unassisted
hands could have accomplished all that harvest work that you see has
been done."

"I confess," said Lieutenant Procope, "we do not seem to have noticed
that."

"Well, then," said Ben Zoof, "if you will be good enough to come with me
for about a mile, I shall be able to show you my companions. But we must
take our guns."

"Why take our guns?" asked Servadac. "I hope we are not going to fight."

"No, not with men," said Ben Zoof; "but it does not answer to throw a
chance away for giving battle to those thieves of birds."

Leaving little Nina and her goat in the gourbi, Servadac, Count
Timascheff, and the lieutenant, greatly mystified, took up their guns
and followed the orderly. All along their way they made unsparing
slaughter of the birds that hovered over and around them. Nearly every
species of the feathered tribe seemed to have its representative in that
living cloud. There were wild ducks in thousands; snipe, larks, rooks,
and swallows; a countless variety of sea-birds--widgeons, gulls, and
seamews; beside a quantity of game--quails, partridges, and woodcocks.
The sportsmen did their best; every shot told; and the depredators fell
by dozens on either hand.

Instead of following the northern shore of the island, Ben Zoof cut
obliquely across the plain. Making their progress with the unwonted
rapidity which was attributable to their specific lightness, Servadac
and his companions soon found themselves near a grove of sycamores and
eucalyptus massed in picturesque confusion at the base of a little hill.
Here they halted.

"Ah! the vagabonds! the rascals! the thieves!" suddenly exclaimed Ben
Zoof, stamping his foot with rage.

"How now? Are your friends the birds at their pranks again?" asked the
captain.

"No, I don't mean the birds: I mean those lazy beggars that are shirking
their work. Look here; look there!" And as Ben Zoof spoke, he pointed
to some scythes, and sickles, and other implements of husbandr