birds,--the owl with the great, big
eyes, and the pelican that had no wings, at least only little stumps
that were hardly an apology for wings. Fred wanted to see the Chinese
junks and the little ship, while William was bent on having the Moorish
gun, the Turkish sword, the Japanese "happy despatch," and all the other
weapons, offensive and defensive, taken down, that he might have a
better view of them. The old man, at all times very ready and willing to
gratify his little friends, was never more so than when he found them so
much interested in the contents of his cabin; for every little curiosity
or treasure there had an association with some period of his eventful
life, and he was never happier than when any one admired what he admired
so much, and thus gave him a chance to talk about it.

"Heyday!" said he, when all the children had spoken and made known their
wishes, "I'm glad you take so kindly to the old man's den; you shall
come down there and look at it whenever you like, only you mustn't toss
the things about too much. Run in now, and make yourselves at home.
I'll be with you in a little while."

So the children set off without another word, and were quickly diving
among the old man's treasures, while the Captain went back to his garden
to finish the hoeing of his cabbages.

When the Captain had completed what he was about, he rejoined the
children; and after a great deal of conversation which there is no need
that we should here repeat, the party at length sobered down as if they
were bent on business, and the Captain, once more drawing his little
friends about him by the open window, again took up the tale.

* * * * *

"Now I told you yesterday," said he, "that the Dean and I had gone
asleep again after all our work and trouble and anxiety, without having
come any nearer to getting up a fire. You have seen that we had enough
to eat and drink, and that I had found a place to shelter us if a storm
came on; but nothing could either of us think of to catch a spark. As
soon as the Dean had opened his eyes, he said: 'Why, this is too bad!
indeed it is,--I thought I had been making a fire.'

"'What with?' I asked.

"'With matches, to be sure,' answered the Dean. 'I thought I had a great
load of them in my pocket.'

"'Then,' said I, 'I'm sure I pity you, to wake up out of such a pleasant
dream; for you'll find no matches here, nor any fire either, nor do I
think we s