les one after
another, and having satisfied my curiosity, I replaced them in the hole
for a future survey. I covered the hole with the board, and put back
the gravel and the feathers into the bed-place. This occupied me about
two hours, and then I again took my former position on the rocks, and
remained in a state of listless inactivity of body and mind the
remainder of that day.

This state of prostration lasted for many days--I may say for weeks,
before it was altogether removed. I could find no pleasure in my books,
which were taken up, and after a few moments laid aside. It was now
within a month of the time that the birds should come to the island. I
was in no want of them for sustenance; there were plenty left, but I
almost loathed the sight of food. The reader may inquire how it was
that I knew the exact time of the arrival of the birds? I reply that
the only reckoning ever kept by Jackson and me was the arrival of the
full moons, and we also made a mark on the rock every time that the moon
was at the full. Thirteen moons were the quantity which we reckoned
from the time of the birds appearing on the island one year, until their
re-appearance the next; and twelve moons had now passed. At length,
tired with everything, tired of myself; and I may say, almost tired of
life, I one day took it into my head that I would take some provisions
with me and a bottle to hold water, and go up the ravine, and cut
firewood which should last me a long while; and that I would remain up
there for several days, for I hated the sight of the cabin and of all
that was near to it. The next day I acted upon this resolution, and
slinging my dry provisions on my shoulder, I set off for the ravine. In
an hour I had gained it; but not being in a hurry to cut wood, I
resolved upon climbing higher up, to see if I could reach the opposite
side of the island; that is, at least, get over the brow of the hill, to
have a good view of it. I continued to climb until I had gained a
smooth grassy spot, which was clear of brushwood; and as I sat down to
rest myself, I observed some blue flowers which I had never seen before;
indeed I did not know that there was a flower on the island. As I
afterwards discovered, they were one of the varieties of Gentianellas.
I looked at them, admired them, and felt quite an affection for them;
they were very pretty, and they were, as well as myself, alone.
Jackson, when I was pointing out the English cott