for instruction.
I had learnt little from Jackson--indeed, as regards the true nature of
the Christian religion, I may say, nothing at all. I do not believe
that he knew anything about it himself. It is true that the precepts in
the New Testament struck me, and that I was more interested about Our
Saviour than anybody else; but I could not comprehend him, or his
mission. In short, I read in darkness; and I may say that I almost knew
the Bible by heart without understanding it.--How could I? How many
thousands are there who do the same, without having an excuse to offer
for their blindness!

At last the time for taking the birds arrived, and I had then sufficient
employment to keep me from being melancholy. I collected quite as many
as we had done when Jackson and I had to be provided for; and with my
new knives my labour was comparatively easy. As soon as I had completed
my provision, I went back to take the young birds which already I had
selected and left for that purpose. It was high time, for I found that
when I went to take them they were ready to fly. However, after a good
battle with the old birds (for I had taken six young ones--two from each
nest, which arrayed a force of six old ones against me, who fought very
valiantly in defence of their offspring), I succeeded in carrying them
off, but followed by the old birds, who now screamed and darted close to
me as they came pursuing me to the cabin. As soon as I got safe back, I
took the young birds into the cabin, tying each of them by the leg with
a piece of fishing-line, and the other end of the line I fastened to
some pieces of rock which I had collected ready on the platform outside
of the cabin. The old birds continued to persecute me till it was dark,
and then they went away, and I, tired with my day's labour, was not
sorry to go to sleep.

When I woke up the next morning, I found the old birds on the platform,
in company with the young ones, I presume trying to persuade them to fly
away with them; but the lines on their legs prevented that. They did
not leave at my approach for some little while; at last they all took
wing, and went off to sea; but in the course of a few minutes they
returned with some small fish in their mouths, with which they fed their
young ones. They continued to do this for the two following days, when
there was a general break up, announcing the departure of the main body,
which, after much soaring and wheeling in the air