we
advanced, and began shrieking and uttering loud cries as they hovered
over our heads, disputing our advance. We had literally to defend
ourselves with the boat-stretchers which we carried, and knocked over
several of them while on the wing as they flew towards us. They were
incited, we discovered, to attack us in defence of their young, numbers
of which, from the little gaping nudity just out of the shell to
well-fledged bantlings, covered the ground. There was also a great
number of eggs, many of which were newly laid. Of these we got a large
store, besides half filling the boat with the birds we had killed. In
vain, however, we searched all the island round for water. Not a drop
could we discover. Even the hollows in the rocks were dry. It was
evident that no rain had fallen there for a long time. The blood of the
birds, however, somewhat quenched our thirst. At first Ali would not
touch it, but on seeing me take it, he at length overcame his scruples.
I confess that when we returned to the boat I endeavoured to keep first,
still feeling that he was very likely to leave me. I think, however, I
wronged him there, as he made no attempt to get off without me.

Once more we were steering to the north. All day long I kept a bright
look-out, in the hope of seeing some other island. Two days passed.
Oh, how fearfully did I suffer from thirst during the last of them; I
would have given everything I possessed for a draught of cold water. We
were gliding on during the night, when it seemed to me as if suddenly a
tall grove had sprung out of the water. I rubbed my eyes, and looked,
and looked again. Yes; there could be no doubt of it; we were passing a
palm-covered island. I awoke Ali, who had just before fallen asleep.
To land at night was dangerous. However some risk must be run. We
therefore continued close to the shore, in the hope of finding some
sheltered bay into which we might run the boat. The dawn was just
breaking, and at length, with the help of daylight, we discovered a
place where we thought we could venture to land. We ran in on a soft
white sand; but the sea following, almost filled the boat with water,
and we had to jump out and haul her up to escape a second wave, which
came rolling slowly in after the first. So eager were we to find water,
that the instant we had hauled the boat up out of reach of the seas, we
began running along the beach.

The island was a small one, with numerous p