the dome of St. Maria Rotunda in Rome. Their
oval eyes opened more widely on the universe; a fleshy nose clothed the
two clefts of their nostrils; their beaks were changed into mouths, and
from their mouths went forth speech; their necks grew short and thick;
their wings became arms and their claws legs; a restless soul dwelt
within the breast of each of them.

However, there remained with them some traces of their first nature.
They were inclined to look sideways; they balanced themselves on their
short thighs; their bodies were covered with fine down.

And Mael gave thanks to the Lord, because he had incorporated these
penguins into the family of Abraham.

But he grieved at the thought that he would soon leave the island to
come back no more, and that perhaps when he was far away the faith
of the penguins would perish for want of care like a young and tender
plant.

And he formed the idea of transporting their island to the coasts of
Armorica.

"I know not the designs of eternal Wisdom," said he to himself. "But if
God wills that this island be transported, who could prevent it?"

And the holy man made a very fine cord about forty feet long out of the
flax of his stole. He fastened one end of the cord round a point of rock
that jutted up through the sand of the shore and, holding the other end
of the cord in his hand, he entered the stone trough.

The trough glided over the sea and towed Penguin Island behind it; after
nine days' sailing it approached the Breton coast, bringing the island
with it.

BOOK II. THE ANCIENT TIMES

I. THE FIRST CLOTHES

One day St. Mael was sitting by the seashore on a warm stone that he
found. He thought it had been warmed by the sun and he gave thanks
to God for it, not knowing that the Devil had been resting on it. The
apostle was waiting for the monks of Yvern who had been commissioned to
bring a freight of skins and fabrics to clothe the inhabitants of the
island of Alca.

Soon he saw a monk called Magis coming ashore and carrying a chest upon
his back. This monk enjoyed a great reputation for holiness.

When he had drawn near to the old man he laid the chest on the ground
and wiping his forehead with the back of his sleeve, he said:

"Well, father, you wish then to clothe these penguins?"

"Nothing is more needful, my son," said the old man. "Since they have
been incorporated into the family of Abraham these penguins share the
curse of Eve, and they kno