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.