from the valley towards the tranquil sky.

And he said to Bulloch:

"I notice with sadness, my son, that since they became men the
inhabitants of this island act with less wisdom than formerly. When they
were birds they only quarrelled during the season of their love affairs.
But now they dispute all the time; they pick quarrels with each other
in summer as well as in winter. How greatly have they fallen from that
peaceful majesty which made the assembly of the penguins look like the
Senate of a wise republic!

"Look towards Surelle, Bulloch, my son. In yonder pleasant valley a
dozen men penguins are busy knocking each other down with the spades and
picks that they might employ better in tilling the ground. The women,
still more cruel than the men, are tearing their opponents' faces with
their nails. Alas! Bulloch, my son, why are they murdering each other in
this way?"

"From a spirit of fellowship, father, and through forethought for
the future," answered Bulloch. "For man is essentially provident and
sociable. Such is his character and it is impossible to imagine it apart
from a certain appropriation of things. Those penguins whom you see are
dividing the ground among themselves."

"Could they not divide it with less violence?" asked the aged man. "As
they fight they exchange invectives and threats. I do not distinguish
their words, but they are angry ones, judging from the tone."

"They are accusing one another of theft and encroachment," answered