been, and how he had brought with him birds, beasts, moths, and such
strange things as he thought Ernest would like to see. When he had
done, he drew me out into our grounds and said he had a strange thing
to tell me. It seems that he found a piece of white cloth tied to the
foot of a bird which he had struck down with a stick, on which were
these words: "Save a poor soul, who is on the rock from which you may
see the smoke rise."

He thought that this rock could not be far off, and that he ought to
set off at once in search of it.

"I have a thought," said he; "I will tie a piece of cloth, like that I
found, to the leg of the bird, and on it I will write, 'Have faith in
God: help is near.' If the bird goes back to the place from whence it
came, our brief note may reach the eye of the lone one in the rock. At
any rate, it can do no harm, and may do some good."

He at once took the bird, which was an AL-BA-TROSS, tied the strip of
cloth to its foot, and let it go.

"And now," said he, "tell me what you think of this. If we should,
find a new friend, what a source of joy it will be. Will you join me in
the search?"

"To be sure I will," said I; "and so shall the rest; but we will not
yet tell them of this."

They were all glad to take a trip in the large boat, but they could not
make out why we went in such haste.