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180 THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON |
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we had several advantages. Immense turtles were often seen on the shore, where they deposited their eggs in the sand, and these we appropriated. Sea-lobsters, oysters, and many other smaller fishes we could catch in any number.
One morning at some distance from the shore the water seemed in a state of commotion; many birds hovered over it, sometimes they darted along the surface of the water, sometimes rose in the air, flying in a circle, pursuing each other in every direction. At first we were much puzzled by this, but at last I guessed what it meant, and exclaimed that it was a shoal of herrings about to enter Deliverance Bay.
By this time the shoal of herrings were nearing us. They made a loud rustling noise in the water, leaping over each other, and displaying their silver scales. We all rushed into the water; the boys used the largest gourds as pails, dipping them in and bringing them out full of fish. These they emptied into the shattered old tubs that had once formed our boat. When we were all exhausted with thf hard work the shoal passed onward.
Then we had the disagreeable task of cleaning and salting our catch before us. Luckily, we had now plenty of salt, and, as we all joined in the |
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