As they neared the rocks, which were bare for about fifty yards from the water's edge, Ready said, "I can tell you now what those white patches on the rocks are, William; they are the places where the sea-birds come to every year to make their nests, and bring up their young. They always come to the same place every year, if they are not disturbed." They soon arrived at the spot, and found it white with the feathers of birds, mixed up with dirt. "I see no nests, Ready, nor the remains of any." "No, they do not make any nests, further than scratching a round hole, about half an inch deep, in the soil, and there they lay their eggs, sitting quite close to one another; they will soon be here, and begin to lay, and then we will come and take the eggs, if we want any, for they are not bad eating." "Why, Ready, what a quantity of good things we have found out already! This has been a very fortunate expedition of ours." "Yes, it has; and we may thank God for his goodness, who thus provides for us so plentifully in the wilderness." "Do you know, Ready, I cannot help thinking that we ought to have built our house here." "Not so, William; we have not the pure water, recollect, and we have not the advantages of the sandy beach, where we have our turtle- and fish-pond. No; we may feed our stock here; we may gather the fruit, taking our share of it with the poor birds; we may get our yams, and every other good provided for us; but our house and home must be where it is now." "You are right, Ready; but it will be a long walk." "Not when we are accustomed to it, and have made a beaten path; besides, we may bring the boat round, perhaps." Then they walked along the sea-side for about a quarter of a mile, until they came to where the rocks were not so high, and there they discovered a little basin, completely formed in the rocks, with a narrow entrance. "See, William, what a nice little harbour for our boat! we may here load it with yams and take it round to the bay, provided we can find an entrance through the reefs on the southern side of it, which we have not looked for yet, because we have not required it." "Yes, Ready - it is, indeed, a nice, smooth little place for the boat. What is that thing on the bottom, there?" said William, pointing in the direction. "That is a sea crawfish, quite as good eating as a lobster. I wonder if I could make a lobster-pot; we should catch plenty, and very good they are." "And what are those little rough things on the rock?" "They are a very nice little sort of oyster; not like those we have in England, but much better - they are so delicate." "Why, Ready, we have two more good things for our table, again," replied William; "how rich we shall be!" "Yes; but we have to catch them, recollect: there is nothing to be had in this world without labour." "Ready," said William, "we have good three hours' daylight; suppose we go back and tell what we have seen: my mother will be so glad to see us."