The boat which, returning from the ship, appeared like a black speck on the water, indicated that the dinner-hour was at hand; and Price and the purser, who had come on shore with Macallan, now joined him and Willy, who were sitting down on the rocks at the water's edge. "Well, Macallan," said Price, "it's a fine thing to be a philosopher. What is that which Milton says? Let me see!--sweet--something--divine philosophy--I forget the exact words. Well, what have you caught?" "If you've caught nothing, doctor, you're better off than I am," said the purser, wiping his brow, "for I've caught a headache." "I have been very well amused," replied Macallan. "Ay, I suppose, like what's-his-name in the forest--you recollect?" "No, indeed, I do not." "Don't you? Bless my soul--you know, sermons in stones, and good in everything. I forget how the lines run. Don't you recollect, O'Keefe?" continued Price, speaking loud in the purser's ear. "No, I never _collect_. I don't understand these things," replied the purser, taking his seat by Macallan, and addressing him--"I cannot think what pleasure there can be in poking about the rocks as you do." "It serves to amuse me, O'Keefe." "_Abuse_ you, my dear fellow! Indeed I never meant it--I beg your pardon--you mistook me." "It was my fault. I did not speak sufficiently loud. Make no apology." "Too _proud_ to make an apology!--No, indeed--I only asked what amusement you could find?--that's all." "What amusement?" replied Macallan, rising from his seat, annoyed at these repeated attacks from all quarters upon his favourite study. "Listen to me, and I will explain to you how investigation is the parent of both amusement and instruction. What is this rock that I am standing on? Has it remained here for ages to be dashed by the furious ocean?-- or has it lately sprung from the depths, from the silent labour of the indefatigable zoophytes? Look at its sides; behold the variety of marine vegetation with which it is loaded. Are they of the class of the ulvae, confervae, or fuci? to be welcomed as old acquaintance, or, hitherto unnoticed, to be added to the catalogue of Nature's endless stores? And what are those corals, that, like mimic tenants of the forest, extend their graceful boughs! Look at the variety of shells which are adhering to its sides. Observe the patellae--with what tenacity they cling to save themselves from being washed into the deep water, and being devoured by the fishes that are playing in its chasms! What a source of endless amusement, what a field for deep reflection, is there in the investigation of this _one little rock_! When you contemplate the instinct of the different species, the powers given to them, so adapted to their wants and their privations--is not the eye delighted, is not the mind enlarged, and are not the feelings harmonised? Study the works of the creation, and you turn a desert into