Page 23 - An American Robinson Crusoe

The day was celebrated as a holiday. He thanked God that He had given him so many good things. Often he
had lived the whole day in care and anxiety. Now he tried to be more cheerful and to meet the troubles of each
day with courage.

But Robinson was not yet satisfied. He longed to know more of the island and prepared himself for a greater
journey. He slung his hunting pouch over his shoulder, filled it full of food, took his bow and arrows, stuck
his stone hatchet in his belt and started on his way. He traveled over meadows, through beautiful forests in
which were hundreds of birds. He was delighted as they sang and fluttered about.

The journey was beautiful and pleasant to Robinson. In the forests he often saw small wild creatures, but he
shot nothing. After the first night he slept under a tree in the soft grass, for he had now no fear of wild
animals.

Along the shore he saw great groves of palms with their large nuts. He saw, too, many goats in all parts of the
island.

Now he was ready to take the shortest way home. He had not gone far before he came into a dark forest. He
became confused and wandered about for several days. On the fourth day he came to a little pile of stones,
which he had made to mark the way as he was going out. From this place the way was easy to find. On this
trip he was gone already two weeks.

X X VI

ROBINSON AND HIS BIRDS

Of all the things he saw on his journey Robinson was most delighted with the birds. They were of the most
beautiful colors. The forest was full of them. They gleamed like jewels in the deep masses of foliage. In the
morning their singing filled the air with sound.

Robinson had never taken much notice of the birds at home. But now every living thing attracted him. He
loved to see them happy. He would watch often by the hour and learn the habits of nesting and getting food of
nearly every bird on the island.

Robinson did not know the names of many of the birds he saw on the island. He had to make names for them.
The strangest thing he saw on his journey was the nest of what he called the yellow-tail. This bird lives in
colonies and makes its nest at the ends of the long leaves of the mountain palm. When he first saw these queer
looking sacks hanging from the leaves he was amazed. He had never seen so strange a sight. From the end of
each great leaf hung a long, closely woven nest. Robinson could not make out at first what they were. Soon,
however, he saw the birds come out of the mouths of the nests. Here, one hundred feet from the ground, they
hung their nests. But they were perfectly safe.

He had not gone far from the tree in which the yellow tails had their nests when he was suddenly startled by a
voice crying, "Who, who are you?" Robinson was greatly frightened and hid beneath the drooping branches of
a cedar tree. He feared every moment that the owner of the voice would make his appearance. But it kept at a
distance. Every few minutes from the depths of the forest would come the doleful cry, "Who, who are you?"
Robinson did not dare to stir from his hiding place. He remained there over night. After the night came on he
heard the strange voice no more.

The next day he renewed his journey. He saw many birds that were wholly strange to him. There was a kind
of wild pigeon that built its home in a hole in the rock. It was a most beautiful bird with long, slender, graceful
feathers in its tail. He saw the frigate bird soaring high above the island. The number and beauty of the
humming-birds amazed Robinson. They were of all colors. One had a bill in the shape of a sickle. The most