Page 24 - An American Robinson Crusoe

brilliant of them all was the ruby-crested humming-bird.

Near noon, while Robinson was shielding himself from the scorching heat of the sun in a deep, shaded glen,
he was startled again by the strange voice crying, "Who, who, who are you?" He lay quite still, determined if
possible to allow the voice to come, if it would, within sight. He heard it slowly coming up the glen. Each
time it repeated the cry it sounded nearer. At last he saw spying at him through the boughs of the tree under
which he was lying a large bird with soft, silky feathers of green and chestnut. "Who, who, who are you?" said
the bird. Robinson could not help but laugh. He had been frightened at the cry of a bird.

But the bird that interested Robinson most was the parrot. There were several kinds of them. They flew among
the trees with great noise and clatter and shrieking. Robinson determined if possible to secure one for a pet. "I
can teach it to talk," he said, "and I will have something to talk to." As soon as he returned home he set about
catching one. He noticed that a number were in the habit of visiting an old tree near the shelter every morning.
He planned to snare one and tried several mornings, but he could not get one into the snare. He tried to hit one
with his bow and arrow. He at last succeeded in hitting one and stunning it so that it fell to the ground. He ran
rapidly to pick it up, but before he could get to where it lay in the bushes it had disappeared.

After thinking the matter over he concluded that it would be much better to get a pair of young birds and raise
them. The old ones would be hard to tame and difficult to teach. It was easy enough to find a nest in a hollow
tree. He secured from the nest two birds just ready to fly. He made a cage for them out of willow rods. He
placed the cage at the entrance of his cave and studied how he would feed them. Much to his surprise the
parent birds discovered their young ones and brought them food and fed them through the open work of the
cage.

When the birds were grown they rapidly learned to talk. Robinson took great delight in teaching them. He
taught them to call his name and when he came near they would call out, "Poor old Robinson Crusoe!"

These birds remained for many years with Robinson. In fact, he was never afterward without a parrot. They
helped him to pass away very pleasantly many hours that without them would have been sad.

Another bird that Robinson loved was the little house wren. This bird was exceedingly tame and friendly. It
was a very sweet and strong singer. It loved to make its nest in or near his shelter. There it would build and
rear its young, within reach of his hands, while its throat was always bursting with melody.

The mocking bird, too, always nested near and awakened him in the morning with its wonderful song.

Robinson became a great friend and favorite of the bird inhabitants of the island. They seemed to know him
and showed no fear when near him. This pleased him very much.

X X V II

ROBINSON GETS FIRE

Robinson was now pretty comfortable. He had his bower with its chair and table. He had his cave in case of
danger. He had his cellar in which to keep his meat. He would sit in the shade near the door of his bower and
think of the many things he should be thankful for. But there was one hardship that Robinson could not get
used to and that was the eating of raw food. "How fine it would be if only I could parch a few grains of corn
in the fire! I could like live a prince," thought he, "if I had fire. I would grind some of my corn into flour and
make some corn bread or cakes and cook rice." He did so long for roasted meat and determined again to make
the attempt to get fire.