The poor mother no longer wished to escape; all her desire seemed to be to recover her offspring, and to replace it in its nest.

At last, she succeeded in seizing and placing it carefully in security.

Then her desire to escape was so strong, that Ernest could scarcely hold her.

He wished much to keep and tame her, and asked my permission to empty one of the chests for a dwelling for her, and to carry her off in the pinnace; but I refused him decidedly.

I explained to him the uncertainty of our return to the island, and the imprudence of adding to our cares, and, "certainly," added I, "you would not wish this poor mother to perish from famine and confinement, when your own mother is herself a prisoner ?" His eyes filled with tears, and he declared he would not be such a savage as to keep a poor mother in captivity.