In fact, they were. Many were forty feet in length and their backs were as high as the boys’ shoulders, while their savage-looking jaws seemed big enough to crush one’s head to bits at a single bite. Much to the boys’ surprise, the men merely shoved or kicked such of the creatures as were in their way, and selecting the small-sized and apparently young animals, they killed several by hitting them over their heads with clubs. To the boys, it seemed very cruel and brutal, but, as Tom remarked, it really was no worse than killing oxen or sheep. Even when their comrades had been killed and lay bleeding among them, the other elephants showed no signs of alarm and the boys decided they must, indeed, be very stupid creatures.
Leaving some of the men to secure the titbits of the animals for their dinner, Cap’n Pem led the boys and the other men across the beach beyond the elephant herd. Here the boys had plenty to interest them, for everywhere they were surrounded by the quaint penguins, hopping about on their queer flat feet, peering curiously at the men and shuffling out of the way in funny, jerky jumps. So fascinated were the boys with these odd birds that they seated themselves on a rock and watched them for some time, while the others busied themselves hunting for a likely spot for the camp. By the time this had been selected, the other boats were on the way to the shore and in a few minutes were being unloaded and the goods they had brought were being stacked far above reach of the waves.
“Found any eggs?” asked Cap’n Pem, as he returned to where the boys were watching the penguins.
“Why, no,” replied Tom. “Where are their nests?”
The old man chuckled. “Ain’t got none,” he replied. “Jes’ lay their eggs ’mongst the rocks.”
“Well, it’s funny we haven’t seen any, then,” said Jim. “We’ve been walking about watching the birds and none of them acted as if they were sitting.”
“Wall, that’s where they fooled ye,” laughed Cap’n Pem. “Ye may think they’re mighty stupid-lookin’ critters, but they ain’t. Jes’ look here.”
With a quick dash, the old whaleman seized two of the penguins, and to the boys’ astonishment, held up two big blue-green eggs.
“Well, of all things,” exclaimed Tom. “Where on earth did you get those eggs?”