and there, that I might not be obliged to depend upon a captain, but have a ship at my own command, I had one built on purpose, at my own charge. When the ship was ready I went on board with my goods; but not having enough to load her, I agreed to take with me several merchants of different nations, with their merchandise.
We sailed with the first fair wind, and the first place we touched at was a desert island, where we found the egg of a roc, equal in size to that I had formerly seen. There was a young roc in it, just ready to be hatched, and its beak had begun to break the egg.
The merchants who landed with me broke the egg with hatchets, pulled out the young roc and roasted it. I in vain entreated them not to meddle with the egg.
Scarcely had they finished their feast, when there appeared in the air, at a considerable distance, two great clouds. The captain of my ship, knowing by experience what they meant, said they were the male and female parents of the roc, and pressed us to re-embark with all speed, to prevent if possible the misfortune which would otherwise befall us.
The two rocs approached with a frightful noise, which they redoubled when they saw the egg broken, and their young one gone. They flew over us with horrid cries and then back in the direction they had come, and disappeared for some time, while we made all the sail we could
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