24
The Ffth Voyage of Sinbad, the Sailor
THE pleasures I had enjoyed had again charms enough to make me forget the troubles and calamities I had undergone, without curing me of my inclination to make new voyages. Therefore I bought goods, ordered them to be packed up and loaded, and set out with them for the best sea port; and there, that I might not be obliged to depend upon a captain, but have a ship at my own command, I staid till one was 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 took on board me several merchants of different nations with their merchandizo.
We sailed with the first fair wind, and, after a long navigation, the first place we touched at was a desart island, where we found an egg of a roe, equal in bigness with that I formerly mentioned. There was a young roe in it, just ready to be hatched, and the bill of it began to appear. The merchants, whom I had taken on board my ship, and who landed with me, broke the egg with hatchets, and made a hole in it from whence they pulled out the young roe piece after piece, and roasted it. I had earnestly dissuaded them from meddling with the egg, but they would not listen to me.
Scarce had they made an end of their treat, when the he and she roe that belonged to the young one approached with a frightfnl noise, which they redoubled when they saw the egg broke, and their young one gone. But having a mind to avenge themselves, they flew back towards the place from whence they came and disappeared for some time. while we made all the sail we could, to prevent that which unhappily befel us.–They returned, and we perceived that each of them carried be-
