oiling on the fire； however； Juno suspected him； and had hold of him just as he was taking the lid off the pot。 He was well scolded； and very much frightened lest he should have no soup for his dinner； however； as it was not a very heavy offence； he was forgiven。
In the evening； William requested his father to renew the conversation about the reasoning powers of animals。
〃With pleasure； William；〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave； 〃it is a fit discourse for a Sunday evening。 Let us； however； first examine the various mental faculties discoverable in animals。 In the first place； they have memory； especially memory of persons and places； quite as tenacious as our own。 A dog will recognize an old master after many years absence。 An elephant； who had again escaped into the woods； after twenty years remaining in a wild state； recognized his old mahoot； or driver。 A dog will find his way back when taken more than a hundred miles from his master's residence。 Another proof of memory in animals； were it required； is that they dream。 Now； a dream is a confused recollection of past events； and how often do you not hear Romulus and Remus growling； barking； and whining in their sleep！〃
〃Very true； papa。〃
〃Well； then； they have attention。 See how patiently a cat will remain for hours before a hole； in watch for the mouse to come out。 A spider will remain for months watching for the fly to enter its web； but this quality is to be observed in every animal in the pursuit of its prey。 They have also association of ideas； which is； in fact； reasoning。 A dog proves that； he will allow a gentleman to come up to the door； but fly at a beggar。 When he is in charge of any property he will take no notice of a passer…by； but if a man stops； he barks immediately。 In the elephant this association of ideas is even more remarkable； indeed； he understands what is said to him better than any other animal； his reasoning powers are most extraordinary。 Promise him rewards； and he will make wonderful exertion。 He is also extremely alive to a sense of shame。 The elephants were employed to transport the heavy artillery in India。 One of the finest attempted in vain to force a gun through a swamp。 ‘Take away that lazy beast；' said the director ‘and bring another。' The animal was so stung with the reproach； that it used so much exertion to force the gun on with its head； as to fracture its skull； and it fell dead。 When Chunee； the elephant which was so long in Exeter Change； was ordered as usual to take up a sixpence with his trunk； it happened one day that the sixpence rolled against the skirting…board； out of his reach。 Chunee stopped； and reflected a little while； and then； drawing the air into his trunk； he threw it out with all his force against the skirting…board； the rebound of the air from the skirting…board blew the sixpence towards him； and he was enabled to reach it。〃
〃That was very clever of him；〃 replied William。
〃Yes； it was a proof of thought； with a knowledge of cause and effect。 There was a curious instance of a horse； which； by the bye； I consider the most noble animal of creation； which was ridden round by his master； to deliver newspapers。 He invariably stopped at the doors where papers were to be left； but it happened that two people； living at different houses； took in a weekly newspaper between them； and it was agreed； that one should have the first reading of it on one week； and the other on the following。 After a short time the horse became accustomed to this arrangement； and stopped at the one house on the one week； and at the other house on the following； never making a mistake。〃
〃That was very curious； what a sagacious animal he must have been！〃 observed William。
〃Animals also are； as you know； capable of receiving instruction； which is another proof of reasoning powers。 The elephant； the horse； the dog； the pig； even birds may be taught a great deal。〃
〃But then； papa； I still wish to know where the line is to be drawn between reason and instinct。〃
〃I was about to come to that very point； William。 When animals follow their instinct in providing their food； bringing up their young； and in their precautions against danger； they follow certain fixed rules； from which they never deviate。 But circumstances may occur against which their instinct can afford them no regular provision； then it is that their reasoning powers are called into action。 I will explain this by stating a fact relative to the bee； one of the animals upon which instinct is most powerful in its action。 There is a certain large moth； called the Death's…head moth； which is very fond of honey。 It sometimes contrives to force its way through the aperture of the hive； and gain an entrance。 The bees immediately attack it； and it is soon destroyed by their stings； but the carcass is so large； that they cannot carry it out of the hive； as they invariably do the bodies of the smaller insects which may have intruded； and it appears that their sense of smell is very acute。 What； then； do they do to avoid the stench arising from the dead body of this large moth？ Why； they embalm it； covering it entirely with wax； by which it no longer becomes offensive to them。〃
〃But； papa； might not their instinct have provided for such an event？〃 observed William。
〃If such an event could have occurred to the bees in their wild state； you certainly might have raised the question； but recollect； William； that bees in their wild state live in the hollows of trees； and that the hole by which they enter is never more than sufficiently large to admit one bee at a time； consequently； no animal larger than a bee could gain entrance； and if it did； could of course have been easily removed from the hive； but the bees were here in a new position； in an artificial state； in a hive of straw with a large aperture； and therefore met with an exigence they were not prepared for； and acted accordingly。〃
〃Yes； papa； I perceive the difference。〃
〃I will conclude my observations with one remark。 It appears to me； that although the Almighty has thought proper to vary the intellectual and the reasoning powers of animals in the same way that he has varied the species and the forms； yet even in this arrangement he has not been unmindful of the interest and welfare of man。 For you will observe； that the reasoning powers are chiefly； if not wholly； given to those animals which man subjects to his service and for his use … the elephant； the horse； and the dog； thereby making these animals of more value； as the powers given to them are at the service and under the control of man。〃
Chapter LV
On the Monday morning； William and Ready went away in the boat； as before； to bring round the various articles from the cove。 It had been arranged that they were not to return till the Saturday evening； and that the dog Remus was to bring intelligence of them and their welfare every afternoon。 They worked hard during the week； and on Saturday they had completed their task； with the exception of a portion of the timbers of the ship； everything had been brought round； but had not been carried up to the storehouse； as that required more time。
On Saturday morning； they went for the last time to the cove； and Ready selected some heavy oak timber out of the quantity which was lying on the beach； part of which they put into the boat； and the remainder they towed astern。 It was a heavy load； and although the wind was fair to sail hack again to the bay； the boat went but slowly through the water。
〃Well； William；〃 said Ready； 〃we have done a good week's work； and I must say it is high time that it is done； for the boat is in rather a crazy condition； and I must contrive to patch her up by and by； when there is time。〃
〃We shall not want to use her very much after this； Ready；〃 replied William； 〃a few trips round to the little harbour will be all that will be required before we come back again to our old quarters。〃
〃That's true； William； but she leaks very much； and at all events I'll give her a coat of pitch as soon as possible。 For a slight…built little thing as she is； she has done hard duty。〃
〃Pray； Ready； why； when you speak of a ship or boat； do you always call it she？〃
〃Well； William； I don't know why； but it is certain that we sailors always do so。 I believe it is because a sailor loves his ship。 His ship is his wife； is a very common saying with us； and then you see； Master William； a vessel is almost a thing of life in appearance。 I believe that's the reason； and of course if a vessel is she； a little boat must be a she also。〃
〃Well； I think you have explained it very well； Ready。 I suppose on Monday we shall set to at the storehouse； and alter it for our future residence？〃
〃Can't begin too soon； William；〃 replied Ready； 〃I don't doubt but Mr。 Seagrave has finished the hedge and ditch round the yams by this time； and if so； I expect Madam will not like to be left in the tents alone with Juno and the children； and so we shall all move back to the house again until we have altered the storehouse； I must say that I would rather your mamma remained in the tents until all was finished。〃
〃Because you are afraid of a visit from the savages； Ready？〃
〃I am； sir； and that's the truth。〃
〃But； Ready； if they do come； we shall see them coming； and would it not be better that we should all be together； even if we are obliged to conceal ourselves in consequence of not being prepared？ Suppose the savages were to overrun the island； and find my mother； my little brother； and sister； defenceless； at the time we were obliged to retreat from our house； how dreadful that would be！〃
〃But I counted upon retreating to the tents。〃
〃So we can all together； unless we are surprised in the night。〃
〃That we must take care not to be。 There's not three hours' dark in this season of the year。 Well； William； I doubt not you may be right； and if they are all with us； Juno will be a great help； and we shall get through our work the faster。〃
〃We had better let the question be decided by my father and mother。〃
〃Very true； William； here's the point at last。 We will haul the timber on the beach； and then be off as fast as we can； for it is getting late。〃
It was； indeed； much later than they had usually arrived at