"Never mind, chicks," called Penn, in his sympathetic throaty voice. " You"re going to be flying under water very soon. So come along, all of you," and he led the way to the beach. Arrived at a shallow tide-pool, Penn stood, his black and white uniform reflected in the sunny water, till his class was assembled on the banks.
"Now watch !" he bade them. They all craned their necks to peer. Penn allowed himself to fall gently forward on his chest in the shallow water. Then, with his feet straight out behind, he began swinging his flippers forward and backward, forward and backward. It sent him across the pool at a great rate. He turned, steering with one foot outstretched.
Many of the chicks simply would not venture in that first day, but by the next all were paddling and floating happily about. On the third day, Penn led his class down to the high- water line; then he waited. The tide was coming in. The chicks, frisky in the salt breeze, started a tug-o"-war with a long brown ribbon of seaweed, and did not even notice when a big wave came, till they felt themselves gently lifted off their feet. They squealed, but, to their own surprise, found all they had to do was to float as they had in the tide- pool.
After all, they were nearly as large as their parents bynow, so unbelievably fast had they been growing. The skuas, no longer daring to attack birds that had grown larger than themselves, glided overhead, fighting among themselves for what they found to eat. When one of them got his beak caught in a clam-shell and could not defend himself, the other skuas turned cannibal, lawless birds that they were, and tore him to pieces. When another of their number broke his wing, the same thing happened, so that there were fewer skuas with every day that passed.
When the full moon turned the icy world to silver, it was hard to go home to bed, and young and old used to linger about the beach, gossiping and singing beneath the roaring of the waves.
As Penn thought of how the time would come when every member of the colony must make his way to winter quarters, he formed a band of young people and drilled them in penguin tactics. Soon they knew how to stand in rows, all facing one way, presenting only black backs to the world. But when their leader turned about they obeyed his word of command. There was a reason for this, for the time might come when it would mean death to disobey. The penguin is one of the few creatures that has learned to live in that world of appalling hazards.
Before many days, Hennie came back from fishing to begreeted by the usual " Eeeeee!" from the over-grown twins.
But she offered them not one bite.
"Come," she bade them, "if you are hungry;" and throwing herself forward on the shallow water, she led them out to where it was deep enough for diving. There she took one deep breath, ducked her head, and began paddling under water. She came up fifty feet away, and waited till the chicks had followed her example. Then she taught them how to watch for the shrimps that backed away from their pursuers, and how to swim after one till it could be swallowed head first.
The chicks were hungry, and they kept trying till they were as good fishermen as anyone. Penn exchanged a glance of pride with their mother. "Our work is done," she nodded joyously.
From Penn the Penguin, by Allen Chaffee
Author.-Miss Allen Chaffee is an American writer, born in Iowa,U.S.A. After a college and university education, she became a journalist and was associated with a number of Boston newspapers. She has written many books for boys and girls. Penn the Penguin was published in 1931.
General Notes.-What have you learned from this reading lessonabout the habits of penguins? There is sure to be a "bird book" in your school. Find out all you can about the nests and eggs of the penguins and also the names of three kinds that visit Australia.
Lesson 11
THE FIRE AT ROSS"S FARm
The squatter saw his pastures wide
Decrease as, one by one,
The farmers, moving to the west, Selected on his run;Selectors took the water up And all the black soil round;The best grass-land the squatter had Was spoilt by Ross"s ground.
One Christmas time, when months of drought Had parched the western creeks,The bush fires started in the north
And travelled south for weeks. At night along the river sideThe scene was grand and strange-
The hill fires looked like lighted streets Of cities in the range.
The cattle-tracks between the trees Were like long, dusky aisles;And on a sudden breeze the fire Would sweep along for miles; Like sounds of distant musketry It crackled through the brakes; And o"er the flat of silver grassIt hissed like angry snakes.
Drawn by Allan T. Bernaldo
" "Then let it burn," the squatter said."
It leapt across the flowing streams, And raced o"er pastures broad;It climbed the trees, and lit the boughs, And through the scrubs it roared.
The bees fell stifled in the smoke,
Or perished in their hives;
And with the stock the kangaroos
Went flying for their lives.
The sun had set on Christmas Eve, When through the scrub-lands wide Young Robert Black came riding home As only natives ride.
He galloped to the homestead door
And gave the first alarm:
"The fire is past the granite spur And close to Ross"s farm.
"Now, father, send the men at once,
They won"t be wanted here; Poor Ross"s wheat is all he has To pull him through the year.""Then let it burn," the squatter said; "I"d like to see it done;I"d bless the fire if it would clear
Selectors from the run.
"Go, if you will," he thundered on, "You shall not take the men;Go out and join your precious friends,
But don"t come here again."
"I won"t come back," young Robert said,
And, reckless in his ire,
He sharply turned his horse"s head And raced towards the fire.
And there for three long, weary hours, Half blind with smoke and heat,Old Ross and Robert fought the flames
That neared the ripened wheat.
The farmer"s hand was nerved by fears
Of danger and of loss;
And Robert fought the stubborn foe For love of Jenny Ross.
