This
animal is timid as the hare of our country. They endeavoured to escape,
but Ernest held them fast. One was a female, which had her young one in
her pouch, which my son took out very cautiously. It was an elegant
little creature, with a skin like its mother, only more brilliant--it
was full of graceful antics. The poor mother no longer wished to escape;
all her desire seemed to be to recover her offspring, and to replace it
in its nest. At last, she succeeded in seizing and placing it carefully
in security. Then her desire to escape was so strong, that Ernest could
scarcely hold her. He wished much to keep and tame her, and asked my
permission to empty one of the chests for a dwelling for her, and to
carry her off in the pinnace; but I refused him decidedly. I explained
to him the uncertainty of our return to the island, and the imprudence
of adding to our cares, and, "certainly," added I, "you would not wish
this poor mother to perish from famine and confinement, when your own
mother is herself a prisoner?"
His eyes filled with tears, and he declared he would not be such a
savage as to keep a poor mother in captivity. "Go, pretty creature,"
said he, releasing her, "and may my mother be as fortunate as you." She
soon profited by his permission, and skipped off with her treasure.
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