Jack gasped in astonishment, he had no idea they were so heavy.
"The bulk of them average at least a couple of hundred pounds I should say," remarked Hake Moss.
It was no easy matter to get them into the boats, but they succeeded after some difficulty, and the dinghies were almost level with the water.
"We had better put all the turtle in one dinghy and tow her back," said Jack.
"A good idea, we will," replied Phil, and they set to work again until the boat was filled, they then turned the other turtles over, and were about to row back to the schooners, when a screeching attracted their attention and they saw large flocks of birds hovering about the tops of the rocks.
"Melton birds and gulls," said Phil, "we may as well have some fresh eggs now we are about it; I reckon there'll be enough to satisfy a whole fleet over there," and he pointed to a long stretch of sand in which hundreds of them were settling.
It was a curious sight to see these thousands of birds on the sands, and they did not appear to be at all frightened of the visitors to their haunt. They got out of the dinghies again and walked towards them. On their approach a few of the birds rose and whirled around, uttering hoarse cries. But the greater number remained still on their nests, or walked slowly about amongst the stones.
Jack was amused at them, and as he walked, he had frequently to push them out of the way with his foot.
There were thousands of eggs, and they filled two large sacks with them, choosing those which were apparently freshly laid. It was not difficult to tell them as they were perfectly clean, and had a peculiar sticky feel, quite unlike the eggs that had been sat upon.
"Are the birds fit to eat?" asked Jack.