In the book he is writing about his parents, Keith Lewis tells of working with Evan and George Dodge (George is the husband of current Town Manager Nancy Dodge) in the Strait of Magellan, off South America, servicing oil rigs. It was hard, cold work, but in his off-time, Keith managed to find nature's softer side. He found a penguin rookery and one little penguin that didn't seem to be bothered by his presence.

"He watched me for a while. Then to my surprise, he began to waddle toward me. I couldn't believe how tame and friendly he was! He waddled on up, too close for my camera, so I backed away to get him in focus. When I did, I apparently hurt his feelings. His head fell to the side in a somber, rejected pose. Sensing that, I encouraged him to waddle up again -- which he did. He let me touch him, patting him on the back and under the wings. I was intrigued by his feathers -- tightly knit to insulate him from the cold ocean temperatures.

"It was a humbling experience. There he was, the pride of his species, dressed in a tuxedo -- a very dignified individual. Here I was, dirty, having recently come from an engine room, my hair still oily from crankcase fumes."

On one voyage off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, he found a small bird sleeping on a ledge outside his room. "From a distance, it looked like a lifeless mouse, or something similar. Walking closer, I was surprised to find a bird; a pretty warbler, its head tucked back beneath its wing. I expected it to fly, but it didn't move. It was sound asleep! The poor thing was exhausted, in a deep, deep sleep."

Keith speculated that the bird had been pushed offshore during its fall migration and had sought refuge on the ship as its energy waned.

"I set out some food and water, left the door open for its escape, and guarded its rest. But beyond that, there was little I could do. It would have to face its destiny alone."