“Nonsense,” said the Skipper, cheerfully. “You’ll be all right in an hour or two.”
“Oh, no,” said the bird; “I shall never be well again. I have never, never felt so ill in all my life.”
“Lie down, Sir, and I’ll cover you up with this rug,” said the Skipper, kindly; “you’ll be better presently.”
“Don’t tell the others,” gasped the bird, faintly.
“All right, Sir,” was the reply, and the Skipper went on deck again.
The breeze was quite fresh still, and the children had climbed up into the “lookout,” and were pointing eagerly into the distance.
“Land! over there!” shouted Dick, when he saw the Skipper.
“Oh! Ah! It’s an island,” said the Skipper. “I’ve been there before. The Archæopteryx lives there.”
“The what?” cried the children.