“But we have, captain,” cried the major; “for Morgan and I have been in momentary expectation of an attack from that terrible wild beast.”
“But there, you are tired and starving,” said Mrs Strong. “We have food waiting. Sit down and rest, and we’ll tell you all the while.”
Chapter Thirty Three.
How the Circumnavigators rested and heard News.
“This here’s just what I like, mates,” said Billy Widgeon, as he sat on the sand in the full light of the blazing fire with his fellow-sailor opposite to him, and a large piece of palm-leaf for a table-cloth. Jack was on his right munching fruit, and Bruff on his left, sitting up, patiently attentive, waiting for bones from the hissing, hot maleo bird that had been kept for the sailors’ dinner.
Small and the other men were close by smoking, and Jimpny, with his head neatly and cleanly bandaged, was lying upon his chest, resting his elbows on the sand and his chin in his hands, kicking up his heels as he stared at Billy Widgeon and listened to his adventures.
Billy was hungry, and so was his mate, and when Billy carved he prepared so to do by opening his jack-knife and whetting it on his boot, after which he seized the bird, which was double the size of a large fowl, by one leg.
“Now, shipmet,” he said to his companion, “lay holt o’ t’other understanding with both hands, and when I say haul! you put your back into it.”