“What nonsense, Jem!”

Churr-ur! Shrieked the cockatoo, ever so much nearer.

“Well, do you call that nonsense?” whispered Jem.

“The bird’s being cheered on; some one coming.”

Churrchurrchurr-ur-ur! Shrieked the cockatoo nearer, nearer, and then right in front of the cave, as it flew by.

“All right, Mas’ Don; I arn’t going to hargue. You think your way, and I’ll think mine; but if that wasn’t saying in New Zealandee as those two misfortunate chaps is hiding in this here hole, I never lived in Bristol city, and I don’t know sugar from tobacker.”

“Hist!” whispered Don.

Hiss–s–s–s came from far in the depths of the cave.

Gurgle-urgle-gugg-pap! Went something of a liquid kind.

“Here, I can’t stand this here, Mas’ Don,” whispered Jem; “let’s make a rush of it; and get right away in the woods.”