"Have you seen the curious natural canal which you sailors call the Hole in the Wall?"
"Yes, it's near the s'uth'ard end."
"Well, the sea has worn away a layer of soft rock that existed there. In the course of centuries a channel has been cut right across the two hundred yards of land. Owing to the same cause the summer rains have excavated a ravine through the crater up above, and a similar passage exists here, only it happens to run parallel to the line of the cliff. It extends a good deal beyond its apparent outlet, and is defended by a dangerous reef. Marcel once landed on a rock during a very calm day, and saw the opening. He investigated it, luckily for me—luckily, in fact, for all of us."
Watts interrupted De Sylva's smooth periods by a startled ejaculation, and Coke turned on him fiercely.
"Wot's up now?" he demanded. "Ain't you sober yet?"
"Some dam thing jumped on me," explained Watts.
"Probably a crab," said De Sylva. "There are jumping crabs all around here. It will not hurt you. It is quite a small creature."
"Oh, if it's on'y a crab," muttered Watts, "sorry I gev' tongue, skipper. I thought it was a rat, an' I can't abide 'em."
"Then you must learn to endure them while you are in Fernando do Noronha itself," went on the Brazilian. "The island absolutely swarms with rats; some of the larger varieties are rather dangerous."
"Sufferin' Moses!" groaned Watts. "It'll be the death o' me."