One of them stepped on shore. There was a broad grin on his ugly face, which was intended for a conciliatory smile. The savage walked towards Noddy with his hand extended, and with his mouth stretched open from ear to ear, to denote the friendly nature of his mission. The boy took the hand, and tried to look as amiable as the visitor; but as his mouth was not half so large, he probably met with only a partial success.
"Americals?" said the savage, in tones so loud that poor Mollie was actually frightened by the sound.
He spoke in a nasal voice, as a man does who has a cold in the head; but the lord of the isle was surprised and pleased to hear even a single word of his mother tongue. He pointed impressively to the American flag, which had been hoisted on a pole, as he had seen Captain McClintock do when he had a slight difficulty with a custom-house officer at Barbadoes, and politely replied that he and Mollie were Americans.
"Big heap thigs," added the savage, pointing to the tent filled with stores and merchandise.
"They are mine," said Noddy.
"What do you want?"
"Big wreck," said the visitor, pointing over to the schooner. "Big lot mel ol the other islal."
"Americans?" asked Noddy, clearly understanding the speaker, whose enunciation was principally defective in the substitution of l's for n's.
"Four Americals; big storm; come in boat."