Willy awoke at early dawn to feed his parrots, which were chattering away at his ear. As soon as breakfast was over, he took them up to the Miss Morleys. “I have brought an addition to your menagerie,” he said, exhibiting his prizes; “but as they are nearly fledged, you must find some means of preventing them from flying away.”
“Oh, I hope we may tame them sufficiently to make them wish to stay with us,” said Emma. “What pretty little lively creatures. We are so much obliged to you, Mr Dicey.”
“Perhaps Mrs Twopenny would like to have one,” said Fanny. “And do you not wish to retain one yourself?”
“I am afraid that I should not have time to attend to it,” said Willy. “But I will take one to Mrs Twopenny; and if you will bring up one for me, I should like to carry it home with me for my sisters.” Mrs Morley, who heard the remark, smiled faintly. She was thinking, perhaps, of the little probability there was of their ever returning to the shores of England.
Chapter Fifteen.
A Ship!
The island flag—Expedition to establish a look-out place—Cutter proceeds down the harbour—Pierce attack of seals—Tippo Sahib put to flight—Flagstaff set up—Lookout hut erected—Night in the hut—The boatswain’s yarns—Harry puts off to return—Blowing hard—Boat in danger—Return to lookout point—The storm rages—Peter wraps himself in the flag—Anxiety about the boat—Hut on fire—Attempts to save hut—Pass night by the fire—A ship seen.
The cutter had been thoroughly repaired, and Harry resolved at once to go down the harbour and fix on a look-out place whence a signal could be made to any ship approaching the southern end of the island. A flagstaff had been constructed out of the spars of the launch, and some of the straightest trees which could be found. The boatswain had rigged it completely, so that it was ready at once to set up. Willy and Peter laughed heartily when they saw the flag which had been formed. It consisted of two boats’ ensigns, increased in size by a petticoat and part of a seaman’s shirt.