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The Fuegian parrot, or paroquet, is known to naturalists as Psittacus Imaragdinus, the humming-bird as Melisuga Kingii. Another day dawns upon the castaways, with again a bright sun on the horizon; and Ned Gancy and Henry Chester, who have risen early, as they look out over the water, become witnesses of the curious behaviour of another Fuegian fishing-bird the cormorant.
At these grave words, more fear-inspiring from being spoken by Captain Gancy, work is instantly suspended, the boat-builders dropping their tools as though they burned the hands that grasped them. For some minutes the alarm runs high, all thinking their last hour is at hand.
English officer brought Jemmy back too left him at Woolya that his own country lie out that way;" and he points eastward along the arm. Observing his reticence on the subject of Orundelico, the questioners forbear asking further, while other matters of more importance claim their attention. Meanwhile, Ocushlu is engaged in conversation with Mrs Gancy and Leoline.
"Git out o' this cove 'fore they shet us up in it. Ef we kin but make 'roun' that p'int eastart we'll be safe. Besides, it ain't at all likely we could escape t'other way, seein' how we're hampered." This, with a side glance toward Mrs Gancy and Leoline: "On land they'd soon overtake us, hide or no hide sure to. Tharfer, our best, our only chance, air by the water," he affirms.
Hailed in such fashion, their delight far exceeds their surprise, for Jemmy Button it surely is; Henry Chester and Ned Gancy both recognise him. It is on his side that amazement reaches its maximum height when he recognises them, which he does when his native name, Orundelico, is called out to him. He waits not for the boat to come up, but plunging into the water, swims to meet it.
Still, they continue to solicit further traffic, offering not only their implements of the chase and fishing, but their weapons of war! The spears and slings Seagriff eagerly purchases, giving in exchange several effects of more value than any yet parted with, somewhat to the surprise of Captain Gancy.
"Did you hear that?" asks the young Englishman in eager haste. "Hear what?" demands Ned Gancy, to whom the question is addressed. "That word `Eleparu. The old fellow has spoken it twice!" says Henry. "Well, and if he has?" queries Ned. "You remember our affair at Portsmouth with those three queer creatures and the wharf-rats?" "Of course I do. Why do you ask?"
The captain himself is in the stern-sheets, tiller-lines in hand. Mrs Gancy and her daughter crouch beside him, while the others are at the oars, in which occupation Ned and Chester occasionally pause to bale out, as showers of spray keep breaking over the boat, threatening to swamp it. What point shall they steer for? This is a question that no one asks, nor thinks of asking as yet.
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