tisfaction they
stepped into his boat. Just as they were shoving off, Queerface, who
had hitherto been looking over the side, chattering in the most voluble
manner, made a spring and leaped in after them, and took his seat aft as
if he thought himself one of them, as Paddy remarked. He looked about
him in so comical a way that they all burst into fits of laughter, and
when they tried to catch him to put him on board again, he leaped about
so nimbly, that they were obliged to give up the chase and allow him to
accompany them on shore.

"If Master Queerface was asked, I have not the slightest doubt but that
he would say there were four of us in the boat now," said Paddy,
laughing. "Just see what a conceited look the little chap puts on; eh,
Master Queerface, you think yourself a very fine fellow now."

"Kack, kack, kack," went Queerface, looking about him in the most
self-satisfied manner.

"Hillo, who comes here?" cried Jack, as the boat was nearing the shore.
He pointed at the _Venus_, whence two large parrots were seen flying
towards them.

"Those are my pets," exclaimed Murray, laughing. "We should in England
be looked upon as the advertising members of some travelling menagerie."

When they got on shore Queerface walked alongside Paddy with the
greatest gravity, except that he every now and then turned round to grin
at the little negro boys who followed, making fun at him in a way he did
not approve of. One of them, more daring than the rest, tried to tweak
him by the tail, when he made chase in so heroic a manner that he put
them all to flight. Meantime Polly and Nelly, the parrots, kept flying
above their heads, and occasionally alighting to rest on Murray's
shoulder. Sometimes for a change one of them would pitch on the head or
back of Master Queerface, with whom they were on the most friendly
terms. The dangers they had gone through together seemed to have united
them closely in the bonds of unity. Thus the party proceeded till they
reached the governor's house. They in vain tried to keep out Queerface
and the parrots, but the governor, hearing the disturbance, desired that
all hands should be admitted. He was highly amused at the pertinacity
with which the parrots and monkey stuck to their masters, and still more
interested with the account Murray and Adair gave of their voyage.
Indeed, they gained, as they deserved, great credit for the way in which
they had stuck to their vessel. All three mid