ing
his wife's hand through his arm.

"But we have, captain," cried the major; "for Morgan and I have been in
momentary expectation of an attack from that terrible wild beast."

"But there, you are tired and starving," said Mrs Strong. "We have
food waiting. Sit down and rest, and we'll tell you all the while."

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.

HOW THE CIRCUMNAVIGATORS RESTED AND HEARD NEWS.

"This here's just what I like, mates," said Billy Widgeon, as he sat on
the sand in the full light of the blazing fire with his fellow-sailor
opposite to him, and a large piece of palm-leaf for a table-cloth. Jack
was on his right munching fruit, and Bruff on his left, sitting up,
patiently attentive, waiting for bones from the hissing, hot maleo bird
that had been kept for the sailors' dinner.

Small and the other men were close by smoking, and Jimpny, with his head
neatly and cleanly bandaged, was lying upon his chest, resting his
elbows on the sand and his chin in his hands, kicking up his heels as he
stared at Billy Widgeon and listened to his adventures.

Billy was hungry, and so was his mate, and when Billy carved he prepared
so to do by opening his jack-knife and whetting it on his boot, after
which he seized the bird, which was double the size of a large fowl, by
one leg.

"Now, shipmet," he said to his companion, "lay holt o' t'other
understanding with both hands, and when I say haul! you put your back
into it."

The sailor took hold of the leg, Billy held on by the other, and placed
the blade of the knife between two of the fingers of the left hand while
he made believe to spit in his right. Then seizing the knife firmly, he
plunged the point right into the breast of the fat, juicy bird, a gush
of gravy came oozing out, and he began to cut so as to divide the food
into two equal portions.

"My hye! he is a joosty one," cried Billy. "It's worth waiting till now
to get a treat like this, mates. Can't you smell him? Anyone going to
jyne in?"

"No," said Small; "we've all had plenty, my hearty. So go on, and tell
us all about what you've done to-day."

"All right!" cried Billy. "Now, then, messmet, she's nearly through.
Now haul, my son. Hauly, hi, ho!"

Billy's fellow-traveller hauled at the bird's leg; but that bird was
rather overdone. Mrs Strong, aided by Mary O'Halloran as cook and
kitchen-maid, had done their best in the rock kitchen with a fire of
cocoa-nut shells and barks; but some piled-up piec