e "choppy" outside, and, as a consequence, the
_Argosy_ rolled a little.

After they had been out at sea for about an hour, and the Skipper had
been letting them take turns in looking through his telescope, the Dodo
suddenly muttered something about having "forgotten his
pocket-handkerchief," and hurried down into the cabin.

"Why, I didn't know he had one," said Marjorie, wonderingly.

[Illustration: "Hope you're feeling better, Sir."]

The Skipper winked, and said in a whisper behind his hand, "They always
say that; he's gone to lie down, the motion of the boat has made him
feel a little seasick."

The Dodo didn't come up for a long while and at last the Skipper said
he would go down and see if he wanted anything.

He found the poor bird looking the picture of misery, lolling limply
against the cushioned seat.

"Hope you're feeling better, Sir," he said, respectfully, tugging at his
forelock.

"Oh! oh!" groaned the Dodo. "Do throw me overboard, and let me die."

"Nonsense," said the Skipper, cheerfully. "You'll be all right in an
hour or two."

"Oh, no," said the bird; "I shall never be well again. I have never,
never felt so ill in all my life."

"Lie down, Sir, and I'll cover you up with this rug," said the Skipper,
kindly; "you'll be better presently."

"Don't tell the others," gasped the bird, faintly.

"All right, Sir," was the reply, and the Skipper went on deck again.

The breeze was quite fresh still, and the children had climbed up into
the "lookout," and were pointing eagerly into the distance.

"Land! over there!" shouted Dick, when he saw the Skipper.

"Oh! Ah! It's an island," said the Skipper. "I've been there before. The
Archaeopteryx lives there."

"The what?" cried the children.

[Illustration: "'Charmed to meet you,' said the Archaeopteryx."]

"The Archaeopteryx," repeated the Skipper. "It's an awful name, isn't
it?"

"What is he?" demanded Dick.

"A kind of lizardish bird, or a birdish lizard, whichever you like," was
the reply. "He's a great swell, I can tell you, and fancies himself
immensely."

The children were all eagerness to see this strange creature, and could
scarcely wait until the ship reached the land.

The Skipper went down and told the Dodo, who, directly he heard that
they would meet the Archaeopteryx, made a great effort to pull himself
together again.

"I mustn't let him see me in this state," he declared. "He is a distant
relative of mine, and a pers