"Ah! That"s because you"re so young, Mas" Don. You"ll know better some day. Parrots is as cunning as cunning. Well, now, did you ever see the likes of that? He"s laughing and jeering at us."
For at that moment the bird began to bob its head up and down rapidly, gradually growing more excited, and chattering all the while, as it ended by dancing first on one leg and then on the other, in the most eccentric fashion.
"I should like to have that bird, Jem," said Don at last.
"Should you? Then you wouldn"t have me along with you."
"I don"t like him. I like a bird as can behave itself and whistle and sing and perch; but I don"t like one as goes through all them monkey tricks. Wish I"d got a stone, I"d try and knock him off his perch."
_Chur-r-r-r_! Shrieked the bird, and it let itself fall over backwards, dropping down head over heels like a tumbler pigeon, or an unfortunate which had been shot, and disappearing among the leaves far below.
"There!" cried Jem, triumphantly; "now, what do you say to that? Heard what I said, he did, and thought I was going to throw."
"Nonsense, Jem!"
"Ah! You may call it nonsense, Mas" Don, because you don"t know better, but you didn"t see him fall."
"Yes, I saw him fall, and--hist! Creep back; there"s some one coming!"
The secret of the bird"s sudden disappearance was explained for there was a rustling among the ferns far behind, as if some large body was forcing its way along the ravine; and as Jem backed slowly into the cavern, Don cautiously peered from behind a ma.s.s of stone into the hollow, to see that some one or something was approaching rapidly, as if with the intention of scaling the rock, and climbing to where they lay.
CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.
AMONG FRIENDS AGAIN.
"It"s all over with us, Mas" Don," whispered Jem, as soon as they were some little distance in the retreat. "That blackguard Ramsden"s sure, after all, that we"re in here, and that Tom Hoppers has come to his senses, and felt it was me as hissed at him, and they"re coming to hunt us out."
"Let"s hope not, Jem."
"Yah! What"s the good o" hoping."
_Churr-urrt_ shrieked the c.o.c.katoo from far below.
"There now," said Jem. "Hark at that! He"s telling "em we"re in here, and coming on before to show "em the way."
"What nonsense, Jem!"
_Churr-ur_! Shrieked the c.o.c.katoo, ever so much nearer.
"Well, do you call that nonsense?" whispered Jem.
"The bird"s being cheered on; some one coming."
_Churr_--_churr_--_churr-ur-ur_! Shrieked the c.o.c.katoo nearer, nearer, and then right in front of the cave, as it flew by.
"All right, Mas" Don; I arn"t going to hargue. You think your way, and I"ll think mine; but if that wasn"t saying in New Zealandee as those two misfortunate chaps is hiding in this here hole, I never lived in Bristol city, and I don"t know sugar from tobacker."
"Hist!" whispered Don.
_Hiss-s-s-s_ came from far in the depths of the cave.
_Gurgle-urgle-gugg-pap_! Went something of a liquid kind.
"Here, I can"t stand this here, Mas" Don," whispered Jem; "let"s make a rush of it; and get right away in the woods."
"Hush! There"s some one coming," whispered Don, drawing his companion farther back into the darkness.
"All right, Mas" Don! Take me in again where the bad air is; poison us both. Good-bye, Sally, my gal. It"s all over now; but I forgives you.
Shake hands, Mas" Don. I don"t bear you no ill-will, nor n.o.body else.
Here they come."
There was a rustling and panting noise, and they were on the tip-toe of expectation, when there was a heavy concussion, a deep-toned roar, and then an echoing rumble as the sound reverberated among the mountains.
Then utter silence.
Jem gripped Don"s arm with force, and stared at him wildly.
"Well!" whispered Don. "It was only a gun from the ship to recall the boats."
Jem stooped down and gave his leg a slap.
"You are a clever one, Mas" Don, and no mistake. Why, o" course it is.
I never thought it was that."
"What did you think it was, then?"
"Some o" them hot water-works gone off, _bang_! And blown up the mountain.--There!"
He pointed to a hideous-looking head appearing above the edge of the shelf, and seen by the evening light as it fell athwart it, the countenance with its blue lines and scrolls ending in curls on either side of the nose was startling enough to make any one fear danger.
The owner of the face climbed up to the shelf, followed by another bronzed figure, when Don recognised the second as the tattooed Englishman, while there was no mistake about the first, for he made Jem give an angry grunt as a human voice shouted,--
"My pakeha."
"Somebody calling you, Mas" Don?"
"My pakeha!" shouted the New Zealander again. "Jemmeree Wimbee."
"Eh! Here, I say, call a fellow by his right name!" cried Jem, stepping forward.
The chief met him with advancing step, and caught him by the shoulders, and before Jem could realise what he was going to do, placed his blue nose against that which was coppery white, and gave it a peculiar rub.
"Here, I say, don"t!" cried Jem, struggling to free himself, when the chief seized Don in turn, and bent down and served him the same.
"Don"t you stand it, Mas" Don. Hit out."
"Don"t you, youngster," said the Englishman. "It"s only his friendly way."