Jack at Sea Part 68

"About that bird--bird he shot. He said it was a kingfisher."

"Well, so it is. You heard him explain about its habits?"

"Yes; and that's what bothers me. How can it be a kingfisher if it don't fish?"

"You might just as well say, how can it be a kingfisher if it don't fish for kings."

"No, I mightn't, sir," replied Ned, whose illness seemed to have developed a kind of argumentative obstinacy. "n.o.body nor nothing does fish for kings, sir, so that's nonsense. But what I say is, how can that bird be a kingfisher if it don't fish?"

"But it does fish."

"No, it don't, sir; it flits about and catches b.u.t.terflies, and moths, and beetles. Doctor said it never caught fish at all, and never dived down into the water. So what I say is, that it can't be a kingfisher."

"Well, but Doctor Instow says that far away back in the past its ancestors must have lived on fish; and then the land where they were changed, till perhaps it was one like this, with plenty of beautiful little rivers in it, but few fish, and so they had to take to living upon insects, which they capture on the wing, and they have gone on doing so ever since."

"Seems rum," said Ned thoughtfully. "Then I suppose if this island was to change, so that there were no more b.u.t.terflies, moths, or beadles, and more fish took to living in the rivers--they'd take to fishing again?"

"Yes, I suppose so; all things adapt themselves to circ.u.mstances."

"Do they now, sir?"

"Yes; but you don't know what I mean."

"No, sir, I'm blessed if I do."

"How stupid! why don't you ask then?"

"'Cause I don't want to bother you, sir, when you're getting tired."

"What nonsense! Always ask if you don't understand me. I meant that I have read about plants and animals altering in time to suit the place where they are. If dogs are taken up into the arctic regions they get in time to have a very thick fur under the hair; and if they are taken into a hot country like this, they have a very fine silky coat."

"Do they now, sir?" said Ned. "Now I wouldn't have thought that a dog would have so much gumption. But I don't know, dogs are very knowing."

"I don't think the dog has anything to do with it, Ned; it is a natural law. Now, if a fir tree is in a sheltered place, where the soil is deep and sandy, it grows to a tremendous size; but if the seed falls in a rocky place, where it has to get its roots down cracks to find food, and cling tightly against the cold freezing winds, it keeps down close to the ground, and gets to be a poor scrubby bush a few feet high, or less."

"Then the trees have got gumption too, sir. That's better than being blown down."

"I don't know about gumption, Ned; but it's the same with flowers. They grow thin and poor on rocks and stones, and rich and luxuriant on good moist soils, and--Hallo! where are the others? we mustn't be left behind."

"Oh, we're all right, sir. They're only just ahead, and we can't lose ourselves, because all we've got to do is to go back along by the trickling water here. I'll shout if you like."

"Oh no; I could blow my whistle, but I don't want to, because it would startle the doctor. He'd think there was something wrong."

"Don't whistle him, sir. Here's a nice comfortable bit o' rock here; would you like to sit down?"

"You're tired, Ned," said Jack quickly.

"Am I, sir? Well, I dunno--p'r'aps you're right. I s'pose I am a bit f.a.gged. Legs don't seem to go quite so well as they used. If you wouldn't mind, I think I should like just ten minutes' rest to freshen me up a bit."

"Sit down then."

"After you, sir."

"Very well: there. No, sit down--or, better still, lie down on your back."

"Make the things about puzzled, and want to know what I am. I shall be having snakes and lizards going for a walk up my arms and legs, sir.

But I don't know as I mind for a bit--I'll risk it."

Jack had halted at the foot of a perpendicular wall of moss-grown rock, and set the example, after disturbing the gra.s.s and ferns at the foot, of sitting down, and Ned lay at full length.

"Lovely, sir," he said. "It's worth while to get regular tired so as to enjoy a rest like this. I don't s'pose they'll go much farther, and they must come back this way, I suppose."

"I think so, Ned. They couldn't come back through the forest, and they would not as soon as they missed us, they'd be sure to come this way so as to pick us up."

He was silent for a few moments, and then went on softly, as his eyes wandered over the trees and creepers about them--

"How lovely it all is, with the sun sprinkling light through the leaves.

It looks just like silver rain. Look at that great flapping moth.

That must be an Atlas, I suppose. I ought to try and catch it, but it seems such a pity to go out and destroy every beautiful thing one sees, so as to turn it into a specimen. Look at those orchid cl.u.s.ters growing out of the stump where the tree branches. Shall I pick it, Ned? Say yes, and I won't. I haven't forgotten the little snake which crept out on to my hand that time. Hallo! What bird's that? What a chance for a shot!"

As he sat there with a gun across his knees, first one and then half-a-dozen large birds, emboldened by the silence, came stalking out from beneath the bushes, looking something like so many farmyard hens as they began to peck and scratch about.

"What a chance!" thought Jack. "I might get a couple for roasting, but we've killed enough things for one day."

He sat perfectly still, watching the birds till they had crossed a little opening in front and slowly began to make their way up the slope in the direction taken by the doctor, Lenny, and the four men with them.

Then all at once one of the birds uttered a low clucking sound, and stood up with outstretched neck gazing in Jack's direction.

The bird was absolutely motionless for a few moments, then it ducked down its neck and ran off beneath the undergrowth.

"Birds are beginning to know that we're dangerous," he said aloud. "Did you see those, Ned?"

There was no answer, and Jack turned to gaze down at his companion, who was fast asleep and breathing heavily.

"Poor fellow, he is not so strong as he thinks," said Jack to himself, "or else he will not own to his weakness for fear of being a trouble to us. What a wonderful thing strength is! I suppose I'm a good deal st.u.r.dier than I was. Must help father to-night arranging and making notes of some of the insects we got yesterday. Why, we shall have a regular museum by the time we get back to England."

And as he sat there in the calm silence, with the huge trees towering above his head, as if to filter the light and let it fall in streams and drops, it seemed to him that the best way to observe Nature was to sit down perfectly still as he had, and watch. For in different directions he saw next how animal and even insect stole out now to pursue its ordinary courses, and he sat watching till the whole place seemed alive.

Twice over he heard shots, but they were faint and distant, and once there was a peculiar b.u.mp as if a large stone had fallen from far up the mountain side. Then all was still again, and the birds he had seen pause in alarm resumed their pecking and climbing about.

"How soundly he sleeps!" thought Jack; and at last, when a good hour had pa.s.sed away, he began to wish for the return of the doctor and the men, but there was no rustle of leaves, no sound of breaking strand or twig, everything was perfectly still, and the lad shifted his position a little so as to find a place to rest his back, and as he did so a peculiar sensation came over him. It was as if a mental shadow crossed his mind, begetting a shock of dread. The next moment a heavy blow from behind fell upon his head, and all was blank.

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.

THE MISSING PAIR.

"Here! Hi! Jack! Where are you, lad?" There was no reply, and the doctor called the nearest of the men, who were slowly making their way through the dense growth, putting up some strange bird from time to time.