Mother Carey's Chicken Part 70

The peculiar duet rang out over the trees--a loud and piercing cry--and as it died away, Billy caught at Mark's arm, and gripped it tightly; his eyes staring wildly, with the pupils dilating, as from some little distance off on one side there came a mocking "Ha--ha--ha!" and from the other direction a peculiar hoa.r.s.e barking croak, which can best be expressed by the word "Wauck!"

"Let's get away from here, Mr Mark, sir," whispered Billy. "I don't like this."

"Get away?"

"Yes, sir; they're a-making fun of us."

"Who are?"

"Oh, I don't know who they are, sir, but it's something. Let's get away, sir, fast as we can."

"Which way?"

"I d'know, sir, anyways as aren't near them."

"Why, it was a couple of birds of some kind."

"What! them snorky bill birds?" said Billy, alluding to the hornbills.

"Yes, I expect it was one of them, or a kingfisher."

"Birds!" said Billy in tones of disgust. "I never heerd no bird laugh at you when you was in trouble. I'm thinking as there's things in this here place as it wouldn't be nice to meet."

"I daresay there are, Billy; but these were birds."

"Birds! Hark at him! Would a bird shout to you to walk?"

"It didn't. It was a sort of croak."

"If we stops here I shall feel as if I'm going to croak, Mr Mark, sir.

Why, them things made me feel cold all down my back."

"Nonsense! Come, shout again!"

Billy shook his head.

"Shout, I tell you. We don't want to stop here all night."

"No, Mr Mark, sir; don't, please don't. It's like showing 'em exactly where we are."

"Well, that's what we want to do."

"No, sir, I don't mean them. I mean _them_."

"What! the birds?"

"Them warn't birds, Mr Mark, sir," said Billy in a solemn whisper.

"Don't you believe it."

"What were they, then?"

"Things as lives in woods, and never shows theirselves till people lies down and dies, and then they eats 'em."

"What do you mean? Vultures?"

"No, no; not them. I know what a wultur is. These is different things to them. Let's get away, sir, do."

"What do you mean, then?" persisted Mark. "Do you think there are goblins in the wood?"

"Something o' that sort, sir, but don't speak out loud. They might hear, and not like it."

"But goblins out here wouldn't understand English," said Mark laughing; but all the same it was rather a forced laugh, for the little sailor's evident dread was infectious.

"I wouldn't laugh if I was you, Mr Mark, sir. Come along."

"Shout," cried Mark, ashamed of the shadow of cowardice which had begun to envelop him, and he gave forth a loud "Ahoy!"

Ha--ha--ha!

Wauck!

The same two responses, but decidedly closer; and as Billy gripped the lad's arm again they heard from out of the darkest part of the jungle close by a peculiar chuckling, as if some one were thoroughly enjoying their predicament.

"Did yer hear that?" whispered Billy, whose sun-tanned visage was now quite pallid and mottled with muddy grey.

"Yes, I heard it, of course," said Mark, fighting hard with his growing alarm, "Ahoy!"

Ha--ha--ha!

Wauck!

And then the same peculiar low chuckle.

"Mr Mark, sir, this is hard on a man," whispered Billy. "I want to run away, sir, but--"

"Ugh! You coward!"

"No, sir, I aren't a coward. If I was I should run, but I can't run and leave you alone, and that's why it's so hard."

"I tell you it's the birds, Billy. Let's shout together."

"That aren't no birds, sir. It's things as it's best not to talk about.

Now, look ye here, Mr Mark, sir: I'll run away with you, and fight for you, or do anything you like, sir, or I stands by you till I drops, so don't say I'm a coward."

"You are, to be afraid of birds. Ahoy!"

Ha--ha--ha!

Wauck!