Біла пташка
Pilkington’s
TheywereadmittedprimarilytogratifyDavid,whowasverysoft-heartedandknewthatwhilehewasontheislandtheymustbemissinghimverymuchathome.Soweletthemin,andtherewasnopartofthestoryhelikedbetterthanthatwhichtoldofthejoyousmeeting.Wewereinneedofanotherwomanatanyrate,someonemoreromanticlookingthanIrene,andMary,Icanassurehernow,hadabusytimeofit.Shewasconstantlybeingcarriedoffbycannibals,andDavidbecamequiteanadeptatpluckingherfromtheverypotitselfandspringingfromclifftocliffwithhislovelyburdeninhisarms.TherewasseldomaSaturdayinwhichDaviddidnotkillhisman.
IshallnowprovidetheproofthatDavidbelieveditalltobeastrueastrue.ItwastoldmebyOliver,whohaditfromourherohimself.IhaddescribedtothemhowthesavageshadtattooedDavid’sfather,andOliverinformedmethatonenightshortlyafterwardDavidwasdiscoveredsoftlyliftingtheblanketsoffhisfather’slegstohavealookatthebirdsandreptilesetchedthereon.
ThusmanymonthspassedwithnowordofPilkington,andyoumaybeaskingwherehewasallthistime.Ah,myfriends,hewasverybusyfishing,thoughIwasasyetunawareofhisexistence.MostsuddenlyIheardthewhirrofhishatedreel,ashestruckafish.Irememberthatgrimdaywithpainfulvividness,itwasawetday,indeedIthinkithasrainedformemoreorlesseversince.AssoonastheyjoinedmeIsawfromthemannerofthetwoboysthattheyhadsomethingtocommunicate.
