Owing to the same cause the summer rains have
excavated a ravine through the crater up above, and a similar passage
exists here, only it happens to run parallel to the line of the cliff.
It extends a good deal beyond its apparent outlet, and is defended by a
dangerous reef. Marcel once landed on a rock during a very calm day,
and saw the opening. He investigated it, luckily for me--luckily, in
fact, for all of us."
Watts interrupted De Sylva's smooth periods by a startled ejaculation,
and Coke turned on him fiercely.
"Wot's up now?" he demanded. "Ain't you sober yet?"
"Some dam thing jumped on me," explained Watts.
"Probably a crab," said De Sylva. "There are jumping crabs all around
here. It will not hurt you. It is quite a small creature."
"Oh, if it's on'y a crab," muttered Watts, "sorry I gev' tongue,
skipper. I thought it was a rat, an' I can't abide 'em."
"Then you must learn to endure them while you are in Fernando do
Noronha itself," went on the Brazilian. "The island absolutely swarms
with rats; some of the larger varieties are rather dangerous."
"Sufferin' Moses!" groaned Watts. "It'll be the death o' me."
"Wot color are they?" asked Coke. De Sylva's reply was given in a tone
of surprise. Certainly these hardy mariners had selected an unusual
topic for discussion at a critical moment.
Pages:
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166