16
　　Strange discoveries
　　The next three days the children worked hard at rowing and sailing, untilthey were perfectly² at home in Bill’s boat, and could handle it almost aswell as Bill. He was pleased with them.
　　‘I must say I do like to see children sticking to things, even if it meanshard work,’ he said. ‘Even old Kiki has stuck to it too, sitting on the sail,over-balancing half the time, but not dreaming of letting you go byyourselves. And as for Lucy-Ann, she’s the best of the lot, because she hashad to fight seasickness³ a good part of the time.’
　　That afternoon, having first seen that Joe was safely in the yard at theback of the house, pumping up water from the deep well there, the childrenwent to examine Joe’s boat carefully, to see if they could possibly handle itthemselves.
　　They stood and looked at it bobbing on the water. It was bigger thanBill’s, but not very much. They felt certain they would be all right in it.
　　‘It’s a pity Kiki can’t row,’ said Jack⁴. ‘She could take the third pair ofoars and we could get along fine.’
　　‘Fine,’ said Kiki. ‘Fine. God save the Queen.’
　　‘Idiot,’ said Philip affectionately. He was as fond of Kiki as Jack andLucy-Ann were, and the bird went to him readily. ‘I say, Freckles⁶ – Iwonder when Joe is going to town again. I’m longing⁷ to try my hand at theboat; aren’t you?’
　　‘I should just think so,’ said Jack. ‘I keep on and on thinking of thatGreat Auk I saw. I shan’t be happy till I’ve seen it close to.’
　　‘Bet you won’t find it,’ said Philip. ‘It would be awfully⁸ funny if you did,though – and came back with it cradled in your arms. Wouldn’t Kiki bejealous?’
　　To the children’s delight, Aunt Polly announced that Joe was goingshopping the next day. ‘So if you want anything, you must tell him,’ shesaid. ‘He has a long list of things to get for me – you can add anything youwant to it, and give him the money.’

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