28
　　A night of talking
　　The children all sat up at once, and the girls thankfully stretched their arms and legs. ‘You areheavy, Philip,’ grumbled¹ Dinah. ‘Oh Bill – what awful bad luck to have no petrol just as we mustbe so near shore!’
　　Jack² reached out for Kiki. His hands felt over her body anxiously, and down her legs, and overher beak³. Where was she hurt?
　　Kiki nestled close to him, murmuring funny little words that had no sense. ‘You’re not hurt,silly bird,’ said Jack thankfully. ‘You made a fuss for nothing. I’m ashamed of you.’
　　‘Poor Kiki, poor Kiki, send for the doctor,’ murmured Kiki, and put her head under her wing.
　　‘She’s not hurt, as far as I can make out,’ said Jack to the others, ‘but she must have had anawful scare. Perhaps a bullet zipped very near her.’
　　‘Oh, forget Kiki for a moment and let’s talk about ourselves,’ said Dinah. ‘Bill, what are wegoing to do?’
　　Bill sat lost in thought. What was the best thing to do? It was no joke to be in charge of fourchildren, with such dangerous enemies so near. Would it be best to make for this lagoon⁴-island,whatever it was? It should at least be within rowing distance. Or would it be best to row furtheron?
　　‘We’ll make for your lagoon-island,’ he said at last. ‘It’s the best idea.’
　　‘It can’t be far away,’ said Jack, straining his eyes in the darkness. ‘I think I can make out adark shape over there. Can you, Philip?’
　　‘Yes,’ said Philip. ‘Look, over there, Bill! Can you see?’
　　‘Not a thing,’ said Bill. ‘But I’ll take your word for it. You youngsters have got such sharp eyesand ears. Now, where are the oars⁵?’
　　They were soon found, and the slow splish-splash of rowing came to the ears of the girls, asthey sat huddled⁶ together for warmth.
　　‘Yes – it is land of some sort,’ said Bill, after a while, with satisfaction. ‘We’ll be

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