Jack reeled off a list of names. Bill, there are thousands and thousands of birds! he cried. Oh, do, do let’s land on the island. Find a way through this ring of rocks somehow. Please, please do.
No, said Bill firmly. I said not. It would be a dangerous business to get to the island even if we knew the way, and I don’t. I’m not risking all our lives for the sake of seeing a few birds at close quarters birds you can see at Craggy-Tops any day.
The sailing-boat went on its way round the island, keeping well outside the wicked ring of rocks over which waves broke continually, sending spray high into the air. The children watched them, and noticed how they raced over the treacherous rocks, making a roaring noise that never stopped. It was somehow very thrilling, and the children felt exultant and wanted to shout.
Jack could see the island most clearly because of his field-glasses. He kept them glued to his eyes, looking at the hundreds of birds, both flying and sitting, that he could see. Philip tapped his arm.
Let someone else have a look too, he said. Hand over the glasses.
Jack didn’t want to, because he was afraid of missing seeing a Great Auk, but he did at last give them to Philip. Philip was not so interested in the birds he swept the coast of the island with the glasses and then gave an exclamation.
Hallo! There are still houses or something on the island. Surely people don’t live there now.
Of course not, said Bill Smugs. It’s been deserted for ages. I can’t imagine why anyone ever did live on it. They could not have farmed it or used it for fishing it’s a desolate, impossible sort of place.
I suppose what I can see are only ruins, said Philip. They seem to be in the hills. I can’t make them out really.
Anyone walking about any of Jo-Jo’s ‘things’? asked Dinah, with a laugh.
No nobody at all, said Philip. Have a look through the glasses, Dinah and then Lucy-Ann. I don’t wonder it’s called the Isle of Gloom. It certainly is a terribly gloomy-looking place nothing alive on it except the sea-birds.
The girls had a turn of looking through the glasses too. They didn’t like the look of the island at all. It was ugly and bare, and had an extraordinary air of forlornness about it.
The sailing-boat went all round the island, keeping well outside the rocks that guarded it. The only place where there might conceivably be an entrance between the rocks was a spot to the west. Here the sea became less choppy, and although spray was flung up high, the children could see no rocks on the surface. The spray was flung by waves racing over rocks nearby.
I bet that’s the only entrance to the island, said Jack.
Well, we’re not going to try it, said Bill Smugs at once. I’m going to leave the island now, and head for calmer water. Then we’ll take down the sail and have our tea, bobbing gently about instead of tossing and pitching like this. Poor Lucy-Ann keeps on turning green.
Jack took a last look through his glasses and gave such a shout that Dinah nearly overbalanced, and Kiki fell off her perch above.
Whatever is it? said Bill Smugs, startled.
A Great Auk! yelled Jack, the glasses glued to his eyes. It is, it is an enormous bird with small wings close to its sides and a big razor-like bill. It’s a Great Auk!
Bill gave the tiller to Jack for a moment and took the glasses. But he could see no Great Auk, and he handed them back to the excited boy, whose green eyes were gleaming with joy.
I expect it’s one of the razorbills, he said. The Great Auk is much like a big razorbill, you know you’ve let your wish be father to the thought, old man. That wasn’t a Great Auk, I’ll be bound.
But Jack was absolutely convinced that it was. He could not see it any longer, but, as they left the island behind, the boy sat looking longingly backwards at it. The Great Auk was there. He was sure it was. He was certain he had seen one. How could Bill suggest it was a razorbill?
Bill Bill do go back, begged Jack, hardly able to contain himself. I know it was an auk a Great Auk. I suddenly saw it. Imagine it! What will the world say if they know I’ve found a Great Auk, a bird that’s been extinct for years!
The world wouldn’t care much, said Bill Smugs drily. Only a few people keen on birds would be excited. Calm yourself a bit I’m afraid it certainly wasn’t the bird you thought.
Jack couldn’t calm himself. He sat looking terribly excited, his eyes glowing, his face red, his hair blown about in the wind. Kiki felt the excitement and came down to his shoulder, pecking at his ear to get his attention.
It was a Great Auk, it was, it was, said Jack, and Lucy-Ann slipped a hand in his arm and squeezed it. She too was sure it was a Great Auk and anyway she wasn’t going to spoil her brother’s pleasure by saying that it wasn’t. Neither Philip nor Dinah believed that it was.
They had their tea on calmer water, with the sail down and the boat drifting where it pleased. Jack could eat nothing, though he drank his tea. Lucy-Ann, hungry now after her sea-sickness, ate Jack’s share of the tea, and enjoyed it. The others enjoyed themselves too. It had been an exciting afternoon.
Can we sail your boat by ourselves some time, as you promised? asked Jack suddenly. Bill Smugs looked at him sharply.
Only if you promise not to go very far out, he said. No rushing off to find the Great Auk on the Isle of Gloom, you know.
As this was the idea at the back of Jack’s mind, the boy went red at once. All right, he said at last. I promise not to go to the Isle of Gloom in your boat, Bill. But may we really go out by ourselves other days?
Yes, you may, said Bill. I think you really know how to manage the boat all right and you can’t come to much harm if you choose a calm day.
Jack looked pleased. A dreamy expression came over his face. He knew what he meant to do. He would keep his word to Bill Smugs he would not go to the Isle of Gloom in Bill’s boat but he would go in someone else’s. He would practise sailing and rowing in Bill’s boat and as soon as he was absolutely sure of handling it, he would borrow Jo-Jo’s boat, and go to the island in that.
This was a bold and daring plan but Jack was so thrilled at the idea of finding a Great Auk, when everyone else thought it was extinct, that he was willing to run any risk to get to the island. He was sure he could find the entrance to the ring of rocks. He would furl the sail when he got near the rocks and do some rowing. Jo-Jo’s boat was big and heavy, but Jack thought he could manage it well enough.
He said nothing to the others whilst Bill was there. Bill mustn’t know. He was jolly and kind and a good friend but he was a grown-up, and grown-ups always stopped children doing anything risky. So Jack sat in the rocking boat and thought out his daring plan, not hearing the others’ remarks or teasing.
He’s gone off to the island to see his Great Auk, said Dinah, with a laugh.
Poor old Jack that bird has quite taken his appetite away, said Philip.
Wake up! said Bill, giving Jack a nudge. Be a little sociable.
After tea they decided to row back, taking it in turns. Bill thought it would be good for them to have some exercise, and the children enjoyed handling the oars. Jack rowed vigorously, thinking that it was good practice for the time when he would go to the island.
Well here we are, safely back again, said Bill, as the boat came to shore. The boys jumped out and pulled it in. The girls got out, bringing the thermos flask with them. Bill pulled the boat up the shore.
Well, goodbye, he said. We’ve had a fine time. Come along tomorrow, if you like, and I’ll let you have a shot at taking the boat out by yourselves.
Oh, thanks! cried the children, and Kiki echoed the words too. Oh, thanks! she said. Oh, thanks; oh, thanks; oh, thanks!
Be quiet, said Philip, with a laugh, but Kiki chanted the words all the way home. Oh, thanks; oh, thanks; oh, thanks; oh, thanks!