I should just think so, said Jack. I keep on and on thinking of that Great 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 awfully funny if you did, though and came back with it cradled in your arms. Wouldn’t Kiki be jealous?
To the children’s delight, Aunt Polly announced that Jo-Jo was going shopping the next day. So, if you want anything, you must tell him, she said. He has a long list of things to get for me you can add anything you want to it, and give him the money.
They put down a new torch battery on the list. Dinah had left her torch on one night and the battery was now no use. She must have a new one. Jack added another roll of film. He had been taking photographs of the sea-birds round Craggy-Tops, and now wanted a new film to take to the Isle of Gloom with him.
They waited anxiously for Jo-Jo to depart the next day. He seemed irritatingly slow. He started up the car at last and backed it out of the tumbledown shed where it lived. Now don’t you children get into mischief whiles I’m gone, he said, his black face turned suspiciously towards them. Perhaps he sensed that they were wishing him to be gone for reasons of their own.
We never get into mischief, said Philip. Have a good time and don’t hurry back. It will be pleasant without you, for a change.
Jo-Jo scowled, put his foot on the accelerator and shot off at his usual breakneck speed. Can’t think how the old car stands those bumps and jerks, said Philip, watching it go across the cliff and disappear down to the road on the other side. Well he’s gone. Now, what about it? Our chance has come.
In great excitement the children ran down to the beach, and made their way to the big boat. The boys got in. Dinah untied the rope and gave it a push.
Take care of yourselves, called Lucy-Ann anxiously, longing to jump into the boat with them. Do take care of yourselves.
Okay! yelled back Jack, and Kiki echoed the word. Okay, okay, okay, shut the door and wipe your feet!
The girls watched the boys rowing hard, and then they saw them put up the sail as soon as they were out on the open sea. There was a good wind and they were soon moving along at a fine speed.
Off to the Isle of Gloom, said Lucy-Ann. Well, I hope Jack brings back the Great Auk.
He won’t, said Dinah, whose common sense told her that it would indeed be a miracle if he did. Well, I hope they find the entrance to those awful rocks all right. They seem to be managing the boat well, don’t they?
Yes, said Lucy-Ann, straining her eyes to follow the boat, which was now becoming difficult to see, owing to a haze over the water. The Isle of Gloom could not be seen at all. Oh dear I do hope they’ll get on well.
The boys were having a fine time. They found that although Jo-Jo’s boat was heavier and more awkward to manage than Bill’s it was not really difficult. There was quite enough wind and they were simply rushing through the water. It was most exhilarating to feel the up-and-down movement, and to hear the wind in the taut sail, and see the waves racing by.
Nothing like a boat, said Jack happily. One day I’ll have one of my own.
They cost a lot of money, said Philip.
Well, I’ll make a lot, then, said Jack. Then I’ll buy a fine boat of my own, and go sailing off to distant islands inhabited by nothing but birds, and won’t I have a marvellous time!
I wish we could see the island, said Philip. This haze is a nuisance. I hope we’re going in the right direction.
Before they saw the island, they heard the thundering of the waves on the ring of rocks around it. Then quite suddenly, after what seemed a very long time, the island loomed up, and the boys felt the spray from the breaking waves falling finely around them.
Look out we’re heading straight for the rocks! cried Philip in alarm. Take down the sail. We’ll have to row. We can’t manage the boat in this wind it’s got too strong. She’s going too fast.
They took down the sail, got out the oars and began to row. Jack tried to see the high hill. But it was much more difficult to spot the hill in reality than it had been to see it on the map. The hills seemed more or less the same size. The boys rowed round the ring of rocks, keeping well out of reach of the current that swept towards the island.
There’s a high hill see, to the left, suddenly said Jack. Pull towards there, Tufty. That’s right. I believe that’s the one we want.
They pulled hard at their oars, panting and perspiring. Then, as the hill came right into view, the boys saw, to their delight, a gap in the ring of rocks a narrow gap, it is true, but decidedly an opening through which a boat might pass.
Now careful, warned Philip. This is the tricky bit. Watch out. We may get swung off our course and run into the rocks. And anyway, although there are none showing just there, in the gap, there might be some just below the water that would rip the bottom from our boat. Careful, Freckles, careful!
Jack was very careful. Everything depended on getting safely through the gap. The boys, their faces strained and anxious, rowed cautiously. Kiki didn’t say a word. She knew that the boys were worried.
The gap or passage was narrow but long. It was anxious work getting the boat through. Various strong currents seemed to be doing their best to drive her to this side or that, and once the boys felt the bottom being scraped by some rock that was not far below the water.
That was a narrow shave, said Philip, in a low voice. Did you hear that nasty scrape?
I felt it too, said Jack. Hallo we seem to be all right now. I say, how marvellous, Tufty we’re in a channel of perfectly calm water!
Beyond the ring of rocks was a channel or moat of brilliant blue, calm water, gleaming in the summer sun. It was strange to see it after the turbulence of the waves that raced over the rocks. They could hear the thunder of these still.
Not far to the island now, said Philip, thrilled. Come on I’m frightfully tired at least my arms are but we simply must get to land. I’m longing to explore.
They looked about for a good landing-place. The island was very rocky indeed, but in one place there was a tiny cove where sand gleamed. The boys decided to land there.
It was quite easy to land and haul the boat a little way up the beach, though it took all the boys’ strength to pull it up. But Bill had shown them the knack of hauling, and soon they were free to explore the deserted island.
They climbed the rocky cliff behind the little cove, and gazed over that side of the Isle of Gloom.
It was the number of birds that first took the boys’ attention. There were thousands upon thousands, all kinds, all sizes, all shapes. The noise they made was tremendous. They took little notice of the boys, who stood watching them in wonder.
But they were not as tame as they had hoped. Sitting birds flew away as soon as the boys went near. They seemed as wild as those at Craggy-Tops. Jack was disappointed.
Funny! he said. I always thought that birds on a deserted island, where no men ever came, were completely tame. It says so in all my books, anyway. These are quite wild. They won’t let us go really near them.
There were few trees to be seen, and what there were grew in sheltered spots, bent over sideways by the wind that blew across the island. Underfoot was a kind of wiry grass which grew in tufted patches here and there. But even that did not grow everywhere, and the bare rock thrust up in many places.
The boys left the cliff and walked inland, the cries of the thousands of birds in their ears. They made their way towards the hill that towered up in the centre of the isle.
I want to see what those funny buildings are that I saw through the glasses, said Jack, remembering. And oh dear, I do want to find a Great Auk. I haven’t seen a sign of one yet. I keep on looking and looking.