We also saw a great variety of
small birds of bright plumage, and many paroquets similar to the one
that awoke Peterkin so rudely in the morning.
Thus we advanced to the foot of the hill without encountering anything
to alarm us, except, indeed, once, when we were passing close under a
part of the hill which was hidden from our view by the broad leaves of
the banana trees, which grew in great luxuriance in that part. Jack was
just preparing to force his way through this thicket, when we were
startled and arrested by a strange pattering or rumbling sound which
appeared to us quite different from any of the sounds we had heard
during the previous part of our walk.
"Hallo!" cried Peterkin, stopping short and grasping his club with both
hands, "what's that?"
Neither of us replied; but Jack seized his axe in his right hand, while
with the other he pushed aside the broad leaves and endeavoured to peer
amongst them.
"I can see nothing," he said, after a short pause. "I think it--"
Again the rumbling sound came, louder than before, and we all sprang
back and stood on the defensive. For myself, having forgotten my club,
and not having taken the precaution to cut another, I buttoned my
jacket, doubled my fists, and threw myself into a boxing attitude. I
must say, however, that I felt somewhat uneasy; and my companions
afterwards confessed that their thoughts at this moment had been
instantly filled with all they had ever heard or read of wild beasts
and savages, torturings at the stake, roastings alive, and such like
horrible things.
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