human
Suspicion,
gpt
Miserable wretches! Do they think I want to poison them?
human
No. I'll tell you, said Morny.
gpt
Poor creatures, they have been so ill-used by the white people with black hearts who come to these shores that they think the food you have put there is the bait of a trap.
human
To catch blackbirds! Why, of course! They think we want to carry them off for slaves. They're as bad as old Captain Chubb; eh, uncle? He took us for slavers, Morny, when uncle wanted to engage him. Well, I forgive them, poor chaps.--Ah, they think it's safe now. They're going to risk taking the bait.
gpt
Oh, never mind the sun being hot, uncle, cried Rodd, as they went on and on.
human
I don't mind if I'm half roasted. Look, Morny; did you ever see anything so lovely? Look at the flowers on that great tree. Why, it seems to blaze with scarlet.
gpt
Yes, and look at the birds, was the reply.
human
I wish my father were here, with his mind at rest, to enjoy all this as I do, or should if he were with us. There, quick! What's that--running in there among the leaves on that tree?
gpt
Snake, cried Rodd, who just caught sight of the movement.
human
No. Who ever saw a snake with four legs? Why, it's a great lizard of a thing! Why, uncle, that must be one of those queer chaps that turn all sorts of colours.
gpt
Yes, said the doctor,
human
and he focussed upon it a little old-fashioned single opera-glass which he carried in his pocket.
gpt
That's a chameleon, sure enough; and a big one too, I should say, though it's the first one I ever saw alive.
human
What's he after?
gpt
Having a game, catching butterflies, I think, sir, suggested Joe Cross.
human
So he is, Joe.
gpt
Why, Master Rodd, it makes us chaps wish we was boys again and ashore there running after them butterflies with our caps; only one couldn't run among the trees, and they fly too high. I never see flutterbies, as we used to call them, with colours like these, though. We used to catch white 'uns, and yaller ones, and sometimes what we used to call tortoiseshells. But I call all this 'ere--Look there, sir; there's one as big as my hand--two--lots on 'em! Yes, I do call this 'ere dead waste both of the butterflies and the birds.
human
Why, my man?
gpt
Why, sir, everything you see flying about in the air is as lovely as lovely, and no one to look at them. Why, if I had my way I'd have all these sort of things flying about in old England. Yes, sir, they are all wasted here.
human
That they aren't, Joe, cried Rodd.
gpt
We are looking at them, and enjoying them; and I say, uncle, isn't it time we began to get some specimens?
human
Plenty of time yet, my boy. Why, captain, the country here on either side is very beautiful.
gpt
Satisfied, then?
human
Thoroughly, replied the doctor,
gpt
But I say, captain, cried Rodd,
human
Oh no, said the Spaniard.
gpt
Farther on yet; and I can't be sure. There are plenty in the woods one day, and the next they are gone. But we shall come across some of them.
human
Just look at him, said Rodd.
gpt
He doesn't seem to take notice of anything.
human
These things have grown common to him, replied Morny quietly;
gpt
Don't say there are any of those great reptiles here,
human
No, I have not seen one to-day; but look at the fish we disturb. They go gliding away to right and left like so many flashes of silver and gold.
gpt
Now, boys, there's something, said the doctor.
human
Right across the river.