The parrots, for such indeed they were, as all the party now realized, continued to talk and scream and chatter, and in a short time the boys and their companions caught sight of a number of them as they came out into a more open bit of woods.

“We were a bit alarmed ourselves, as you may remember,” said Jack, “when we first heard them, and it was some little time before we realized that they were not men.”

“They have caught the talk of men who have been to the island,” added Percival, “and probably that of men who are here now.  That calf is a tame creature and is probably owned by some one now on the island.  The parrots may have heard them.”

“If that is the sort of talk they heard, the birds were not in very good company,” remarked Billy, “and it is just as well that we did not meet them this time.  In fact, I hope we won’t.”

“Well, I’m glad it was only Poll parrots!” grunted Ben, “for I was ready for a fight.”

“I’m glad myself,” echoed Jesse W., greatly relieved, “for I don’t want to get into a fight at all.”

“That accounts for the milk in the cocoanut,” laughed Billy.  “I wondered what you two fellows were laughing at.  If it had been Dick alone I would not have thought so much of it, but Jack has more sense.”

“Thank you,” said Dick dryly.  “I know a tame calf from a wild bull, however, if I haven’t much sense.”

“Come ahead, boys,” said Jack.  “We must get back to the yacht.  If there are other men on the island besides ourselves we do not want to meet them just now.  They are not a desirable lot, most likely.”

The entire party then pushed on, and in a short time reached the shore, got their boat and returned to the yacht.

CHAPTER XIII

A STRANGE LIGHT AT SEA

The captain and Dr. Wise were very much interested in the report that the boys brought back from their walk through the woods, and to the top of the hill in the interior of the island.

“If there are people here they know how to get out through the reefs,” observed the principal, “for they must have come here once, and no doubt are in communication with the people outside.”

“They may have lived here all their lives,” returned the captain.  “I never saw any one on these islands, natives, I mean, that knew very much.  We can’t tell how long they have lived here, they and their ancestors, of course, and these fellows probably don’t know when they came, and don’t suppose there is any other place in the world.”

“H’m! that does not speak for a very high state of intelligence,” remarked the doctor with a grunt.

“You won’t find it in these natives nor even in the half breeds, sir,” the captain returned.  “The rating is pretty low.  It’ll be interesting to see these people, but I don’t think that you will find them very intelligent.  You’d better not expect too much.”