Summary

Chapter V – Declan charts a course for islands that are American territories, for these islands have small populations and are often unoccupied except for occasional scientific expeditions. Both Piko and Declan talk about how they are amazed at Pipa’s ability to commune with birds. Two young island rats, called kiore, are discovered on board and become the fifth and sixth passengers of the Plover. An injured warbler becomes the seventh, and a few snails and some screw pine seeds become additional passengers. As they sail, they encounter a patch of garbage a mile long and a mile wide, which has become a false reef to all kinds of wildlife. Everyone spends a day making flags and pennants for the Plover, including Taromauri, who says she hopes her island home will one day become its own proud country. The Plover is also...