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drowning pig。
While I was clambering along towards the wheel to see the Doctor；
clinging like a leech with hands and legs to the rails lest I be blown
overboard； one of these tremendous seas tore loose my hold； filled my
throat with water and swept me like a cork the full length of the deck。 My
head struck a door with an awful bang。 And then I fainted。
THE FOURTH CHAPTER
WRECKED！
WHEN I awoke I was very hazy in my head。 The sky was blue and the
sea was calm。 At first I thought that I must have fallen asleep in the sun on
the deck of the Curlew。 And thinking that I would be late for my turn at
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the wheel； I tried to rise to my feet。 I found I couldn't； my arms were tied
to something behind me with a piece of rope。 By twisting my neck around
I found this to be a mast； broken off short。 Then I realized that I wasn't
sitting on a ship at all； I was only sitting on a piece of one。 I began to feel
uncomfortably scared。 Screwing up my eyes； I searched the rim of the sea
North； East； South and West： no land： no ships； nothing was in sight。 I was
alone in the ocean！
At last； little by little； my bruised head began to remember what had
happened： first； the coming of the storm； the sails going overboard； then
the big wave which had banged me against the door。 But what had become
of the Doctor and the others？ What day was this； to…morrow or the day
after？And why was I sitting on only part of a ship？
Working my hand into my pocket； I found my penknife and cut the
rope that tied me。 This reminded me of a shipwreck story which Joe had
once told me； of a captain who had tied his son to a mast in order that he
shouldn't be washed overboard by the gale。 So of course it must have been
the Doctor who had done the same to me。
But where was he？
The awful thought came to me that the Doctor and the rest of them
must be drowned； since there was no other wreckage to be seen upon the
waters。 I got to my feet and stared around the sea againNothingnothing
but water and sky！
Presently a long way off I saw the small dark shape of a bird skimming
low down over the swell。 When it came quite close I saw it was a Stormy
Petrel。 I tried to talk to it； to see if it could give me news。 But unluckily I
hadn't learned much sea…bird language and I couldn't even attract its
attention； much less make it understand what I wanted。
Twice it circled round my raft； lazily； with hardly a flip of the wing。
And I could not help wondering； in spite of the distress I was in； where it
had spent last nighthow it； or any other living thing； had weathered such
a smashing storm。 It made me realize the great big difference between
different creatures； and that size and strength are not everything。 To this
petrel； a frail little thing of feathers； much smaller and weaker than I； the
Sea could do anything she liked； it seemed； and his only answer was a lazy；
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saucy flip of the wing！ HE was the one who should be called the ABLE
SEAMAN。 For； come raging gale； come sunlit calm； this wilderness of
water was his home。
After swooping over the sea around me （just looking for food； I
supposed） he went off in the direction from which he had come。 And I was
alone once more。
I found I was somewhat hungryand a little thirsty too。 I began to
think all sorts of miserable thoughts； the way one does when he is
lonesome and has missed breakfast。 What was going to become of me now；
if the Doctor and the rest were drowned？ I would starve to death or die of
thirst。 Then the sun went behind some clouds and I felt cold。 How many
hundreds or thousands of miles was I from any land？ What if another
storm should come and smash up even this poor raft on which I stood？
I went on like this for a while； growing gloomier and gloomier； when
suddenly I thought of Polynesia。 〃You're always safe with the Doctor；〃 she
had said。 〃He gets there。 Remember that。〃
I'm sure I wouldn't have minded so much if he had been here with me。
It was this being all alone that made me want to weep。 And yet the petrel
was alone！What a baby I was； I told myself； to be scared to the verge of
tears just by loneliness！ I was quite safe where I wasfor the present
anyhow。 John Dolittle wouldn't get scared by a little thing like this。 He
only got excited when he made a discovery； found a new bug or something。
And if what Polynesia had said was true； he couldn't be drowned and
things would come out all right in the end somehow。
I threw out my chest； buttoned up my collar and began walking up and
down the short raft to keep warm。 I would be like John Dolittle。 I wouldn't
cry And I wouldn't get excited。
How long I paced back and forth I don't know。 But it was a long time
for I had nothing else to do。
At last I got tired and lay down to rest。 And in spite of all my troubles；
I soon fell fast asleep。
This time when I woke up； stars were staring down at me out of a
cloudless sky。 The sea was still calm； and my strange craft was rocking
gently under me on an easy swell。 All my fine courage left me as I gazed
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up into the big silent night and felt the pains of hunger and thirst set to
work in my stomach harder than ever。
〃Are you awake？〃 said a high silvery voice at my elbow。
I sprang up as though some one had stuck a pin in me。 And there；
perched at the very end of my raft； her beautiful golden tail glowing dimly
in the starlight； sat Miranda； the Purple Bird…of…Paradise！
Never have I been so glad to see any one in my life。 I almost f ell into
the water as I leapt to hug her。
〃I didn't want to wake you；〃 said she。 〃I guessed you must be tired
after all you've been throughDon't squash the life out of me； boy： I'm not
a stuffed duck； you know。〃
〃Oh； Miranda； you dear old thing；〃 said I； 〃I'm so glad to see you。 Tell
me； where is the Doctor？ Is he alive？〃
〃Of course he's aliveand it's my firm belief he always will be。 He's
over