The Letter from Captain Flint
The Swallows were back in real life, almost before they were out of sight of the charcoal-burners.
“They’re the finest savages we ever met,” said Titty. “I expect the serpent is for witchcraft. Medicine men, I should think they are. They’re so old. Medicine men from a wandering tribe from beyond the ranges.”
For a minute or two she was silent. Then suddenly she exclaimed, “Bother the Amazons!”
“Why?” asked Susan.
“Because the Amazons discovered them too. They discovered our island. There’s nothing left for us to discover for ourselves.”
“Well, we did discover them,” said Susan, “and they showed us their adder.”
Titty was cheered by this. “Perhaps they never let the Amazons into their tribal secrets. Perhaps the Amazons have never seen their serpent. Perhaps it’s all right and we really are the proper discoverers. Just seeing a person is nothing.”
“Let’s galumph,” said Roger.
“Come on,” said Titty.
Galumphing, which is partly jumping and partly galloping, is a quick way of going downhill.