steering her, took out his binoculars, and looked through them at the little Swallow . By now the news had run all over Rio, and up and down the lake, about the way in which the Swallows had found the box that had been stolen from Mr. Turner’s houseboat.
Suddenly a loud cheer sounded over the water, and again and again. The passengers waved their hats, and shouted.
“What is the matter with the natives in the steamer?” said Roger.
Then one of the sailors ran aft to the flagstaff at the steamer’s stern, and the big red ensign dropped to half-mast, and then rose again.
“They’re cheering at us,” said Captain John, turning very red. “How horrible.”
“They’ve saluted,” said Susan. “Oughtn’t we to answer? The Amazons are.”
They could see Peggy at the halyards, busy dipping the Jolly Roger.
Titty shut the parrot in his cage, and lowered Swallow ’s flag, and raised it again.
“It’s a good thing we’re going away,” said Captain John. “They’ll have forgotten by next year.”
The big steamer hurried on. The Amazon headed into a little bay on the western shore of the lake. The Swallow followed her. There were woods all round the little bay, and a small stream ran into it. The Swallows and Amazons landed close by the mouth of the stream.
“What a splendid cove,” said Captain John.
“It’s one of our most private haunts,” said Captain Nancy. “Altogether free from natives. The road’s miles away on the other side of the woods.