"They're still clamoring for you," I said. "Listen!"

The murmur suddenly swelled up into a low distant roar; and
although it was a mile and half away you could distinctly hear
the words,

"Three cheers for Luke the Hermit: Hooray!--Three cheers for his
dog: Hooray!--Three cheers for his wife: Hooray!--Three cheers
for the Doctor: Hooray! Hooray! HOO-R-A-Y!"



THE NINTH CHAPTER

THE PURPLE BIRD-OF-PARADISE

POLYNESIA was waiting for us in the front porch. She looked full
of some important news.

"Doctor," said she, "the Purple Bird-of-Paradise has arrived!"

"At last!" said the Doctor. "I had begun to fear some accident
had befallen her. And how is Miranda?"

From the excited way in which the Doctor fumbled his key into the
lock I guessed that we were not going to get our tea right away,
even now.

"Oh, she seemed all right when she arrived," said