Part 10 (1/2)
”Well--uh--no, I don't”
”There you are!” the Phoenix crowed
The Sea Monster, looking rather ruffled, pointedly turned from the Phoenix and said to David, ”What should you like to do, David?”
David suddenly remembered what they had come for, and the excitement rushed back into his heart He opened hisfor treasure!” and then stopped short Asking forto do--especially fro how the Sea Monsteraround for its treasure So he looked at the Phoenix and waited for it to speak
The Phoenix caught David's glance, cleared its throat several tietically at the Sea Monster ”Monster, old chap,” it said soothingly, ”I a doubted you just now
Deeply sorry”
”Quite all right,” said the Sea Monster stiffly
”Yes,” the Phoenix continued, ”we both know that you have passed through perilous tiers which (I must confess) would have left _hed sadly, but its whiskers were beginning to rise again
”The Monster bears up very well under this fearful strain--don't you think so, nificent”
The Sea Monster's whiskers were quivering with pleasure
”Monster, old chap, old friend, you were never one to let a boon companion down If I have said it once, I have said it a hundred times: 'The Sea Monster,' I have said, 'the Sea Monster is the helpful sort Mention the words Staunch Friend,' I have said, 'and immediately the Sea Monster coan to pat the Sea Monster's flipper
”Monster, old chum, we--ah--we--Well, the plain fact is that we--ah--we have need of--such a trifling h) ”that I should not really bring it up at all
Ah--we need a bit of ed
”Now, please do not be offended, Monster,” said the Phoenix hastily
”After all, you have no need for the treasure, and it does absolutely no good buried under the ground”
”It doesn't do any harm there, either,” said the Sea Monster ”Really, Phoenix, I never thought _you_--”
”Monster,” said the Phoenix solemnly, ”_this_--is a matter of life or death”
”Life or death--ha!”
”Please, Monster,” said David ”It really is life or death, because the Scientist is chasing the Phoenix, and the Phoenix has a plan to escape him, and we need some money to carry out the plan so the Scientist can't hurt the Phoenix”
”A few s sht After which you ged
The Monster looked at David, and at the Phoenix, and then at David again, and then at the lagoon It sighed a very doubtful sigh
”Ohall right,” it said reluctantly ”But for goodness sake, don't go telling anyone where you found it”
”Of course not,” said the Phoenix And David leaped up and shouted ”Hooray!” and grabbed the spade and his jacket