It was a beautiful day, but there was just a little breeze blowing, and the sea was a little "choppy" outside, and, as a consequence, the _Argosy_ rolled a little. After they had been out at sea for about an hour, and the Skipper had been letting them take turns in looking through his telescope, the Dodo suddenly muttered something about having "forgotten his pocket-handkerchief," and hurried down into the cabin. "Why, I didn't know he had one," said Marjorie, wonderingly. [Illustration: "Hope you're feeling better, Sir."] The Skipper winked, and said in a whisper behind his hand, "They always say that; he's gone to lie down, the motion of the boat has made him feel a little seasick." The Dodo didn't come up for a long while and at last the Skipper said he would go down and see if he wanted anything. He found the poor bird looking the picture of misery, lolling limply against the cushioned seat. "Hope you're feeling better, Sir," he said, respectfully, tugging at his forelock. "Oh! oh!" groaned the Dodo. "Do throw me overboard, and let me die." "Nonsense," said the Skipper, cheerfully. "You'll be all right in an hour or two." "Oh, no," said the bird; "I shall never be well again. I have never, never felt so ill in all my life." "Lie down, Sir, and I'll cover you up with this rug," said the Skipper, kindly; "you'll be better presently." "Don't tell the others," gasped the bird, faintly. "All right, Sir," was the reply, and the Skipper went on deck again. The breeze was quite fresh still, and the children had climbed up into the "lookout," and were pointing eagerly into the distance. "Land! over there!" shouted Dick, when he saw the Skipper. "Oh! Ah! It's an island," said the Skipper. "I've been there before. The Archaeopteryx lives there." "The what?" cried the children. [Illustration: "'Charmed to meet you,' said the Archaeopteryx."] "The Archaeopteryx," repeated the Skipper. "It's an awful name, isn't it?" "What is he?" demanded Dick. "A kind of lizardish bird, or a birdish lizard, whichever you like," was the reply. "He's a great swell, I can tell you, and fancies himself immensely." The children were all eagerness to see this strange creature, and could scarcely wait until the ship reached the land. The Skipper went down and told the Dodo, who, directly he heard that they would meet the Archaeopteryx, made a great effort to pull himself together again. "I mustn't let him see me in this state," he declared. "He is a distant relative of mine, and a person of great consequence. Do you think," he continued, addressing the Skipper, "that you could clean up my gloves a little with some bread crumbs, they have become slightly soiled; and would you kindly rearrange my necktie?" These necessary preparations completed, the Dodo staggered up on deck just as the _Argosy_ reached the shore. The Archaeopteryx was waiting for them on the beach, and recognized the Dodo immediately.