And if it did, I don't suppose the King of the Rain would have understood one word of it.

Look here, great god, allay your fears.

You're a terrible coward.

I expect the real fact about the parrot is this: it is the last of its own race; it speaks the language of some tribe of men who once inhabited these islands, but are now extinct.

No human being at present alive, most probably, knows one word of that forgotten language." "You think not ?" Tu-Kila-Kila asked, a little relieved.
"I am the King of the Birds, and I know the voices of my subjects by heart; I assure you it is as I say," M.Peyron answered, drawing himself up solemnly.
Tu-Kila-Kila looked askance, with something very closely approaching a wink in his left eye.