It is bad for my plumage.

May I give an order to your followers, bird-brother ?' 'Give,' said the master gull, with a graceful wheel and whirl of his splendid wings.
'Let four of my brothers raise this detested trap high above the waves,' said the parrot, 'and let others of you, with your brave strong beaks, break through the bars and set me free.' 'Delighted,' said the master gull; 'any little thing, you know,' and his own high-bred beak was the first to take hold of the cage, which presently the gulls lifted in the air and broke through, setting the parrot free.
'Thank you, brother-birds,' the parrot said, shaking wet wings and spreading them; 'one good turn deserves another.

The beach yonder was white with cockles but yesterday.' 'Thank you, brother-bird,' they all said, and flew fleetly cocklewards.
And that was how the parrot got free from the cage and went back to the shore to have that little talk with the blugraiwee which I told you about in the last chapter.
* * * * * * The ark was really very pleasant by daylight with the sun shining in at its windows.

The sun shone outside as well, of course, and the Union Jack waved cheerfully in the wind.

Breakfast was served on the terrace at the end of the ark--you know--that terrace where the boat part turns up.