They might be in danger from the storm; but they would be strong and healthy--not thirsting skeletons like the occupants of the pinnace.
"What do you think it is, captin ?" asked the Irishman.

"Moight it be some ship in disthriss ?" Before the captain could reply, the sound came a second time over the waters, with a prolonged wail, like the cry of a suffering sinner on his death-bed.
"The _dugong_!" exclaimed Saloo, this time recognising the melancholy note, so like to the voice of a human being.
"It is," rejoined Captain Redwood.

"It's that, and nothing more." He said this in a despairing tone, for the dugong, which is the _manatee_, or sea-cow of the Eastern seas, could be of no service to them; on the contrary, its loud wailings spoke of danger--these being the sure precursors of a storm.

[Note 1.] To him and Murtagh, the presence of this strange cetaceous animal gave no relief; and, after hearing its call, they sank back to their seats, relapsing into the state of half despondency, half hopefulness, from which it had startled them.
Not so with Saloo, who better understood its habits.

He knew they were amphibious, and that, where the dugong was found, land could not be a long way off.