Page:Adrift in the Pacific, Sampson Low, 1889.djvu/102

 position the vegetation was more richly developed. Sixty or eighty feet from the ground the trees spread their huge branches, amid which innumerable songbirds chattered. One of the finest of the trees was the antarctic beech, which keeps its tender green foliage all the year round. Not quite so high, but still magnificent, rose clumps of "winters," with bark the flavour of cinnamon.

Near these Gordon recognized the "pernettia," the tea-tree of the whortleberry family, met with in high latitudes.

"That will take the place of our tea," said Gordon. "Take a few handsful of the leaves, and later on we will come back and gather enough for the winter."

It was four o'clock before Auckland Hill was reached near its northern end. Although it did not seem to be as high here as at French Den, yet it was impossible to ascend it owing to its almost perpendicular slope. This was, however, of no consequence, as it was intended to follow its base all the way to Zealand River.

Two miles farther on the boys heard the murmur of a torrent which foamed through a narrow gorge in the cliff, and which was easily forded.

"This ought to be the stream," said Donagan, "that we discovered on our first expedition."

"That in which was the causeway?" asked Gordon.

"Yes," said Donagan, "and which we called Dike Creek."

"Well, let us camp on its right bank," said Gordon. "It is just five o'clock, and if we are to pass another night in the open air, we might as well do it here under the shelter of these big trees. To-morrow, I hope we shall sleep on our beds in the hall."

Service busied himself preparing the second bustard for dinner. It was to be roasted like the other one; but it is not fair to find fault with Service on account of the sameness of his bill of fare.

While dinner was being got ready, Gordon and Baxter strolled off into the wood, one in search of new plants, the other with the intention of using his lasso or