Page:Adrift in the Pacific, Sampson Low, 1889.djvu/115

Rh Woods, with this difference, that green-oaks, cork-oaks pines and firs were in the majority.

Among others—although his knowledge of botany was much less than Gordon's—Briant recognized a certain tree which he had seen in New Zealand. The branches of this tree spread out in umbrella-shape quite sixty feet above the ground, and bore conical fruits three or four inches long, pointed at the end, and covered with glittering scales.

"That is a stone pine," said Briant.

"If so," said Moko, "let us stop for a minute or two. It will be worth while."

A movement of the oar steered the yawl into the left bank. Briant and Jack jumped out. A few minutes afterwards they came back with an armful of the fruits, each of which contained a kernel of oval form, coated with a thin skin, and tasting like a hazel-nut. It was a valuable find—as Gordon told Briant on his return—on account of the oil that the fruits yielded.

It was important to discover if the forest had as many animals as those on the other side of the lake, and Briant kept his eyes open. He saw a lot of nandus in full flight, and a herd of vicugnas, and even a couple of guanacos ran past with incredible swiftness; and as to the birds, Donagan ought to have been there for a shot or two. But Briant resisted the temptation to waste his powder, as the yawl was amply provisioned.

Towards eleven o'clock the trees began to open out. Here and there little gaps and glades were noticed. The breeze was more and more salt, indicating the nearness of the sea. A few minutes later, beyond a clump of green oaks, a bluish line appeared. It was the horizon.

The yawl still drifted down with the tide, but more slowly now than at first. The ebb was hardly noticeable now, and East River had become nearly fifty feet wide.

They reached the rocks by the sea-shore; Moko