Page:Adrift in the Pacific, Sampson Low, 1889.djvu/117

Rh "Are you afraid to travel during the night?" asked Briant.

"No," said Moko, "and there would be no danger, for we shall have the moon. Besides the course of the river is so straight that we can steer the boat with an oar all right. And if the stream meets us we can row up, or if it is too strong we can run ashore and wait till it is day."

"Then let it be so," said Briant, "and now we have twelve hours before us, let us make the most of them to complete an exploration."

And the time was spent in visiting this part of the coast where the trees came down to the very edge of the rocks. The birds were as numerous as at French Den, and Briant was able to shoot a few tinamous for supper.

The main feature of the coast was the heaped-up granite masses that made the place a sort of field of Karnak, where the arrangement owed nothing to the hand of man.

In the space of half a mile Briant found a dozen halls and store-rooms that would have sufficed for the wants of the little colony.

He was naturally led to inquire why Baudoin had not taken up his quarters on this side of the island. There was no doubt he had visited it, for the main lines of the coast were accurately shown on the map. That he had left no trace behind him was probably because he had fixed his home at French Den, before he had explored this eastern territory, and finding the shore more exposed to the storms from the sea, had thought it best to remain where he was.

At two o'clock the time appeared favourable for a careful examination of the offing. Briant, Jack, and Moko set to work to scale an enormous rock which in outline somewhat resembled a bear. The block was about a hundred feet away from the little harbour, and it was not without difficulty that they clambered to its top.

When there, they looked back over the island. To