Page:Adrift in the Pacific, Sampson Low, 1889.djvu/136

 same trees appeared the best thing to do, and that is what was done.

Eight months before, when Briant had stopped at the same place, he little thought that four of his companions would come here in their turn, with the intention of living by themselves in this part of Charman Island. And perhaps Cross, Wilcox, and Webb, when they found themselves far from their comfortable beds in French Den, felt more regret at being there. But their fate was now bound up with Donagan's and Donagan was too vain to acknowledge his mistakes, too obstinate to abandon his plans, and too jealous to give in to a rival.

Next morning Donagan proposed to cross the river at once.

"Having done that," said he, "we can spend the day in getting down to the sea, which is under six miles from here."

"Yes," said Cross. "And it was on the left bank that Moko found the pine cones, and we can gather our food as we go."

The indiarubber boat was then unpacked, and as soon as it was in the water Donagan worked it across to the opposite bank, towing a line behind as he did so. With a few strokes of the paddle he was soon across the forty feet of the river's width. Then, by pulling at the line, Wilcox, Webb, and Cross got the boat bade while Donagan let out a line from his side, and so in four trips all were on the left bank of the river.

That done, Wilcox folded up the boat as if it were a travelling-bag, and put it on his back. It would, of course, have been less fatiguing to have floated down East River in the yawl, as Briant, Jack and Moko had done, but the indiarubber boat could only take one passenger at a time, and the river voyage was not to be thought of.

It was not easy travelling. The forest was so dense, the ground bristled with thick patches of underwood, and was strewn with branches broken off in the recent