Page:Adrift in the Pacific, Sampson Low, 1889.djvu/151

 had now been a fortnight on the island, and if he had not repaired his boat, it was because he had not the took to do so.

"That must be the reason," said Donagan; "for the boat was not damaged very much. If our schooner had not suffered more, we should have had her seaworthy in much less time."

But although Walston had not gone, it was not likely that he intended to settle on Charman Island. Had he done so, he would have made several excursions into the interior, and French Den would certainly have been visited by him.

Then Briant told the others what he had seen regarding the land, which could not be very far off to the eastward.

"You have not forgotten," he said, "that when we went to East River I noticed a white patch a little above the horizon, which I could not at all understand."

"Wilcox and I saw nothing like it," said Donagan, "although we did our best — "

"Moko saw it as distinctly as I did," said Briant.

"Well, that may be," said Donagan. "But what makes you think we are near a continent, or a group of islands?"

"Just this," said Briant. "Yesterday, while I was looking at the horizon in that direction, I saw a light a long way beyond our island, which could only come from a volcano in eruption, and I supposed that there must be some land not far off. Now, the sailors of the Severn must know that, and they would do all they could to get there."

"That is true enough," interrupted Baxter. "They