Page:Adrift in the Pacific, Sampson Low, 1889.djvu/40

 it an island, or a continent? That was the question constantly occupying the minds of Briant, Gordon, and Donagan, who by their character and intelligence were the chiefs of this little world. Thinking of the future when the youngsters only thought of the present, they often talked together on the subject. Whether it was insular or continental, the land was evidently not in the tropics. That could be seen by the vegetation — oaks, beeches, birches, alders, pines, and firs of different sorts, and several of the myrtaceae and saxifragaceae which are neither shrubs nor trees. It seemed as though the country must be nearer the southern pole than New Zealand, and if so, a severe winter might be anticipated. Already a thick carpet of dead leaves covered the ground in the wood near the cliff; the pines and firs alone retaining their foliage.

"That is why," said Gordon, "the morning after the wreck I thought it best not to look out for a permanent settlement hereabouts."

"That is what I think," said Donagan. "If we wait for the bad season, it will be too late to get to some inhabited part, for we may have to go hundreds of miles."

"But we are only in the first half of March," said Briant.

"Well," said Donagan. "The fine weather may last till the end of April, and in six weeks we might get well on the road — "

"If there is a road!"

"And why shouldn't there be?"

"Quite so," said Gordon. "But if there is, do you know where it leads ? "