“What a view!” cried Drew. “Oughtn’t we soon to see the brig?”
“No,” replied Oliver; “if we cannot see the mountain from the vessel, how can we expect to see the vessel from the mountain? Ready to go on?”
“Yes, directly,” said Panton. “You can see the ocean, though, and the surf on the barrier reef. But I don’t see any sign of savages.”
“Phew! What’s that?” cried Drew, suddenly.
“Puff of hot air from the mountain, or else from some crack. There must be one near.”
Oliver looked round and upward, but no inequality was visible, and they climbed slowly and steadily up for some hundred yards before Panton, who was now first, stopped short.
“I say, look here!” he cried. “We’re done, and must go back.”
Oliver joined him, and then gazed away to the west.
“This is the great crack I told you about,” he said, “but it is much narrower here.”
“And not so deep, eh?” said Panton, with a slight sneer.