The captain gave him a queer look, and jerked his head backward, as he stood facing the wheel.
“Forward in the bows?” said the doctor.
“No: look up.”
Sir John and the doctor looked up in astonishment to find that Jack had mounted the mainmast shrouds, and was now perched in the little apology for a top, with his arms about the foot of the topmast, against which he held his glass, gazing east.
Sir John drew a deep breath, and looked at his friend.
“Don’t take the slightest notice,” said the latter; “treat it as quite a matter of course. He has taken his spring and is out of his misery. He won’t want any corks to swim with now, nor for us to hold him up.”
“That’s right, gentlemen,” said the captain. “His spirit’s rising, and that will carry him along. I wouldn’t notice anything.”
“Hi! father!” cried the lad, as he lowered his glass and caught sight of them. “I can’t make much out even here. I say, Captain Bradleigh, are you sure this is the island?”
“Well, I’m sure it’s land,” replied the captain.
“But we don’t seem to get a bit nearer.”