“Ahoy!” came now, and as they answered there was a breaking and rustling heard among the trees, shouts and sharp orders could be heard, and in a few minutes the two parties encountered.
“Have you found him?” cried the doctor, for he had known for some moments that he was wrong.
“Found him!” came back in the voice of Sir John, full of agony. “Is not Jack with you?”
The doctor’s answer was a groan before he announced what had happened.
A few minutes’ conversation followed between Sir John and the mate, before the former said sharply, in a tone which cut the doctor to the heart—
“Can you give me no idea where you missed them first?”
“Not the slightest,” said the doctor bitterly. “We are completely lost.”
There was silence for a few moments before Sir John spoke again.
“Go on down to the mouth of the gully,” he said sharply, “and make the best of your way on board.”
“What are you going to do?” said the doctor.