“Is that likely to be the mainland?” said the doctor, by way of answer.
“Not it, sir. One of the hundreds of islands out in these parts.”
“I see no sign of inhabitants.”
“That’s right, sir. Men’s scarce about here. We shan’t see none, and I don’t expect we shall see any ships go by. Skippers give these waters a wide berth on account of the coral reefs. Strikes me that we shall have to make ourselves comf’table and wait till something turns up. The Susan’s as safe as a house. Even if another storm comes, as there will some day, she can’t move. She’ll get to be more of a fixter as the years go by, with the coral growing up all round her.”
“Do you think it will?”
“Think, sir? Why, it grows up just like as if it was so much moss in a wood.”
“Then you are ready to make up your mind to be here for years to come?”
“Yes, sir; aren’t you?”
The doctor shrugged his shoulders.
“We couldn’t be better off, sir. Now, just you wait a bit, sir, and you’ll see something. Directly that young chap’s well enough, we shan’t be able to hold him. He’ll be ’bout half mad with delight. He won’t want to go away—not for a long time, at all events.”