“Why there, and not anywhere else?”
“’Cause that’s the place any one used to making fires on the rivers would pick at once. It’s shaded from the wind, handy to the trees, so as to get plenty of dead wood, and nigh the river to fetch water.”
“But the other side would have done as well,” said Rob excitedly.
“No, it wouldn’t, sir, for the wind ketches there, and the sparks and smoke would be blowing all over the place. I say, is this the place where we left the boat this morning?”
“I—I dare not say, Naylor,” replied Brazier, after a little hesitation. “I am so faint and worn-out that I too cannot be certain.”
“I’m sure it is,” said Rob quickly.
“There’s some one who can think, then,” cried Shaddy. “Stop a moment, though, Mr Rob, sir. Tell me how is it you are sure?”
“Because I noticed that big tree on the other side of the water—that one out of which those two big birds flew. There, you can see it plainly against the sky.”
“Bah! nonsense, my lad! There are thousands of those great trees about.”
“But not like that, Shaddy,” said Rob eagerly. “Look there against the light. It’s just like a man’s face, a giant’s, as if he were lying on his back, and you can see the forehead, nose, and chin, and a big beard quite plainly.”