'Well, sir, as we come along, Meek and me was saying a few things about the Dutchman's trousers, and seeing as they 'd no mark of being in sea-water, it come into my head that he didn't get ashore swimming. And from that--which I know the little ways o' seamen--I somehow couldn't help guessing that he might 'a got restless like, and hopped the twig.'
'Deserted his ship, sir,' explained Meek.
'Got a bit wild like, and gone a-roaming,' added Grinson. 'Seemingly he's got it again.'
'Nonsense!' exclaimed Trentham. 'He isn't an ass!'
'Guess we 'd better look for him,' said Hoole. 'He 's got my watch.'
CHAPTER V
IN THE TOILS
Trentham looked round. Mushroom Hill reared its strange form into the sky on their left hand--forty miles away, Haan had said. Between it and them stretched unbroken forest, an undulating sea of green. There was forest on their right, in front, behind.
'It's like looking for the proverbial needle in the bundle of hay,' he said.
'But we might track him through the undergrowth,' suggested Hoole. 'He couldn't pass without leaving traces--a big fellow, with big boots.'