At length dawn broke, and the sun had never been so welcome to the boys as it was then. In the light of day their experience seemed like an awful dream, or would have seemed so, had it not been for the bodies of the three wolves.
The besieged party held a “pow-wow,” and as it was clear that they could not stay where they were indefinitely, they decided to make a break for the ship without further delay.
After a careful reconnoitering of the path, they ventured into it with many misgivings, but could see no sign of the head hunters. They made the best possible speed, and it was not very long before they reached the beach.
Needless to say, the whole ship’s company had been greatly worried over their absence, but their relief was correspondingly great at their safe return. The captain had reinforced Mr. Miller’s complement of men with orders to go in search of the three boys as soon as morning broke. He was prepared to hold them strictly to account for what he thought their rashness, but repressed his censure when he heard their story. The boat was swung inboard, the Fearless gathered way, and the island receding to a point was soon lost to sight in the distance.
[CHAPTER XIV]
The Land of Surprises
“Better fifty years of Europe
Than a cycle of Cathay,”
murmured Dick, yielding once more to his chronic habit of quotation.