“It is foolish to keep on in this manner. We haven’t come across a tree of any size after walking this distance, although we know there were very many to be seen in the immediate vicinity from the schooner’s deck.”
“The undergrowth is so dense that we shouldn’t know it if one was a dozen feet away,” Nelse replied, fanning himself vigorously, for the heat at this point, where the cooling breezes from the sea could not penetrate, was almost stifling.
“Then there’s all the more reason why we should go back, mark out a course, and follow it by a compass.”
“But I counted on finding what we wanted straight across from the end of the cove,” Gil said, disconsolately.
“It isn’t yet certain that it can’t be discovered,” the mate replied, laughingly. “We are not woodsmen enough to travel a beeline without anything to guide us.”
“It’s positive we’re wasting time roaming around in this manner, so let’s go back.”
“Hold on a little while. I am so nearly roasted that there will be nothing left of me but perspiration if I am forced to take any exercise right away,” Nelse cried, in affected distress.
Each member of the party was more than willing to indulge in a siesta just at this time, and, following the example set by the mate the boys stretched themselves out at full length, regardless alike of snakes or the worshipers of voudoo.
Everything was conducive to slumber, save the winged pests which were particularly active, and, despite even these, all three were soon sleeping soundly; so much so, in fact, that two half-naked negroes passed within three feet of where they were lying without arousing them.
This was possible owing to the fact that the strangers walked with exceeding caution, finding an open way through the foliage where seemingly none existed, and circling around the sleepers without so much as a rustling of the leaves.