Under her easy canvas the 'Alert' forged ahead. The island, which seemed uninhabited and thickly covered with timber, soon became quite distinct, and well sheltered from the wind under its lee the barque dropped her anchor in four fathoms.
All the canvas, excepting the fore topmast staysail and the spanker, which helped to keep the vessel quiet at her cable, was stowed, but even from aloft no sign of habitation could be seen.
Toward noon that day the barometer rose rapidly, and within a few hours the gale had passed as quickly as it arose, and the water under the lee shore became as smooth as if nothing had occurred. By four o'clock there was such a calm that the 'Alert' could not leave her anchorage.
Captain Thorne felt a little anxious, yet he determined to visit the island, and discover if it was really unoccupied.
'There won't be any wind before to-morrow morning,' he observed to Mr. Statten; 'and if you get a boat ready we'll go ashore.'
That was soon done, and Jack Clewlin took the bow oar.
They presently passed a low point, and on its farther side discovered a narrow creek that seemed to run some distance inland.
'We'll follow it up,' the captain said. 'At the same time, men,' he added thoughtfully, 'keep your eyes wide open, so as not to fall into any trap. Although the Dutch own most of the land hereabouts, their Malay subjects are the most notorious pirates on earth.'
'Ay, ay, sir,' the crew returned.
The creek narrowed down to no more than a couple of fathoms across, and seemed to terminate in dense foliage. But on reaching that the men could perceive a large lake-like stretch of water beyond. There was no difficulty in pushing the boat through the leafy screen. Then, taking to the oars, the men pulled ahead, until a native village of some size suddenly appeared.