But in the excitement of the approach to Cedar Island, which was every moment taking on clearer and clearer outlines as the schooner neared it, Jack forgot everything else. A smart “topsail� breeze was blowing, and under it the schooner swiftly bore down on the island.
The boys saw rough, jagged cliffs shooting up from a sea of the deepest azure blue. The cliffs bunched as they rose, and the island appeared to rise in a sort of cone in the center. It looked gloomy and inhospitable. Even at a distance they could see the white spray as the waves broke against the steep cliffs.
“Look,� cried Jack suddenly, “there’s what gives the island its name, I guess.�
At the summit of the highest point of the island could now be seen a lone tree. It looked as if it were dead and stretched out its naked branches against the sky.
Cap’n Toby was fairly dancing with excitement.
“It’s the place, the place,� he kept shouting, “there’s the lone tree, there are the cliffs, everything is just as Cap’n Walters said it was.�
“It’s a mournful-looking place,� commented Jack.
“What difference, lad,� was Uncle Toby’s retort, “all we’ve got to do is to land, get the stone chest and then yo, ho! for home and riches.�
“I hope your schemes won’t turn out to be false hopes,� said Jack.
“Confound it, lad, you seem to think the stone chest isn’t there.�