“I should not be at all surprised.”
“And, in fact, there would be nothing surprising in it.”
“As for the lands seen by Dirk Peters,” said the boatswain, “where the men of the Jane might have landed on one or another of them, I don’t believe in them.”
“Why?”
“Because William Guy, who can only have had a small craft at his disposal, could not have got so far into these seas.”
“I do not feel quite so sure of that.”
“Nevertheless, Mr. Jeorling—”
“What would there be so surprising in William Guy’s being carried to land somewhere by the action of the currents? He did not remain on board his boat for eight months, I suppose. His companions and he may have been able to land on an island, or even on a continent, and that is a sufficient motive for us to pursue our search.”
“No doubt—but all are not of your opinion,” replied Hurliguerly, shaking his head.
“I know,” said I, “and that is what makes me most anxious. Is the ill-feeling increasing?”