“Well,” said the boatswain at last, “even if this shore is not so good as yours in New Switzerland, that’s no reason for not landing on it.”
“Then let us land,” Fritz answered. “I hope we shall find somewhere to shelter at the foot of the cliff.”
“Yes, let us land,” said Jenny.
“Dear wife,” said Fritz, “I advise you to remain here in the boat, with Mrs. Wolston and Dolly, while we make our trip. There is no sign of danger, and you have nothing to be afraid of.”
“Besides,” the boatswain added, “we most likely shan’t go out of sight.”
Fritz jumped on to the sand, followed by the others, while Dolly called out cheerfully: “Try to bring us back something for dinner, Frank! We are relying upon you.”
“We must rely upon you rather, Dolly,” Frank replied. “Put out some lines at the foot of those rocks.”
“We had better not land,” Mrs. Wolston agreed. “We will do our best while you are away.”
“The great thing,” Fritz remarked, “is to keep what little biscuit we have left, in case we are obliged to put to sea again.”
“Now, Mrs. Fritz,” John Block said, “get the stove going. We are not the kind of people to be satisfied with lichen soup or boiled pebbles, and we promise to bring you something solid and substantial.”