“Because the charts don’t show any, does it follow that there aren’t any?” Fritz remarked. “The position of New Switzerland was not known and yet——”
“Quite true,” Harry Gould replied; “that was because it lies outside the track of shipping. Very seldom, practically never, do ships cross that bit of the Indian Ocean where it is situated, whereas to the south of Australia the seas are very busy, and no island, or group of any size, could possibly have escaped the notice of navigators.”
“There is still the possibility that we are somewhere near Australia,” Frank went on.
“A distinct possibility,” the captain answered, “and I should not be surprised if we are at its south-west extremity, somewhere near Cape Leeuwin. In that case we should have to fear the ferocious Australian natives.”
“And so,” the boatswain remarked, “it is better to be on an islet, where at any rate one is sure not to run up against cannibals.”
“And that is what we should probably know if we could get to the top of the cliff,” Frank added.
“Yes,” said Fritz; “but there isn’t a single place where we can do it.”
“Not even by climbing up the promontory?” Captain Gould asked.
“It is practicable, although very difficult, as far as half way,” Fritz answered, “but the upper walls are absolutely perpendicular. We should have to use ladders, and even then success isn’t certain. If there were some chimney which we could get up with ropes, it might perhaps be possible to reach the top, but there isn’t one anywhere.”
“Then we will take the boat and reconnoitre the coast,” said Captain Gould.