"Why not yesterday?" M. Zermatt answered, with a laugh.
"Since we have surveyed the inside of Pearl Bay already," said Ernest, "it really is better to follow up the eastern coast. The pinnace would go straight to Unicorn Bay and then southwards. We might perhaps discover the mouth of some river which we might ascend."
"That is an excellent idea," M. Zermatt declared.
"Unless perhaps it were better to make a circuit of the island," Mr. Wolston remarked.
"The circuit of it?" Ernest replied. "Oh, that would take more time than we have to give, for when we made our first trip to the Green Valley we could only make out the faint blue outline of the mountains on the horizon."
"That is precisely what it is important to have accurate information about," Mr. Wolston urged.
"And what we ought to have known all about long ago," Jack declared.
"Then that is settled," said M. Zermatt in conclusion; "perhaps we shall find on this east coast the mouth of a river which it will be possible to ascend, if not in the pinnace at any rate in the canoe."
And the plan having been agreed upon, it was decided to make a start on the next day but one.
As a matter of fact, thirty-six hours was none too long a time to ask for preparation. To begin with, the Elizabeth had to be got ready for the voyage, and at the same time provision had to be made for the feeding of the domestic animals during an absence which might perhaps be protracted by unforeseen circumstances.