Two.
From the point where they had spent the night, a chain of hills ran back inland. They followed these hills to the north for some miles and then, still keeping to the hill-tops, turned toward the west. In the late afternoon, under Hawk-Eye’s skillful leadership, they came again to the place where they had crossed the isthmus that connected them with the mainland.
Hawk-Eye was some distance ahead of the others when he came out upon the high bluff that overlooked the channel and the isthmus. Suddenly he stopped with a cry of astonishment and stood still, his eyes staring.
Limberleg and the Twins rushed to his side.
“What is the matter?” they cried. For answer Hawk-Eye only pointed. Before them there was nothing but open water! A whole section of the neck of land which they had crossed only the day before had been swallowed up by the sea!
Where it had been, a mile of blue water now sparkled in the sun! They were completely shut off from the main land. When she realised what had happened, Limberleg sat heavily down on a log.
“The world isn’t the same after all,” she cried. “It’s broken! Part of it has sunk beneath the waters!”
“Won’t it ever get mended?” asked Firefly anxiously.
“Shan’t we ever get back to the cave, then?” cried Firetop.