"However," broke in Harborough briskly, "since we are looking for the Fusi Yama, investigations on the wooden vessel can wait. When will you feel equal to another ascent, Claverhouse: to-morrow morning?"
Alec looked up and noted the position of the sun. Oblique rays were of little use, but for the next hour operations might be possible.
"I'll go up at once, sir," he replied.
CHAPTER XXI
A Good Night's Work
The Cormorant sea-plane flew for the best part of an hour, covering practically every square yard of the lagoon, and it was not until the sandy bottom began to grow dim in the increasingly-slanting rays of the sun that Claverhouse and Trevear came down.
"Not a sign, sir," replied Trevear. "We could see the wreck of the frigate plainly enough. There are a couple of foul patches, one a little to the south-west of the entrance to the lagoon, and another off the south-eastern point of the island. The Fusi Yama might be lying on the weeds on one of them."
"I don't think so," replied Harborough. "In his yarn Williams mentioned that the German cruiser towed her prize into the lagoon and ported helm when she got inside. So I take it that the object of our search lies northward of a line drawn between the entrance and our shore-station."
"We'll tackle it again to-morrow morning," said Claverhouse. "A little after eleven o'clock is the best time."