"Don't you want some of the ladies to go too?" asked Shaw.
"I've no objection, I'm sure," said Thompson.
"I think you'd better leave the women out of it," said Captain Staveley; "I shouldn't like to have the responsibility on my mind if anything did happen, you know, and I fancy we're going to make rather a leap in the dark."
"All right," rejoined Rivers. "Then we'll start at daylight to-morrow. What do you say, you chaps?"
Everybody agreed to this proposal; and I shortly had a message telling me that the chief wanted me.
"There's a sporting party going out to-morrow, Hardy. You take six hands with you, armed with cutlasses, and go with the party. You must use your own discretion and act according to circumstances."
Next morning we all set off at the appointed hour, having been landed on some rocks at a little distance from the ship. The Lascars appeared to enjoy the chance of stretching their legs, and followed in the steps of the party led by Mr. Rivers, chattering like schoolboys out for a holiday.
"We'll make for that spur that sticks out seawards half-way[!-- [Pg 226] --] up the mountain," said Rivers. "I've got a compass on my watch-chain, and it bears just a little to the west of south from us, so we shall know the opposite bearing will take us back to the ship."
"That's a very sensible precaution of yours," said the professor. "How many miles do you reckon we are from the foot of the mountain?"
"Five or six miles," was the reply.