They seemed to be low coral islands, raised but little
above the sea, yet covered with cocoa-nut trees.
All this we noted and a great deal more, while we sat on the top of the
mountain. After we had satisfied ourselves we prepared to return; but
here again we discovered traces of the presence of man. These were a
pole or staff and one or two pieces of wood which had been squared with
an axe. All of these were, however, very much decayed, and they had
evidently not been touched for many years.
Full of these discoveries we returned to our encampment. On the way we
fell in with the traces of some four-footed animal, but whether old or
of recent date none of us were able to guess. This also tended to raise
our hopes of obtaining some animal food on the island, so we reached
home in good spirits, quite prepared for supper, and highly satisfied
with our excursion.
After much discussion, in which Peterkin took the lead, we came to the
conclusion that the island was uninhabited, and went to bed.
Chapter VII
Jack's ingenuity--We get into difficulties about fishing, and
get out of them by a method which gives us a cold bath--Horrible
encounter with a shark.
For several days after the excursion related in the last chapter we did
not wander far from our encampment, but gave ourselves up to forming
plans for the future and making our present abode comfortable.
There were various causes that induced this state of comparative
inaction.
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