to the boat, noticing, as he did so, that
it was full of lobsters.

"Come, Solomon, hurry up. I don't like the boat to be knocking here
this way."

"All right, sah," said Solomon, crawling along rather stiffly; "ben
tied up in a knot all day, an feel so stiff dat I don't know as I'll
git untied agin fur ebber mo. Was jest makin my will, any way, as you
came along."

By this time Solomon had tumbled into the boat, and worked his way aft,
though not without many groans.

"It's de cold rocks, an de wet," he groaned. "Sech an attack o'
rheumaticses as dis ole nigga's gwine to hab beats all! Any how, I ben
an sabed de lobsta. Loss me ole hat, but didn't car a mite fer dat so
long as I sabed de lobsta."

"All right," cried Bart; and at this the two boys pulled away from the
rocks and rounded the point. As they came into the sight of those who
were waiting on the top of the cliff, a shout of joy arose.

XV.

Exploring Juan Fernandez.--The Cliffs.--The tangled Underbrush.--The
Fog Bank.--Is it coming or going?--The Steamer.--Vain Appeals.--New
Plans.

Starting off, as we have seen, to explore the island, Tom first
directed his steps towards the elevated land which has before been
mentioned. At first his path was easy, and the descent very gradual;
but at length it became more difficult, and he had to ascend a steep
hill, which was over-strewn with stones and interspersed with trees and
mounds. Up among these he worked his way, and at length the ascent
ceased. He was on the summit of the island. Here he walked to the
edge of the area on which he stood, and found himself on the edge of a
precipice that went sheer down to a beach, which was apparently two
hundred feet beneath him. The precipice seemed actually to lean
forward out of the perpendicular, and so tremendous was the view
beneath, that Tom, although not by any means inclined to be nervous,
found his head grow giddy as he looked down. Looking forth thus from
his dizzy elevation, he could see across the bay to the New Brunswick
shore, and could mark the general course which his drifting boat must
have taken over those deep, dark, and treacherous waters.

The sea was broad, and blue, and tranquil, and desolate, for even from
this commanding height not a sail was visible. There was nothing here
which could attract Tom's attention for any long period; so he prepared
to continue his progress. In front of him lay a wood, before plunging
in whi