nd if no
villages or single dwellings are visible, it will be of no use making
further search for them. It will take several hours to reach the end to
the left there, and that to the right is probably about as far off; but
it is still so hidden by the fog that, at this distance, it can't be
made out."

"And what are the other two to do?" asked Frank.

"They had better stay here and make preparations for supper and passing
the night," said Mr Lavie. "It is still tolerably early, but whoever
goes out to explore won't be back till late in the afternoon, and will
be too tired, I guess, to be willing to set out on a fresh expedition
then. Besides, the night falls so rapidly in these latitudes that it
wouldn't be safe. Now, I have some skill in hut making, and I think you
had better leave that part of the job to me."

"By all means, Charles," said Warley; "and Frank here showed himself
such a capital cook this morning, that I suppose he'll want to undertake
that office again. Well, I'm quite ready. I should like to take the
left side of the bay, Nick, if you've no objection."

"It's all the same to me," said Nick; "anything for a quiet life--and it
seems quiet enough out there anyway. Well, then, I suppose we had
better be off at once, as I don't want to have to walk very fast. I
should like to have Lion, but I suppose he wouldn't follow me."

"No, he's safe to stay with Frank, but you two had better take your guns
with you," said Mr Lavie. "I don't suppose you are likely to meet any
wild animals on these sand flats--nothing worse than a hyena, at any
rate."

"Thank you kindly, Mr Lavie, I don't particularly want to meet even a
hyena," said Nick.

"Pooh, Nick, he wouldn't attack you, if he did meet you. But you may
want our help for some reason or other, which we can't foresee, and we
shall be sure to hear you, if you fire. Here, Nick, you shall have my
rifle for the nonce. It is an old favourite of mine, and has seen many
a day's sport. And here's Captain Renton's rifle for you, Ernest. By
good luck he had asked me to take care of it, so it was safe in my cabin
the day we got away. I've never seen it perform; but if it is only one
half as good an article as he declares, you'll have no cause to complain
of it."

"How was it that the captain didn't take it with him?" asked Gilbert.

"Because they wouldn't let him," said the surgeon. "He asked to be
allowed to fetch it, and looked as savage as he dare