s remarkably clear, the whole group could be seen,
extending for about thirty-five miles in length from north to south, and
fifteen miles at the broadest part from east to west. Several deep
indentations forming harbours were observed, while a number of reefs,
over which, even on that calm day, the surf broke violently, extended
from the shore to a distance of ten miles. In the far north an island
of some size could be seen, while several smaller islands appeared close
to the rocky coast. The shores everywhere appeared clothed with scrub
and stunted timber, but on some of the hills the trees were of
respectable height and size.

"See," cried Willy, pointing to the north-east. "Is that smoke? Can it
be a burning mountain?"

All the party looked, and though their eyes were not so keen as Willy's,
they also distinguished a thick wreath of smoke ascending in the clear
air. Though it was at a considerable distance off, yet, eager to
ascertain its cause, they determined to make their way towards it.
After descending the mountain for some time, hunger compelled them to
stop, as they had eaten nothing since daybreak. A fire was soon
lighted, and their seal-steaks were soon spitted on sticks before it;
while the doctor, after scraping several of the roots which he had just
discovered, put them into the hot ashes. On being raked out, they were
found to be tolerably well done, though somewhat hard and dry; but to
people who had eaten neither bread nor vegetables for many weeks they
were very welcome.

"We shall find a better way of cooking them by-and-by," observed the
doctor. "We will try how they answer scraped or pounded; and though
they may not be very palatable, they will assist materially in keeping
us in health. Well, Peter, do you feel any uncomfortable sensations."

"I hope not," answered the midshipman, surprised at the question.

"We may then venture to make our desert on the berries," said the
doctor, laughing. "We are much obliged to you for having proved them
not to be poisonous, but I had my doubts, I confess."

"What a shame!" cried Peter. "Suppose I had died, what would you have
said?"

"Oh, there was no fear of that," answered the doctor. "In case of
accidents I brought some antidotes in my pocket, and should soon have
got you round again."

"The next time, please make your experiments on Dicey," cried Peter.
"It is not fair that I should be the only one to run the risk of being
poisoned.