Suppose your antidotes had failed?"

"The doctor fixed on you, Peter, as the least likely to be missed of the
party," said Willy. "You know you have never done anything for the
common good." Peter had, in truth, generally preferred wandering about
the harbour, and scrambling over the rocks, to working.

"But I found the roots, and could have got any quantity," he exclaimed.

"Yes, but you dug none up, and told no one of them," rejoined Willy.

"Well, you shall see that I can be of as much use as you are, Master
Dicey," exclaimed Peter, bristling up.

"Come, boys, no quarrelling," cried the doctor. "It's time we were
moving."

Refreshed by their frugal repast, the explorers proceeded on their way.
They found the road far more difficult than they had expected, and soon
came to the edge of a steep precipice, down which it was impossible to
get; and they had, therefore, to scramble a mile or more before they
found a practicable path into the valley. They went along it for a
considerable distance, hoping to be able to climb up the cliff; but the
sides were perfectly perpendicular, and at last they determined to turn
back and make their way by the shore. Just then Willy, who had run on
ahead, shouted out, "I see a break in the cliff, and very possibly we
may get up by it." His advice was followed, and assisting each other,
they succeeded at length in reaching the higher ground. Another high
and steep hill appeared before them; but they, hoping to find the ground
beyond more easy for travelling over, commenced the ascent. It was,
however, steep and difficult, and in some places they came to
perpendicular precipices, down which a fall would have proved fatal to
any one who had happened to slip.

They had got about halfway down the mountain when a thick mist was seen
sweeping over the sea from the southward. It came on so rapidly that
before they could decide what path to follow they were entirely
enveloped in it. They could now only venture to move with the greatest
caution; any moment they might arrive at the edge of some frightful
precipice similar to those they had before passed. Anxious, however, to
escape the cold and damp to which they were exposed on the mountain
side, they descended by the only practicable route they could find. The
mist every instant grew thicker, and the short day was drawing to a
close. In what direction they were going they could not with any
certainty tell. At last the captain