Peter said he had
seen two or three creatures, which seemed from their movements to be
like cats, stealing by; but each time, before he could get a shot, they
had disappeared. Nothing else had occurred.

As the sun rose the mist cleared off; and as soon as they had
breakfasted the doctor proposed that they should once more climb the
mountain, in order to ascertain what direction to take. They had not
gone far when some footmarks were observed on the soft ground over which
they were crossing. The doctor examined them. "Hogs," he exclaimed.
"We shall have pork for dinner soon, I hope. They, at all events, are
always in season, and will not take their departure like the seals and
wild-fowl. We shall not starve here if like wise men we exert our wits.
Cats and dogs may serve us at a pinch; I prefer bacon. Captain, I
daresay you will manage to shoot a porker before long."

This discovery put the whole party in spirits, the doctor was so
positive about the matter. Willy had gone on as usual some way ahead,
when, looking out in the direction the smoke had been seen, he caught
sight of a large vessel hove to close to the shore. He could scarcely
believe his eyes. He rubbed them again and again. There was no doubt
about it. He waved to his companions, who made their way up to the rock
on which he was standing. He pointed in the direction of the vessel.

"She is a long way off from this," observed the doctor, after looking at
her for some moments. "We must get down to the beach as fast as we
can."

"What has brought her in here, I wonder?" said Captain Twopenny.

"Probably the smoke we saw yesterday may have something to do with the
matter," observed the doctor. "At all events, there is no time to be
lost."

He gazed as he spoke over the intervening country. There were deep
valleys to be passed, and steep hills, with rugged rocks and precipices,
to be scaled. Having taken the bearings of the vessel, they set out.
They first had to descend the mountain side. They soon came to a soft
boggy ground, and were obliged to make a wide circuit to avoid it. Not
without considerable difficulty did they at length reach the bottom of
the valley. A stream was to be crossed; they waded through it,
regardless of the cold. Now they came to a precipice. Considerable
time was spent before they could find a way to the top. Then they were
involved in a labyrinth of huge rugged rocks. The sun shining brightly
enabled the