m to keep a tolerably correct course, otherwise it would have
been difficult to determine in what direction they were going. On and
on they went. The hope of obtaining relief for themselves and their
friends kept up their spirits; but Peter Patch at length cried out that
he could go no further. They had brought some baked roots and cooked
wild-fowl with them. A stream which came trickling down the side of the
hill afforded a refreshing draught of water. They would not stop to
light a fire, but, taking a hurried meal, again pushed on. The doctor
himself confessed that he was beginning to get knocked up; still they
thought that they must soon reach a height from which they could make a
signal to the ship. For the last hour or more, however, they had been
unable to get sight of her.

"Had she been at anchor, I should have had more hopes of doing so," said
the doctor; "but still we must not despair."

"That's the hill," cried Willy; "I know it by its shape. If we can get
to the top of it we shall reach the shore in a short time."

The rest of the party thought Willy was right, and thus encouraged, made
their way with renewed ardour. The summit of the hill was free of
trees. They gained it at length. Willy was the first to reach the top.
A cry escaped him. "She is gone! she is gone!" he exclaimed. He waved
his cap frantically; he shouted as if his voice could reach across the
intervening ocean. The rest soon joined him. A ship under all sail was
standing away with a fresh breeze from the land, from which she was
already some three miles distant.

"The smoke of a fire might still attract the attention of those on
board," said the doctor. Willy and Peter ran down the hill, and began
hewing away at the driest bushes they could find. A fire was soon
lighted. More bushes were brought; a thick column of smoke ascended in
the air. How eagerly they gazed at the receding ship. Still she stood
on. No attention was paid to their signal.

"They either do not see it, or think that it is the result of accident,"
observed the doctor.

More bushes were thrown on the fire, and then they hurried down the
hill.

"Perhaps she may be a sealer, and landed some of the crew to catch seals
from the shore. If so, she may return," remarked the captain.

"She does not look like one," said Willy.

The bottom of the hill was reached. They made their way along the
beach. In a sheltered spot a hut was seen. It was rudely