But Godfrey suddenly uttered an exclamation3 which made the professor jump. There could be no doubt that the savages4 knew the island was inhabited, for the flag hitherto hoisted6 at the extremity7 of the cape8 had been carried away by them and no longer floated on the mast at Flag Point. The moment had then come to put the project into execution, to reconnoitre if the savages were still in the island, and to see what they were doing.
"Let us go," said he to his companion.
"Go! But—" answered Tartlet.
"Would you rather stay here?"
"With you, Godfrey—yes!"
"No—alone!"
"Alone! Never!"
"Come along then!"
Tartlet, thoroughly9 understanding that Godfrey would[Pg 191] not alter his decision, resolved to accompany him. He had not courage enough to stay behind at Will Tree.
Before starting, Godfrey assured himself that the fire-arms were ready for action. The two guns were loaded, and one passed into the hands of the professor, who seemed as much embarrassed with it as might have been a savage5 of Pomotou. He also hung one of the hunting-knives to his belt, to which he had already attached his cartridge-pouch. The thought had occurred to him to also take his fiddle10, imagining perhaps that they would be sensible to the charm of its squeaking11, of which all the talent of a virtuoso12 could not conceal13 the harshness.
Godfrey had some trouble in getting him to abandon this idea, which was as ridiculous as it was impracticable.
It was now six o'clock in the morning. The summits of the sequoias were glowing in the first rays of the sun.
Godfrey opened the door; he stepped outside; he scanned the group of trees.
Complete solitude15.
The animals had returned to the prairie. There they were, tranquilly16 browsing17, about a quarter of a mile away. Nothing about them denoted the least uneasiness.
Godfrey made a sign to Tartlet to join him. The professor, as clumsy as could be in his fighting harness, followed—not without some hesitation18.
[Pg 192]
Then Godfrey shut the door, and saw that it was well hidden in the bark of the sequoia14. Then, having thrown at the foot of the tree a bundle of twigs19, which he weighted with a few large stones, he set out towards the river, whose banks he intended to descend20, if necessary, to its mouth. Tartlet followed him not without giving before each of his steps an uneasy stare completely round him up to the very limits of the horizon; but the fear of being left alone impelled21 him to advance.
Arrived at the edge of the group of trees, Godfrey stopped.
Taking his glasses from their case, he scanned with extreme attention all that part of the coast between the Flag Point promontory22 and the north-east angle of the island.
Not a living being showed itself, not a single smoke wreath was rising in the air.
The end of the cape was equally deserted23, but they would there doubtless find numberless footprints freshly made. As for the mast, Godfrey had not been deceived. If the staff still rose above the last rock on the cape, it was bereft24 of its flag. Evidently the savages after coming to the place had gone off with the red cloth which had excited their covetousness25, and had regained26 their boat at the mouth of the river.
Godfrey then turned off so as to examine the western shore.
[Pg 193]
It was nothing but a vast desert from Flag Point right away beyond the curve of Dream Bay.
No boat of any kind appeared on the surface of the sea. If the savages had taken to their proa, it only could be concluded that they were hugging the coast sheltered by the rocks, and so closely that they could not be seen.
However, Godfrey could not and would not remain in doubt. He was determined27 to ascertain28, yes or no, if the proa had definitely left the island.
To do this it was necessary to visit the spot where the savages had landed the night before, that is to say, the narrow creek29 at the mouth of the river.
This he immediately attempted.
The borders of the small watercourse were shaded by occasional clumps30 of trees encircled by shrubs31, for a distance of about two miles. Beyond that for some five or six hundred yards down to the sea the river ran between naked banks. This state of affairs enabled him to approach close to the landing-place without being perceived. It might be, however, that the savages had ascended32 the stream, and to be prepared for this eventuality the advance had to be made with extreme caution.
Godfrey, however thought, not without reason, that, at this early hour the savages, fatigued33 by their long voyage, would not have quitted their anchorage. Perhaps they were[Pg 194] still sleeping either in their canoe or on land; in which case it would be seen if they could not be surprised.
This idea was acted upon at once. It was important that they should get on quickly. In such circumstances the advantage is generally gained at the outset. The fire-arms were again examined, the revolvers were carefully looked at, and then Godfrey and Tartlet commenced the descent of the left bank of the river in Indian file. All around was quiet. Flocks of birds flew from one bank to the other, pursuing each other among the higher branches without showing any uneasiness.
Godfrey went first, but it can easily be believed that his companion found the attempt to cover step rather tiring. Moving from one tree to another they advanced towards the shore without risk of discovery. Here the clumps of bushes hid them from the opposite bank, there even their heads disappeared amid the luxurious34 vegetation. But no matter where they were, an arrow from a bow or a stone from a sling35 might at any moment reach them. And so they had to be constantly on their guard.
However, in spite of the recommendations which were addressed to him, Tartlet, tripping against an occasional stump36, had two or three falls which might have complicated matters. Godfrey was beginning to regret having brought such a clumsy assistant. Indeed, the poor man[Pg 195] could not be much help to him. Doubtless he would have been worth more left behind at Will Tree; or, if he would not consent to that, hidden away in some nook in the forest. But it was too late. An hour after he had left the sequoia group, Godfrey and his companion had come a mile—only a mile—for the path was not easy beneath the high vegetation and between the luxuriant shrubs. Neither one nor the other of our friends had seen anything suspicious.
Hereabouts the trees thinned out for about a hundred yards or less, the river ran between naked banks, the country round was barer.
Godfrey stopped. He carefully observed the prairie to the right and left of the stream.
Still there was nothing to disquiet37 him, nothing to indicate the approach of savages. It is true that as they could not but believe the island inhabited, they would not advance without precaution, in fact they would be as careful in
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