"I know one thing,' said Donagan. "It will be absurd not to have left the schooner before the cold and rainy season, and to do that, we need not see only difficulties at each step."
"Better see them than start off like fools across a country we know nothing about."
"It is easy to call people fools when they don't think the same as you do."
Donagan's observation might have soon led to a quarrel had not Gordon intervened.
"There is no good in arguing. Let us understand each other. Donagan is right in saying that if we are near an inhabited country, we should get there without delay. But Briant says, is it possible we are near to such a country? and there is no harm in that."
"But Gordon," said Donagan, "if you go to the north, or the south, or the east, you must get to the people in time."
"Yes, if we are on a continent," said Briant, "and not on an island, perhaps a desert island."
"That is why we ought to find out," said Gordon. "To leave the schooner before we know whether there is or is not a sea to the east of us — "
"It is the schooner that will leave us," said Donagan. "She cannot last out the winter storms on this beach."
"Agreed," said Gordon, "but before we venture into the interior we must know where we are going."
"I'll go out and reconnoitre," said Briant.
"So will I," said Donagan.
"We'll all go, "said Gordon, "but we don't want to drag the youngsters with us, and two or three of us will be enough."
"It is a pity," said Briant, "that there is no high hill from which we could have a good view. The land lies low, and even from the offing I saw no elevation. The highest ground seems to be this cliff. Beyond it I suppose there are forests, and plains, and marshes, through which the stream runs."
"We ought to have a look over the country before
