CHAPTER IX
BRAVO, BAXTER !
Two hundred yards from the creek there was a hill about fifty feet high, which formed an observatory, from which Gordon and his comrades might have an extended view of the country. And as soon as the sun rose they climbed this hill.
The glasses were immediately pointed to the north. If the sandy desert stretched away, as the map showed, it was impossible to ascertain its boundary line for the horizon of sea would be about twelve miles to the northward, and more than seven to the eastward. There seemed to be no good in going further north.
"Then," asked Cross, "what are we to do?"
"Go back," said Gordon.
"Not before breakfast," said Service.
"Get the cloth laid," said Webb.
"If we are going back," said Donagan, "could we not go another way?"
"We will try to do so," said Gordon.
"It seems to me," said Donagan, "that we should complete our exploration if we went along the other bank of the lake."
"That would be rather long," said Gordon. "According to the map that must be from thirty to forty miles, and it would take four or five days supposing we met with nothing to stop us! At French Den they would be in a state of great anxiety for us."
"But," said Donagan, "sooner or later it will be necessary to explore that part."
"Certainly," said Gordon; "and I intend to have an expedition over there."
"But," said Cross, "Donagan is right in not wanting to go back the same way "
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