. . . He wished to wash and wind the
body. So at dawn--by which time the coffin was ready--I told him
that he should be alone for a couple of hours, and went up the hill
again in the first light, to prospect. Again I tried to whistle the
dog after me: but this time he refused even to budge.
"I climbed no farther than before; that is, a little beyond the
ridge. For it gave upon a wide undulating valley to the slopes of
the second crater, which again partly overlapped the cone of the
third or highest. To descend and cross this first vale would cost
from two to three hours' hard walking, and my design was merely to
con the prospect for sign of those inhabitants to whom the dog must
belong. For he was little more than a puppy in age. Also, though
lean, he was not at all emaciated: but the traces of rabbit-dung on
the slopes told that a deserted dog might manage to sustain life
here. Also it promised that the island was inhabited, and by white
men, for rabbits are not indigenous anywhere in the South Pacific.
They must be brought.
"I studied the hollow and searched it with my binoculars for some
while: but without picking up any trace of mankind.
Pages:
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401