The sight of these animals
filled the hearts of the shipwrecked men with joy. It was to them a
proof of civilization. New hopes, new joys, new strength came with the
sight of these animals; and they advanced cautiously toward them. But
the animals were shy, and scampered away up the hill at the first sight
of the strangers.
There was a high hill near by, and, encouraged by the sight of these
animals, Tite started off just at dusk to ascend it and survey the
surrounding country, leaving his comrades on the beach to guard the
boat. It was quite dark when Tite reached the top, but the stars were
out, and the atmosphere was clear. Not a habitation was to be seen,
nothing but a wild, unbroken forest as far as the eye could reach. He
watched there for an hour or more, his eyes quickened by anxiety, and
his mind becoming more and more excited, until his fancy pictured in
every shadow some moving object. Then, as his eye traced along down the
deep ravine, he discovered, or rather thought he discovered, a pale
wreath of smoke curling lazily upward, not more than a mile from where
his comrades lay.
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