Chapter XV. Bennet Islet

           TheHalbranewasthenwithinsightofBennetIslet!Thecrewurgentlyneededrest,sothedisembarkationwasdeferreduntilthefollowingday,andIwentbacktomycabin.

           Thenightpassedwithoutdisturbance,andwhendaycamenotacraftofanykindwasvisibleonthewaters,notanativeonthebeach.Therewerenohutsuponthecoast,nosmokearoseinthedistancetoindicatethatBennetIsletwasinhabited.ButWilliamGuyhadnotfoundanytraceofhumanbeingsthere,andwhatIsawoftheisletansweredtothedescriptiongivenbyArthurPym.Itroseuponarockybaseofaboutaleagueincircumference,andwassoaridthatnovegetationexistedonitssurface.

           “Mr.Jeorling,”saidCaptainLenGuy,“doyouobserveapromontoryinthedirectionofthenorth-east?”

           “Iobserveit,captain.”

           “Isitnotformedofheaped-uprockswhichlooklikegiantbalesofcotton?”

           “Thatisso,andjustwhatthenarrativedescribes.”

           “Thenallwehavetodoistolandonthepromontory,Mr.Jeorling.WhoknowsbutwemaycomeacrosssomevestigeofthecrewoftheJane,supposingthemtohavesucceededinescapingfromTsalalIsland.”

           Thespeakerwasdevouringtheisletwithhiseyes.Whatmusthisthoughts,hisdesires,hisimpatiencehavebeen!Buttherewasamanwhosegazewassetuponthesamepointevenmorefixedly;thatmanwasHunt.

           BeforewelefttheHalbraneLenGuyenjoinedthemostminuteandcarefulwatchfulnessuponhislieutenant.ThiswasachargewhichWestdidnotneed.