Allatoncethereportersprangup,andtellingthesailorthathewouldrejointhematthatsameplace,heclimbedthecliffinthedirectionwhichtheNegroNebhadtakenafewhoursbefore.Anxietyhastenedhissteps,forhelongedtoobtainnewsofhisfriend,andhesoondisappearedroundanangleofthecliff.Herbertwishedtoaccompanyhim.

           "Stophere,myboy,"saidthesailor;"wehavetoprepareanencampment,andtotryandfindratherbettergrubthantheseshell-fish.Ourfriendswillwantsomethingwhentheycomeback.Thereisworkforeverybody."

           "Iamready,"repliedHerbert.

           "Allright,"saidthesailor;"thatwilldo.Wemustsetaboutitregularly.Wearetired,cold,andhungry;thereforewemusthaveshelter,fire,andfood.Thereiswoodintheforest,andeggsinnests;wehaveonlytofindahouse."

           "Verywell,"returnedHerbert,"Iwilllookforacaveamongtherocks,andIshallbesuretodiscoversomeholeintowhichwecancreep."

           "Allright,"saidPencroft;"goon,myboy."

           Theybothwalkedtothefootoftheenormouswalloverthebeach,farfromwhichthetidehadnowretreated;butinsteadofgoingtowardsthenorth,theywentsouthward.Pencrofthadremarked,severalhundredfeetfromtheplaceatwhichtheylanded,anarrowcutting,outofwhichhethoughtariverorstreammightissue.