saw the young lady standing on the poop watching us. I pulled off my
cap, and she waved her handkerchief in return.

The account we gave of her and the master's wife excited much interest
on board.

The next morning, as the gale continued, a party was made up to visit
the shore. It consisted of the second lieutenant and master, Peter
Mudge, Tommy Peck, and I. We pulled in for the opening we had seen, and
which I found to be much farther off than I had supposed--the height of
the rocks at the entrance, which rose sheer out of the water, making the
land appear quite close to us. At length we entered a narrow passage
with high rocks on both sides for some distance, completely bare of
trees; indeed, there was not a spot in which the roots could have fixed
themselves. Gradually, however, the passage opened out, and we found
ourselves in a large basin, the shore of which was covered with the
richest vegetation, extending far up the sides of the mountains rising
around us. Dark rocks peeped out from amid the trees which grew on the
mountain-sides till lost to view, while above them were seen towering
peaks covered with glittering snow. The master sounded as we went in,
and found the depth of water sufficient for the largest ship. Here she
might remain at anchor or moored to the trees, while the fiercest gale
was blowing outside, as securely as in an artificial dock.

We pulled round one side of the basin, but could find no opening by
which, should we step on shore, we could make our way up the mountain.
We did, indeed, land at two or three places, but it was impossible to
get beyond a few yards from the water's edge. Probably, no human being
had ever before set foot in that wooded region. Not even the chirp of a
bird was heard, nor was any sign of life visible--silence and solitude
reigned around. The whole surface of the ground was one mass of rotten
timber, covered with various descriptions of moss and ferns. The trunks
of trees which had fallen either from age and decay, or from being blown
down by the wind, lay about in all directions; another generation having
grown up to share the same fate, and to be succeeded by others still
proudly rearing their heads green and flourishing.

"Come, it won't do to be balked!" exclaimed the master. "We'll make our
way somehow or other through the forest;" and the boat was run with her
bow against the yielding bank. "You'll follow me!" As he said this he
sprang on shore