had
been drenched with salt water to their roots. One or the other of these
causes must have produced the effect. The philosopher, or the geologist
must decide.

We had the consolation to know that we should at least experience no
want of food--the nests of the birds affording us a plentiful supply of
eggs, and young ones of every age; with these we returned loaded to the
cove. The party that had gone to the westward reported having seen some
wild hogs, but were unable to secure any of them; and those who had
attempted to ascend the mountain returned much fatigued, and one of
their number missing. They reported that they had gained the summit of
the mountain, where they had discovered a large plain, skirted by a
species of fern tree, from twelve to eighteen feet high--that on this
plain they had seen a herd of goats; and among them, could distinguish
one of enormous size, which appeared to be their leader. He was as
large as a pony; but all attempts to take one of them were utterly
fruitless. The man who was missing had followed them further than they
had. They waited some time for his return; but as he did not come to
them, they concluded he had taken some other route to the cove. I did
not quite like this story, fearing some dreadful accident had befallen
the poor fellow, for whom we kept a watch, and had a fire burning the
whole night, which, like the former one, we passed in the huts. We had
an abundant supply of firewood from the wreck, and a stream of clear
water ran close by our little village. The next morning, a party was
sent in search of the man, and some were sent to fetch a supply of young
gannets for our dinner. The latter brought back with them as many young
birds as would suffice for two or three days; but of the three who went
in quest of the missing man, only two returned. They reported that they
could gain no tidings of him: that they had missed one of their own
number, who had, no doubt, gone in pursuit of his shipmate.

This intelligence occasioned a great deal of anxiety, and many surmises.
The most prevalent opinion seemed to be that there were wild beasts on
the island, and that our poor friends had become a prey to them. I
determined, the next morning, to go in search of them myself, taking one
or two chosen men with me. I should have mentioned, that when we left
the sinking vessel, we had taken out a poodle dog, that was on board,
first, because I would not allow the poor animal