I answered Mr Fraser,
however, and he went on talking to me. We landed not far from where the
casks were to be filled with water. The gentlemen then, taking their
guns, divided the provisions between themselves and us, and we set off
towards the interior of the island, where we hoped to meet with the wild
cattle. There was nothing attractive in its appearance. Here and there
were low scrubby woods, and the country generally was covered with thick
patches of tussack grass, which, at a distance, gave it the appearance
of being green and fertile. Between the patches, the soil was dry and
sandy, so that it cost us much fatigue to make our way over it.

We had seen plenty of wild cattle, but the gentlemen had not yet
succeeded in killing any. They winded us on all occasions on our
approach, and scampered off beyond the limit of rifle range. At last
the gentlemen agreed to separate by going in small parties, and thus
hoped to get nearer to the creatures. Mr Fraser invited Mark to go
with him, and Mr McTavish took me; the other two gentlemen went
together. Before starting they deposited their provisions inside of a
hollow in a high bank, which, from its position, was easily to be found,
and they agreed to return to dinner. If any one of the party killed an
animal, he was to summon the rest to carry the meat. The object of the
gentlemen was to kill as many animals as they could; for, as the weather
was cool, it was hoped that the meat would last until we were well round
Cape Horn. The island was of good size, but still there did not appear
to be much risk of our losing our way. Mr Fraser, who was the most
active of the party, said that he should go to the further end of the
island and work his way back; that he was determined to kill some birds,
if he couldn't knock over a cow.

"Remember," whispered Mark to me, "that I shall slip away; and you do
the same, and come and join me."

To this I agreed. Mr McTavish and I went away to the right. We had
been looking out for cattle for some time when we heard two shots, and
from the top of a hill we saw the two other gentlemen, standing by a
couple of cattle they had shot.

"Come, Dick," said Mr McTavish; "though we cannot boast of killing a
beast ourselves, we must go and help them."

I thought that this would be a good opportunity to escape, and while he
went down one side of the hill I proposed running down the other. I was
just going when he caught sight of m