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Three-quarters of an hour later Godfrey and Tartlet they had scarcely spoken during the exploration arrived at the outskirt of the trees. Not a trace was there of habitation or inhabitant. Complete solitude. It might even be doubted if this part of the country had ever been trodden by human feet.
Just before he reached the tree he heard the shrill "twang! squeak!" of the kit, and soon found himself face to face with Professor Tartlet, who, in the attitude of a vestal, was watching the sacred fire confided to his keeping.
Godfrey thought then, if not of fortifying Will Tree according to the famous plans of Tartlet, at least of connecting the four or five large sequoias which surrounded it. If he could devise a high and strong palisade from one tree to another, they would be in comparative security at any rate from a surprise.
As for the quadrupeds, they could easily have swum ashore. "And so," remarked Godfrey, "what none of our unfortunate companions have been able to do, these simple animals, guided by their instinct, have done! And of all those on board the Dream, none have been saved but a few beasts!" "Including ourselves!" answered Tartlet naively.
When the day came, he had come to look upon the apparition of the ship as but a dream, which had commenced about three o'clock on the previous afternoon. But no! He was only too certain that a ship had been in sight of Phina Island, maybe within two miles of it, and certainly she had not put in. Of this deception Godfrey said not a word to Tartlet. What was the good of talking about it?
All knew that they were first bound for Auckland, in New Zealand, unless want of coal necessitated by the persistence of contrary winds obliged them to refill perhaps at one of the islands of the Pacific or some Chinese port. All this detail mattered little to Godfrey once he was on the sea, and still less to Tartlet, whose troubled spirit exaggerated from day to day the dangers of navigation.
"Anyhow," continued Godfrey; "to-morrow morning, if they have not come to Will Tree, we will go out and reconnoitre." "We?" "Yes! we! Nothing would be more imprudent than for us to separate! Who knows whether we may not have to run to the forest in the centre of the island and hide there for some days until the departure of the proa! No! We will keep together, Tartlet!"
Then he turned towards the professor, as if to know his name. "Tartlet," was the reply of that individual in a most amiable tone. "Tartlet!" repeated Carefinotu. And it seemed as though this assemblage of syllables was more agreeable to his vocal chords, for he pronounced it distinctly. The professor appeared to be extremely flattered. In truth he had reason to be.
And so he left Tartlet to his dreams, and set out. A light fog still shrouded the shore and the sea, but already it had commenced to lift in the north and east under the influence of the solar rays, which little by little were condensing it. The day promised to be fine.
Worthy Tartlet, folks do not make themselves Crusoes, they become Crusoes, and you are not sure that you are wise in comparing your position with that of the heroes of the two English and Swiss romances! The precautions taken by Godfrey as soon as he returned to Will Tree were as follows.
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