"Here, look, sir," cried Ned suddenly, as they were passing a lovely park-like stretch which ran high up amongst the dense forest growth. "Catch hold, sir. It's just your focus." "Pigs," said Jack contemptuously, "half-a-dozen." "I never saw pigs like them, sir. Why, hark at 'em. They're barking." "Well, pigs make a short, sharp, barking noise sometimes," said the doctor, whose attention had been taken by the man's words. "No, they're not pigs, Jack," he said, as he brought his glass to bear well upon the little cluster of animals running here and there among the trees, and ending by darting down upon the sands to stare at the yacht. "Dogs, by all that's wonderful. Here, Meadows, Bradleigh, what do you make of these?" "Mongrel wild dogs," said the captain, after a glance; "descendants of some that have been left by a passing ship." "Why, we may find cows, sheep, and goats yet," said the doctor. "Very likely goats," replied the captain, "but I doubt whether we shall find the others." Every mile they passed spread fresh beauties before them, the rugged nature of the mountain scenery precluding all sameness; and early in the afternoon, when, by the captain's calculation, they had arrived nearly at the opposite point to where they had lain at anchor, Jack had come to the conclusion that they need go no farther on their voyage, for they had hit upon the loveliest place in the world, where they ought to stay for good. He said something of the kind to Sir John. "And what about studies, books, and the realities of civilised life?" said his father. "I feel now as if I don't care for them a bit," replied the lad dreamily. "I should like to stop here and do nothing." "Do you mean that?" "Well, not exactly nothing," replied the lad, "for I should want to shoot and fish and collect all the birds, insects, flowers, and shells." "In other words, lead a very active life, my boy. But you would weary of it in time and want a change. Better do as we are doing now, visit an island like this and return home." "Yes, that is perhaps the best, father; and of course there are the troubles here--the dangerous reptiles and poisonous insects." "And the blacks," said the doctor, who had been leaning over the rail with his glass to his eyes, but had heard every word. "Yes," said Jack with a shudder, "there are the blacks." "I should like to know whether they are cannibals," continued the doctor. "The worst of it is, if we killed one we should be no wiser. You see, you couldn't tell whether he was carnivorous or herbivorous by his teeth.--Well, captain, no signs of any inhabitants." "Not a bit; and we're quite half-way round. No signs either of another opening in the reef. Fine island to annex, Sir John. It's a regular fortification, a natural stronghold with an impregnable wall round it, and a full mile-wide moat inside. A fort at the point commanding the entrance would be sufficient." "But we do not want it," said Sir John.