This ominous suggestion had the effect of immediately damping the spirits of half the party, and Bowler and Gayford found it difficult to restore confidence in the much-abused ocean. The ocean, however, went some way to restore confidence in itself. For though it still continued restless enough to keep Braintree and Tubbs in a state of suspended enjoyment in the bows, it showed no signs of getting worse as it went on. Bowler was jubilant. With his hand on the rudder and his eye on the compass, he kept the boat's course like a line, and fancied himself heading due north from Sinnamary. Gayford, with the sheet in his hand, and a careful watch on the sail, could easily delude himself into fancying the coast-line of the Long Stork was the veritable shore of New Swishford. "Isn't it prime, old man," said he, "and won't it be primer still when the real time comes? I never guessed it would be so easy. Not a thing's gone wrong." "No; and think of the lark of landing and collaring the island, too. I say, who does the Long Stork belong to?" "Don't know--the Long Storks, I guess. They're the only inhabitants I ever heard of." "Well, I'm sorry for them. But, I say, Gayford, it's just as well we have got some grub on board, for there's not much sign of forests and game, and all that sort of thing here." Not much indeed! Long Stork Island was a barren rock about a mile long and half a mile wide, with a few scraggy patches of grass on its uninviting slope. No living creatures but the wild sea-birds patronised it in the winter, when the waves lashed over the island and sent their salt spray from one end to the other. Even they seemed to avoid it. But beggars cannot be choosers, and as the Long Stork was the only island of our heroes' acquaintance within reach, they had to take it as it was and make the best of it. A decided sea was running on the landward side of the island as they approached it, and even such inexperienced navigators as Bowler and Gayford could see that there would be some difficulty about effecting a quiet landing. "Better go round the other side," said Gayford; "it'll be quiet enough there out of the wind." So the boat's nose was put out to make a circuit of the Long Stork. "Look out, I say!" said, or rather groaned Braintree from the bows. "Don't make the boat woll. Why can't you wun her stwait in the way you--?" His further observations were cut short, and during the rest of the time that the "Eliza" was rounding the stormy cape he and Tubbs and Crashford were in a decidedly pensive mood. At last the circumnavigation was accomplished, and in tranquil water the boat cruised along under the sheltered shore of the island. The sail was lowered, oars were put out, the invalids sat up, and Bowler, standing up in the bows, scanned the coast for a likely landing-place. He had not to search long. A little natural pier of rock ran out invitingly, alongside which the boat was slowly and triumphantly brought.