Here began an irregular shore, oddly cut into by a long line of rocks, succeeding the sand banks, and just beginning to show themselves by long streaks of foam, above the undulations of the receding waves. From this point to Claw Cape the beach was narrow and confined between the reef of rocks and the forest, and the march would therefore be more difficult. The granite wall sunk more and more, and above it the tops of the trees, undisturbed by a breath of air, appeared in the background. After half an hour’s rest the colonists took up the march again, on the lookout for any sign of a wreck, but without success. They found out, however, that edible mussels were plenty on this beach, although they would not gather them until means of transport between the two banks of the river should have been perfected. Towards 3 o’clock, Smith and his companions reached a narrow inlet, unfed by any water-course. It formed a veritable little natural harbor, invisible from without, and approached by a narrow passage guarded by the reefs. At the upper end of this creek some violent convulsion had shattered the rock, and a narrow, sloping passage gave access to the upper plateau, which proved to be ten miles from Claw Cape, and therefore four miles in a direct line from Prospect Plateau. Spilett proposed to his companions to halt here, and, as the march had sharpened their appetites, although it was not dinner time, no one objected to a bit of venison, and with this lunch they would be able to await supper at Granite House. Soon the colonists, seated under a group of splendid pines, were eating heartily of the provisions which Neb had brought out from his haversack. The place was some fifty or sixty feet above the sea, and the view, extending beyond the furthest rock of the cape, was lost in Union Bay. But the islet and Prospect Plateau were invisible, as the high ground and the curtain of high trees shut out the horizon to the north. Neither over the extent of sea nor on that part of the coast which it was still necessary to explore could they discover even with the spyglass any suspicious object. “Well” said Spilett, “we can console ourselves by thinking that no one is disputing the island with us.” “But how about the pellet?” said Herbert. “It was not a dream.” “Indeed it was not!” cried Pencroff, thinking of his missing tooth. “Well, what are we to conclude?” asked the reporter. “This,” said Smith, “that within three months a ship, voluntarily or otherwise, has touched—” “What! You will admit, Cyrus, that it has been swallowed up without leaving any trace?” cried the reporter. “No, my dear Spilett; but you must remember that while it is certain that a human being has been here, it seems just as certain that he is not here now.” “Then, if I understand you sir,” said Herbert, “the ship has gone again?” “Evidently.” “And we have lost, beyond return, a chance to get home?” said Neb. “I believe without return.”