From this place on as far as the point, the ground was clear, and there was nothing to bar their way. They could go along without being compelled to make any further detour, and could keep near enough to the edge to command a view of the rocks below. They walked on, and shouted without ceasing, and thus traversed a portion of the way. Suddenly Captain Corbet's eye caught sight of something in the water. It was round in shape, and was floating within a few feet of the shore, on the top of a wave. As Captain Corbet looked, the wave rolled from underneath it, and dashed itself upon the rocks, while the floating object seemed to be thrown farther out. The tide had turned already, and was now on the ebb, so that floating articles, such as this, were carried away from the shore, rather than towards it. Upon this Captain Corbet fastened his gaze, and stood in silence looking at it. At length he put his hand on Phil's shoulder, and directed the attention of the boys to the floating object. "Do you see that?" said he. "What?" "That thing." "What--that round thing?" "Yes, that round thing. Look sharp at it now. What doos it look like to your young eyes?" Phil and Pat looked at it very carefully, and in silence. Then Phil looked up into Captain Corbet's face without saying a word. "Wal?" "What is it, do you think?" asked Phil, in a low voice. "What do YOU think?" "Sure an it's a hat--a sthraw hat," said Pat. Captain Corbet exchanged a meaning glance with Phil. "Do you think it's HIS hat?" asked Phil. "Whose else can it be?" Phil was silent, and his gaze was once more directed to the floating object. As it rose and fell on the waves, it showed the unmistakable outline of a straw hat, and was quite near enough for them to recognize its general character and color. It was dark, with the edges rather ragged, a broad brim, and a roomy crown, not by any means of a fashionable or graceful shape, but coarse, and big, and roomy, and shabby--just such a hat as Solomon had put on his head when he left Grand Pre with them on this memorable and ill-fated voyage. They looked at it for a long time in silence, and none of them moved. Captain Corbet heaved a deep sigh.