The country was beautifully wooded, while pretty brooks sparkled
through the rich green foliage of the trees. The island sloped
upwards from the sea-coast in all directions, rising to a hill that
was almost a mountain in the center. There were two open spaces, one
on each side of the island, and Rob saw that these spaces were
occupied by queer-looking huts built from brushwood and branches of
trees. This showed that the island was inhabited, but as Rob had no
idea what island it was he wisely determined not to meet the natives
until he had discovered what they were like and whether they were
disposed to be friendly.
So he moved over the hill, the top of which proved to be a flat,
grass-covered plateau about fifty feet in diameter. Finding it could
not be easily reached from below, on account of its steep sides, and
contained neither men nor animals, he alighted on the hill-top and
touched his feet to the earth for the first time in twenty-four hours.
The ride through the air had not tired him in the least; in fact, he
felt as fresh and vigorous as if he had been resting throughout the
journey.
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