Some future time we will come here again: you might
see this fifty times, and never get tired of it."
After a good scramble they stood once more on the down above, and
turned to take a last look at the broad blue sea before they descended
inland; at the first glance seaward, Halbert exclaimed,--
"See there, Doctor! see there! A boat!"
"It's only a whale, I think," said George Barker.
There was a black speck far out at sea, but no whale; it was too steady
for that. All day the air had been calm; if anything, the breeze was
from the north, but now a strong wind was coming up from the south-east,
freshening every moment, and bringing with it a pent bank of dark
clouds; and, as they watched, the mysterious black speck was topped
with white, and soon they saw that it was indeed a boat driving before
the wind under a spritsail, which had just been set.
"That is very strange!" said George Barker. "Can it be a shipwrecked
party?"
"More likely a mob of escaped convicts from Van Diemen's Land," said
Jim. "If so, look out for squalls, you, George, and keep your guns
loaded."
"I don't think it can be that, Jim," said Sam.
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