All the shore thus consisted of vast rocky blocks, over which the sea beat in foam.
Eager to find something, I toiled along this rocky shore for a long distance, but without seeing any change.

I was unwilling to go back baffled, yet I was at length compelled to do so.

But the necessity of feeding the athaleb was pressing, and I saw that our only course now would be to mount him again, leave this place, and seek some other.
But where could we go?
That I could not imagine, and could only conclude to trust altogether to the instinct of the athaleb, which might guide him to places where he might obtain food.

Such a course would involve great risk for we might be carried into the midst of vast flocks of these monsters; yet there was nothing else to be done.
I now retraced my steps, and went for a long time near the sea.

At length I found a place where the walking was somewhat easier, and went in this way up into the island and away from the sea.