Could we not, with the boat--" "Go on a discovery cruise?
Can you think of such a thing?
That would be an imprudence I would not commit, even though the crew would allow me." I was on the point of exclaiming: "And what if your brother and your countrymen have found refuge on some spot of the land that undoubtedly lies about us ?" But I restrained myself.

Of what avail was it to reawaken our captain's grief?
He, too, must have contemplated this eventuality, and he had not renounced his purpose of further search without being fully convinced of the folly of a last attempt.
During those three days of fog I had not caught sight of Dirk Peters, or rather he had made no attempt to approach, but had remained inflexibly at his post by the boat.

Martin Holt's questions respecting his brother Ned seemed to indicate that his secret was known--at least in part, and the half-breed held himself more than ever aloof, sleeping while the others watched, and watching in their time of sleep.

I even wondered whether he regretted having confided in me, and fancied that he had aroused my repugnance by his sad story.

If so, he was mistaken; I deeply pitied the poor half-breed.
Nothing could exceed the melancholy monotony of the hours which we passed in the midst of a fog so thick that the wind could not lift its curtain.