Just glance round at these almost impenetrable forests.
You don't know what part of the island he may be in just now; and you might as well look for a needle in a bundle of hay as look for him there.

He is probably at the other end of Krakatoa--four or five miles off--on the South side of Rakata, where the hermit's cave is supposed to be, for no one seems to be quite sure as to its whereabouts.

Besides, you'll have to stick by the excursionists if you wish to return to Batavia." Captain Roy paused for a moment to recover breath, and looking down upon the dense tropical forest that stretched between him and the Peak of Rakata, he shook his head, and admitted that the merchant was right.
Turning round he addressed himself once more to the ascent of the cone, on the sides of which the whole excursion party now straggled and struggled, remarking, as he panted along, that hill-climbing among ashes and cinders didn't "come easy to a sea-farin' man." Now, nothing was more natural than that Van der Kemp and his guest should be smitten with the same sort of desire which had brought these excursionists from Batavia.

The only thing that we do not pretend to account for is the strange coincidence that they should have been so smitten, and had so arranged their plans, that they arrived at Perboewatan almost at the same time with the excursionists--only about half an hour before them! Their preliminary walk, however, through the tangled, almost impassable, forest had been very slow and toilsome, and having been involved in its shadow from daybreak, they were, of course, quite unaware of the approach of the steamer or the landing of the excursion party.
"If the volcano seems quieting down," said Nigel to his host, "shall you start to-morrow ?" "Yes; by daybreak.

Even if the eruption does _not_ quiet down I must set out, for my business presses." Nigel felt much inclined to ask what his business was, but there was a quiet something in the air of the hermit, when he did not choose to be questioned, which effectually silenced curiosity.