He must go back to it at once.
Hurrying back around the head of the island, Winn reached the place just in time to find a few embers still glowing faintly, and after whittling a handful of shavings, he succeeded, by a great expenditure of breath, in coaxing a tiny flame into life.

Very carefully he piled on dry chips, and then larger sticks, until finally he had a fire warranted to live through a rain-storm.

Now for another on the opposite side of the island! He could not carry lighted sticks the way he had come.

It was too far.
He thought he could get them safely across the island, though, if he only knew the most direct path.

He would first discover this and then return for his fire.