As Eustace lay under a tree and heard all these plans eing discussed， his heart sank. Was there going to be no est？ It looked as if their first day on the longed.for land as going to be quite as hard work as a day at sea. Then a elightful idea occurred to him. Nobody was looking.they ere all chattering about their ship as if they actually liked he beastly thing. Why shouldn‘t he simply slip away？ He ould take a stroll inland， find a cool， airy place up in the ountains， have a good long sleep， and not rejoin the thers till the day’s work was over. He felt it would do him ood. But he would take great care to keep the bay and the hip in sight so as to be sure of his way back. He wouldn‘t ke to be left behind in this country.
He at once put his plan into action. He rose quietly from is place and walked away among the trees， taking care to o slowly and in an aimless manner so that anyone who saw im would think he was merely stretching his legs. He was urprised to find how quickly the noise of conversation died way behind him and how very silent and warm and dark reen the wood became. Soon he felt he could venture on a uicker and more determined stride.