Night was coming on and we would have to decide our course of action.

I wanted to go to Ponape for help.

But Edith objected that this would take hours and after we had reached there it would be impossible to persuade our men to return with us that night, if at all.

What then was left?
Clearly only one of two choices: to go back to our camp, wait for our men, and on their return try to persuade them to go with us to Nan-Tauach.

But this would mean the abandonment of Thora for at least two days.