In that case, we might be very far from the nearest town, which would be unfortunate." "Well, what is to be done ?" repeated Mrs.Weldon.
"My advice," replied Dick Sand, "would be not to leave this shelter till we know our situation.

To-morrow, after a night's rest, two of us could go to discover it.

They would endeavor, without going too far, to meet some natives, to inform themselves from them, and return to the grotto.

It is not possible that, in a radius of ten or twelve miles, we find nobody." "To separate!" said Mrs.Weldon.
"That seems necessary to me," replied the novice.

"If no information can be picked up, if, as is not impossible, the country is absolutely desolate, well, we shall consider some other way of extricating ourselves." "And which of us shall go to explore ?" asked Mrs.Weldon, after a moment's reflection.
"That is yet to be decided," replied Dick Sand.