Be that as it might, he had a more pressing work.

If the cave still held a secret it must remain there.
Iris had gone back to her sago-kneading.

Necessity had made the lady a bread-maid.
"Fifteen hundred years of philology bridged by circumstance," mused Jenks.

"How Max Mueller would have reveled in the incident!" Shouldering the axe he walked to the beach.

The tide was low and the circular sweep of the reef showed up irregularly, its black outlines sticking out of the vividly green water like jagged teeth.
Much debris from the steamer was lying high and dry.