They're the only inhabitants I ever heard of." "Well, I'm sorry for them.

But, I say, Gayford, it's just as well we have got some grub on board, for there's not much sign of forests and game, and all that sort of thing here." Not much indeed! Long Stork Island was a barren rock about a mile long and half a mile wide, with a few scraggy patches of grass on its uninviting slope.

No living creatures but the wild sea-birds patronised it in the winter, when the waves lashed over the island and sent their salt spray from one end to the other.

Even they seemed to avoid it.
But beggars cannot be choosers, and as the Long Stork was the only island of our heroes' acquaintance within reach, they had to take it as it was and make the best of it.
A decided sea was running on the landward side of the island as they approached it, and even such inexperienced navigators as Bowler and Gayford could see that there would be some difficulty about effecting a quiet landing.
"Better go round the other side," said Gayford; "it'll be quiet enough there out of the wind." So the boat's nose was put out to make a circuit of the Long Stork.
"Look out, I say!" said, or rather groaned Braintree from the bows.
"Don't make the boat woll.

Why can't you wun her stwait in the way you-- ?" His further observations were cut short, and during the rest of the time that the "Eliza" was rounding the stormy cape he and Tubbs and Crashford were in a decidedly pensive mood.