"I haven't seen one--the island is extraordinarily still," said Stewart.
The further they had penetrated inland the more oppressive and sultry
the air had become; and the pungent aroma they had noticed directly
was stronger. It was like that of mint, and yet it was not mint; and
although sweet it was not agreeable. The heat seemed to weigh even on
Stewart's buoyant spirits, for he sat smoking in silence, and no longer
urged Lewis to continue their exploration.

"I think the island is inhabited," said Lewis, "and that the houses
are on the other side. There are some sheep and some goats on that hill
opposite. Do you see?"

"Yes," said Stewart, "I think they are mouflon, but I don't think the
island is inhabited all the same." No sooner were the words out of his
mouth than he started, and rising to his feet, cried: "Look there!" and
he pointed to a thin wreath of smoke which was rising from the wood.
Their languor seemed to leave them, and they ran down the hill and
reached the wood once more. Just as they were about to enter it Lewis
stooped and pointed to a small plant with white flowers and three
oval-shaped leaves rising from the root.

"What's that?" he asked Stewart, who was the better botanist of the two.
The flowers were quite white, and each had six pointed petals.

"It's a kind of garlic, I think," said Stewart. Lewis bent down over it.
"It doesn't smell," he said. "It's not unlike moly (_Allium flavum_),
only it's white instead of yellow, and the flowers are larger. I'm going
to take it with me." He began scooping away the earth with a knife so as
to take out the plant by the roots. After he had been working for some