midday
Dominique went along the shore with two sailors , to make inquiries at any villages they came to . On reaching the top of the hill , Frank saw that , as he had expected , it commanded an extensive view over the bay on each side of the island , which was but some six miles across . A village could be seen on the northern shore , some three miles distant ; and to this Pedro , with one of the sailors , was at once despatched . Both parties rejoined Frank soon after midday . The schooner had been noticed passing the island several times , but much more often on the southern side than on the northern . The negroes on that side were all agreed that she generally kept on the southern side of the passage , and that more than once she had been seen coming from the south shore , and passing the western point of the island on her way north . `` That looks as if she came from Petit Gouve , or the bay of Mitaquane , or that under the Bec de Marsouin , '' Frank said .