tells me that he can show us where the wreck lies, and also where
those rubies were found," said he. "If the rest of you are quite
agreeable, it appears to me that there is no very particular reason why
we should not go there at once. We seem to have finished our business
here, at all events, for the present."

"All right," agreed the baronet; "let us go. We will take Lobelalatutu
with us, and get him to point out the places; then one of us can run him
back here, and land him, while the others take a stroll along the beach
and fill their pockets with rubies--if they can find any."

The professor accordingly explained to the newly created monarch what
was proposed; and then Sir Reginald retired to the pilot-house to assume
the duties of navigator. A minute later the inhabitants of the village
had the gratification of witnessing the flight into the air of their new
king, not as a prisoner, but as a friend of the Great Spirits, who were
doubtless taking him away with them on some business of importance
connected with the welfare of the whole Makolo nation.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

THE RUBY MINE.

The coast line was distant some twenty miles from the village, and about
as far from the ruins of Ophir; it was therefore easily reached within
an hour from the moment of starting, and King Lobelalatutu then had the
mystifying experience of beholding the ladies of the party, accompanied
by Ida, Sir Reginald, Lethbridge, and Colonel Sziszkinski suddenly and
unaccountably appear on the beach below him--having left the ship in
some mysterious and unknown manner--while the professor and Mildmay
remained on board with him, to have the position of the wreck pointed
out to them, and afterwards convey him back to his village and people.

"Now, Lobelalatutu," said the professor, "show us, if you can,
whereabouts the wreck lay, when you last saw it."

The king looked out to seaward, and pointed toward a spot about half a
mile from the shore, where the sea was breaking heavily.

"It was there," he said, "quite close to that end of the white line on
the water."

"Ah!" exclaimed Mildmay. "There is evidently a reef there; and she
fetched up on the southern end of it. We will take a run out there,
Professor, and see whether we can discover any signs of her; after which
we will run our friend, here, back to the bosom of his anxious family."

And therewith, he retired to the pilot-house. The ship then rose to a
height of about five