elings regarding the place. That look of weird
expectancy, common to places that are cloaked with a tremendous silence,
had gripped the two girls, and the yacht seemed homelike when they
compared it to the shore.

"Oh, Edith," cried the younger sister, "I wish father wouldn't go!"

"So do I, dear," murmured the elder girl, "but it is useless to attempt
to persuade him to give up the quest."

"But I hate the place!" cried Miss Barbara. "Don't you?"

"Oh, no," stammered Edith, bravely attempting to cheer the spirits of
the younger girl. "You will not be lonely, Barbara. Mr. Holman and
father and I will be with you, and perhaps Mr. Verslun will be in our
company."

Newmarch approached at the instant and squeaked out an answer to the
request I had made the previous evening.

"I asked Mr. Leith if you could go with him," he said, "but he doesn't
think you would be of any use. He has all the help he requires, so you
had better stay on the yacht."

There was a slight grin on his thin face as he imparted the information,
and his merriment tickled me. I had made up my mind without waiting for
Leith's decision, and I was more pleased than annoyed at knowing that my
presence was not desired with the party that went inland.

The anchor had hardly touched the bottom before Leith started to
transship the provisions that were required for the trip across the
island. The sight of land seemed to stir the sallow-faced giant out of
the lethargy that had gripped him on the way down from Levuka. He
suddenly discovered that the mantle of authority was upon his shoulders,
and he bullied the island boys as they lowered the stores.

Holman was right when he stated that Soma was the man that Leith had
picked as first assistant. The big Kanaka was placed in charge of the
other five carriers, and he immediately imitated Leith by shrieking out
orders and strutting about in a manner that was ludicrous. Professor
Herndon was bubbling over with excitement. The stories which Leith had
fed to him continuously concerning the remains of an extinct
civilization had worked him up to a pitch that bordered on insanity, and
it was pitiful to watch him as he made endless notes in the bulky
notebook.

"I shall be known throughout the world inside three months," he
whispered to Leith.

"In less than that," drawled the giant.

"Yes, you're right!" snapped the dream-fed scientist. "If everything is
as you say our task will be an easy one. Are you rea