o
accompany them at the earliest opportunity.

Two days thereafter, the entire party boarded the ship, and the course
was set for the northern part of the island. There the Chief had the
first opportunity to see the dreadful place where the criminals of his
community had been sent.

There was no resentment on the part of the convicts. On the other hand,
there was the most effusive welcome extended, and when the Chief saw the
happiness and prosperity there, which he could not help but contrast
with his own people, he was amazed.

The unfortunate patient was carefully taken to the ship, and during his
removal did not in the least indicate by any sign that he knew what was
going on about him.

John took many stores from the ship, and particularly garments, and
articles of food for the people. All participated in the division, and
the old man was delighted when he saw the gifts, the more so when John
told him that they would soon be visited and other stores provided.

When the rolling motion of the boat was felt by the stricken man, he
showed the first symptoms of consciousness. Sometimes he would look
about him, and try to grasp something. On several occasions the
Professor saw him open his eyes with a sort of questioning look.

But we cannot dwell too long on the result of the patient's progress, at
this time. John felt, as did the Professor, that from that man they
would be able to learn something, if he could ever regain his faculties.
The boys gathered that much from the conversation, so that, for the
present, he must be left to the tender care of the Professor, until
later events are recorded.

From Hutoton the ship sailed directly north, it being understood that if
no land was sighted before evening it would be useless to go farther in
that direction. The _Pioneer_ was a good sailer, and could easily, with
a fair wind, make ten miles an hour, so they would have fully seven
hours' run to test out their theory of land in that direction.

Before five o'clock John, who was constantly on the watch, came to the
Professor and remarked that he believed the haze to the north indicated
the presence of land. This was soon communicated to the boys, and there
was no more idleness from that time on.

John's theory was correct. Slowly certain fixed objects appeared and
some outlines that looked like mountains, and the boys could not repress
their anxiety at the anticipated shore.

"Then we were right, after all," said H