ut the book I read said that the Western Hemisphere merely broke away
from the main body of the land, and that is why the people here knew all
that those in Europe had learned."

"That is very plausible, and for the purpose of giving you a fair
understanding of the matter, I make a sketch, showing (Fig. 2), the
Atlantean theory, in which the western shores of Europe and Africa, and
the eastern shores of North and South America are outlined, and between
them, in dotted lines, is Atlantis, the only part of that vast continent
now being visible being the Azore Islands, at the northern extremity."

"But what evidence is there that such a continent existed? Is it only a
theory?"

"It is supported by some evidence, much of which, like the account
which the Egyptian priests gave to Solon, would take too long to state;
but some years ago, while Darwin was engaged in making the deep sea
soundings in the ship _Challenger_, it was found that the bed of the
Atlantic showed a raised plateau, where the legendary Atlantis was
claimed to be."

"But might it not be possible that the other theory could be correct,
also,--that is, that North America merely broke away, and in breaking
away, left Atlantis as an island?"

"I do not see how it can be reconciled. In the first sketch (Fig. 2),
note the shape of the continent of Atlantis. Now, in the next sketch
(Fig. 3), I have brought the two continents close up to each other. The
outlines appear similar, and it would be difficult to make them fit
together, if Atlantis should be placed there, or left in that space,
after the breaking apart."

The discussion was closed for the night and arrangements made for sleep
and sentry duty.

Frequently during the night the beating of the singular drums was heard.
After the entertainment of the evening both Muro and Uraso undertook
some scouting on their own account. The boys were awake early, and then
learned of their expeditions.

Three miles north of the rocky point the main village was located. They
had crept forward cautiously until close enough to learn that there must
be fully five hundred inhabitants. But what was more surprising still,
was the evidence they obtained that the tribes believed in the Hoodoos
and the witch doctors.

[Illustration: _Fig. 3. The Severed Hemispheres._]

The boys were jubilant at the information, and John was full of smiles
as he imparted the information. The difficulty was to get into
communication with the