great as to make the drawing of the breath difficult,
and a strange humming sound--very loud-made it impossible to speak or
even to cry out. I had abandoned hope and resigned myself to death when
suddenly we emerged from the tunnel into a blinding sunshine, which
dazzled the eyes after the darkness. Once more we had come to the open
sea.

The girls resumed their paddles, and now began to urge the canoe toward
one of two islands visible on the horizon about thirty miles apart.

CHAPTER XXXVI

THE MALE AND FEMALE ISLANDS

I was now able to demand an explanation for the cause of my abduction,
which I did with some warmth.

"In what way have I offended," I asked of the woman who had enticed me
on board the canoe, "that you should repay the trust I placed in you
with treachery? We came among you as friends, desiring nothing so much
as your goodwill. But you have treated me as an enemy, carried me away
from my ship, and separated me from my friends Take, heed, I am a man,
and have some strength. You are but women. Why, then, should I not
overpower you and return the way I came?"

"That is impossible," answered my captor. "None could make their way
back through the tunnel against the stream."

"At least, tell me then," I continued, "your name, for what purpose I
am brought here, and whither you are taking me."

"My name is Sylvia Cervantes," replied my captor, proudly. "As to why
you are brought here, ask the wise-ones whom you shall presently see.
Yonder islands are the Islands of Engano."

In the surprise which her words occasioned I almost forgot the anger
which had begun to burn within me when I thought of how basely I had
been betrayed. Before me were the wonderful Male and Female Islands,
fabled by Marco Polo. I had come upon this voyage with Dirk Hartog in
quest of adventure. Well, here was an adventure awaiting me that was
likely to prove the most remarkable I had yet encountered.

As we drew near, to one of the islands, I was impressed by the extreme
beauty of the scene. The cliffs rose to great heights, forming a dark,
clear-cut line against the sky, while between the lofty walls, verdant
valleys stretched down to the white, sandy beaches, upon which the
waves broke in glistening spume. Toward a beach, somewhere about the
centre of the island, our course was laid, and upon coming to the
shallows, the girls shipped their paddles and sprang into the water,
when, with others helping them, they ran th