e canoe on to the beach,
making no more of my weight than if I had been a child.

I now observed among the woods of the, very ancient stone buildings,
which, at one time, must have been occupied by a people possessing a
high state of civilization. They were in ruins, and overgrown by
flowering shrubs and creepers, but were apparently still used as
habitations for it was to one of these houses I was presently
conducted. Here I was invited to rest and refresh myself with some
delicious fruit that was set before me, the like of which I do not
remember having tasted before.

Sylvia Cervantes now joined me, and in the witchery of her presence I
forgot my perilous plight, and gave myself up to the luxury and
enjoyment of the moment.

From Sylvia I learnt the history of my capture, and why she had come to
entice me away with her.

Having inquired my name, which I gave her, Sylvia continued as
follows:--

"You must know, then, Peter," she said, "that we are ruled here by
custom which may not be changed. The wise-ones who live on the mountain
tops tell us what to do, and we do it without question. The wise-ones
are not as others are. They see what others cannot see, and they know
many things that others cannot even guess at, so when the wise-ones
told me your ship was on the other side of the Great Barren Island, and
that I was to take my canoe and bring you here, I could not help but
obey."

"How is it possible," I asked, "that mortal eyes can see so far?"

"The eyes of the wise-ones are not as mortal eyes," replied Sylvia,
gravely. "Rest now, and to-morrow you shall hear what is required of
you."

I was so affected by the calamity which had overtaken me that I lacked
the disposition to question Sylvia more closely on the matter. It was
plain I was a captive, and helpless to avert my fate, whatever it might
be. As well then accept the inevitable, and make the most of the
passing hour. I did not value life, since Anna's death, at a pin's
ransom. If, therefore, the end of all things for me in this world was
at hand, let it come. I would welcome it without regret.

Sylvia now told me as much as she knew about the island to which I had
been brought, and of its people.

In ages gone by, she said, when the stone houses were new, and a
flourishing city stood in the valley, a disagreement had arisen
between the king and queen, who held equal sway over the two islands,
of such a nature that the breach became impossible to