, and very briefly, in a
nutshell, it is this----"

"Why," broke in the professor, "when I last saw you in London, you were
ill, had been ill for a long time, and in truth I may say, I never
thought to see you again on this earth."

"That's the starting point," said Mr. Jranvin. "I was condemned, given
up to die, by slow and harrowing processes, but chance, if there ever be
such a thing in this world, started me on a voyage to Japan. That's
some years ago. To Japan I never got."

"Shipwrecked?" questioned the professor.

"You hit it. Shipwrecked, and right upon this island. And over here on
our island of Rarihue we have lived ever since. My health is restored
and my life is lived among my friends here, who made me their chief,"
and he waved his hand to the party of islanders grouped about. "My
friends they are, and as true as steel."

"Then do you never intend to go back to your home and country?" ventured
Jo.

"Home I have none, nor country. This is my world and none other am I
likely to seek."

"You do not live then on this island?"

"No, but now and then I send here or come for a supply of the waters of
this wonderful mineral spring. It possesses health-giving properties
that would be recognizable by any expert. Here is a chance for you, my
dear friend, to make a fortune," he said, laughing. "By the way, you
have not told me yet what brought you to this far off quarter. Going to
settle down and live a life that's worth while?"

"We are looking for a fortune, and a mineral one, but not a mineral
spring."

Mr. Jranvin, or the chief, as they soon learned to call him, glanced
quickly at the party and for a moment studied each face.

"All willing to jeopardize your lives for gold, and when gotten what do
you do with it?"

"Why, live in comfort," laughed the professor, "as you do."

"Yes, as I do _without_ it," returned the other, smilingly.

"Perhaps, though, you can help us in our search, since having no need,
we cannot be robbing you."

"You will find no treasure on this island," was the firm response. And
then he again looked intently into each of the three faces before him,
ignoring only that of the professor.

"You have looked for the treasure yourself," questioned the professor,
"and there was none here?"

"There _was_," replied the chief. "But _it is gone_."

"The fortunes of war," said the professor lightly. "Really, though,
while we have been talking we may have been devoting to you time w