The effect of these words on the unfortunate man was indescribable. He fairly leaped forward, and a cry came from his lips.
“You know me!” he exclaimed. “You have come to save me? Oh, the dear Lord be thanked! Yes, I am Hartley Bentwell, but in a few days more I would not have known myself. I—I fear I was going mad. It was almost the end. Oh, what a life I have lived on this island! Unable to escape! Menaced by the snakes! Not a soul to speak to! In fear of the floods! Oh, even now, my mind is not right!”
“There, there!” exclaimed the professor soothingly, as he would have talked to a child. “You are with friends. You will soon be away from here, and in your own home. We are going to restore you to the world again. You have seen the last of Snake Island.”
“The last of Snake Island! Oh——” but the unfortunate castaway could say no more, for he had fainted, and would have fallen, had not Jerry and Ned caught him.
“Quick! Carry him to the Comet,” directed the professor. “When he comes to, he must find himself in brighter surroundings.”
This was quickly done, and, as the rain soon stopped, and the sun came out, when Mr. Bentwell became conscious, he found himself in a pleasant cabin, surrounded by his new friends. A look of wonder came over his face, and the wild, half-insane stare faded from his eyes.
“Here, drink this,” commanded Uriah Snodgrass, and he held out a bowl of nourishing soup.
And, following a refreshing sleep, that afternoon, while seated in the airship cabin, Mr. Bentwell told his story. He had been with the scientists who, about a year before, had come to search for the radium on Snake Island. There had been an accident, one boat was wrecked, and the unfortunate man was cast alone on the island. His companions escaped, and got back to civilization, believing him drowned.
The cargo of the boat, consisting of a considerable quantity of provisions, stores and tools, was washed up on the island.
He built the hut, and rudely furnished it. Then, having nothing else to do, being unable to escape from the island, he began a search for the radium, as told in his torn notebook. But he could not find it.