“I think not. The map has been made by a seafaring man, that is plain.�
“I see, and the island itself is a circle,� she said, bending to inspect it more closely.
“Yes,� said I, “and it is like no island that I have ever seen, for here be two great rings like a gigantic wall and a hill or something of the sort in the middle.� I bent lower over it in my turn. My eyes are unusually keen and I saw words written on the outside of the island proper and between it and the coral reef. “See,� said I, “the words ‘ye stairs’!�
“Stairs!� exclaimed the girl in amazement, “did you ever see stairs on such an island?�
“No, I have not. But these may only be some natural means of ascent.�
“It is most strange and meaningless,� she said.
“Not so, my lady,� I said, “these torn halves of the map have not been preserved through generations and handed down from father to son, or daughter, so carefully unless there be some meaning attached to them. What do you know about it? Forgive the presumption of my inquiry, but in this matter perhaps I can be of more service to you than I could be in anything else.�
“You have been a faithful, devoted servitor, Master Hampdon,� she said, “and I have no hesitation in telling you all I know. My mother and father were distantly related, that is they were descendants in the fifth generation from two brothers.�
“Exactly,� said I, “your father’s note says this piece of parchment has been in possession of his family for five generations and evidently the other was in the possession of your mother’s people for the same time.�
“Why, that must be so,� said the girl amazed, “indeed, I think you are very acute to have reasoned it out.�