“Because I see the doctor has been there.”
“I never was farther from home than Switzerland in my life.”
“That’s strange,” said the captain, “for that’s the very island I am making for now.”
“Oh! won’t do,” said the doctor. “Mine was all exaggeration, built up out of old books of travels.”
“The description was perfect, sir,” said the captain quietly. “Eh, Bartlett?”
“Photographic,” said the mate.
“Come, come, gentlemen, that won’t do,” said the doctor merrily. “I gave rein to my fancy. I knew that the coral islands are very lovely, and the volcanic islands very grand, and so I said to myself, I’ll paint a regular tip-top one, such as ought to please friend Jack here, and I joined the volcanic on to the coral and astonished myself.”
“And me too,” said Sir John, laughing.
“And disappointed me horribly,” said Jack; “I really thought there was such a place.”
“So there is, Mr Jack, and we’re sailing for it now,” said the captain quietly.