"Is that so?" exclaimed the Professor in surprise. "Get John. He will be surprised."
John came hurriedly at the announcement, and the contents of the missive pointed out. "This is certainly good news," he said. "That was fine work on your part."
"You see the arrow, and the part of the word 'leagues.' That couldn't mean feet or yards, or miles."
"Quite evident," said John, as he mused for a while. "This confirms, in a measure, the information that we have as to the proximity of these islands, but the charts show them farther away."
"Undoubtedly, if Walter knew what he was talking about, we have an interesting problem to decipher, and the determination to make the voyage is a wise and timely one," interposed the Professor.
"Now for the ship," said Harry. "Every day is a hundred, in my mind."
As may be imagined, the boys now worked with feverish haste. Other islands here, and waiting for them! Sometimes they were almost tempted to give up the trip home, but the Professor would not hear of it.
"Do not change your plans, if you have any good conclusions when you start out. Don't oscillate from one thing to another. Always make up your minds and then take a wise, persistent course. It is that which always serves you best."
"No; we will go home first, and then for the islands," said Harry, who felt relieved that the im[p. 44]petuous nature of George could be brought to their way of thinking, although George was by far the most homesick of the entire lot.
All the boys were on hand when the vessel was launched. It rode the water beautifully, and the natives were the most enthusiastic helpers. They felt proud of their work. Uraso and Muro, the two chiefs, who were the most prominent men in the community, and particularly Sutoto, the intelligent Beree, and Stut, the brother-in-law of Muro, were on hand.