In less than two years they had transformed an island of savage races into some semblance of or[p. 228]derly life, and inspired the people with a new impulse. It was the first time the chiefs of the island had ever met together. Within a week all were on friendly terms with each other.
At the conference that evening the Professor remarked: "We have now put in nearly two years of hard work, and accomplished the most wonderful results. The boys want to go home, and it is right that they should. Owing to the peculiar conditions existing here, we have not been in a position where we could take any organized steps to go home. As long as any of our friends were in captivity it was our duty to remain."
"The situation is different now. We have really started a little empire here. This is the 'Empire' that Harry spoke about when we landed here. He little knew how prophetic that was. We now have the men, the material, the energy, and the ingenuity to make anything that is made anywhere in the world."
"We must build a ship—"
But the Professor could go no further. The boys were wild with excitement at the news, as they gathered about him.
"But I am coming back again," cried one after the other.
"But I am not going away," added the Professor, "because I am afraid I should never be able to come back again."
There was a tone of sadness as he said this, and it touched all the boys. It was hard to tell whether this was an occasion for joy or sorrow.
All knew what the Professor and John and[p. 229] Blakely felt, and that it would become their great field for future work.
Here was also a field for the energies of the boys, whose abilities could be directed into useful channels. Commercially the island was of immense value, if properly used. So long as John and the Professor were there no wrong speculative efforts would dare to be attempted by unscrupulous adventurers.