For more than a week they tramped through the attractive portions of the land, and then the day was set for departure.
"I have been thinking of making a trip to your friends in the South," said John, as they were dining at Ephraim's home, the day before the date of sailing.
"That would please me more than anything else," replied Ephraim. "It occurs to me that is the first step toward peace and prosperity on the island."
"Then we shall sail to their village, and from that place go to Venture Island, where we had our first adventures, stopping, on the way at Hutoton, where they have a criminal colony."
"What is that?" inquired Ephraim. "A criminal colony?"
"Yes," said John. "On the large island to the south, which we discovered before we came here we found a singular condition of things. Near the southern end of the island we came into contact with a tribe ruled over by a Chief, named Beralsea, a powerful man; in fact, there is no law there except the will of the Chief."
The boys were now laughing immoderately, and Ephraim was moved to smiles at their mirth. "It must have been very amusing, I have no doubt," he said.
"We were thinking of the jolly time we had when Sutoto married the Chief's daughter," said George.
"We shall tell you all about it on our way there," added Harry.