"It is supported by some evidence, much of which,[p. 44] like the account which the Egyptian priests gave to Solon, would take too long to state; but some years ago, while Darwin was engaged in making the deep sea soundings in the ship Challenger, it was found that the bed of the Atlantic showed a raised plateau, where the legendary Atlantis was claimed to be."
"But might it not be possible that the other theory could be correct, also,—that is, that North America merely broke away, and in breaking away, left Atlantis as an island?"
"I do not see how it can be reconciled. In the first sketch ([Fig. 2]), note the shape of the continent of Atlantis. Now, in the next sketch ([Fig. 3]), I have brought the two continents close up to each other. The outlines appear similar, and it would be difficult to make them fit together, if Atlantis should be placed there, or left in that space, after the breaking apart."
The discussion was closed for the night and arrangements made for sleep and sentry duty.
Frequently during the night the beating of the singular drums was heard. After the entertainment of the evening both Muro and Uraso undertook some scouting on their own account. The boys were awake early, and then learned of their expeditions.
Three miles north of the rocky point the main village was located. They had crept forward cautiously until close enough to learn that there must be fully five hundred inhabitants. But what was more surprising still, was the evidence they obtained that the tribes believed in the Hoodoos and the witch doctors.
The boys were jubilant at the information, and John was full of smiles as he imparted the informa[p. 46]tion. The difficulty was to get into communication with the natives, as their efforts of the preceding day did not offer much encouragement in that direction.