“He acts very queer about that steel ball—looks as if he’d like to bite a chunk out of it, and I don’t understand it.”
Johnny hesitated. “Perhaps if someone took him down, it would clear up some mistaken notions in his queer old head. He seems to have a lot of influence with the other natives. If anything should happen—”
“Nothing will happen.” Dave broke in. “This is the quietest place in the world.”
“Do you think so?” Johnny asked, with a little smile.
Dave nodded, absently. “But if you’d like to take Samatan down,” he added, “it’s O.K. with me. Be a grand experience for the old fellow. He’d never get over telling about it.”
“Soon?” asked Johnny.
“Any time you like,” was the answer.
Thanking Dave, Johnny ambled off to his berth for a long and dreamless sleep.
CHAPTER VIII
MONSTER OF THE DEEP
Morning came and, for Mildred—the ride in that steel ball.