“No! That bad tree! No good!” said Samatan. “This one.”
Into Johnny’s mind at that moment came the words of the professor: “When I am in a strange land I do what a native will do—go where he goes. If he says ‘No go’—I stay.”
So, without further questioning, the boy began to climb Samatan’s tree.
The tree was short and sturdy. Soon they were perched like crows on two limbs close together. And in silence they watched the onrushing storm. The sky was black. It was like night. Scarcely could the boy see his companion. Trembling with excitement, he decided to force his thoughts from the impending hurricane.
“Samatan,” he said, “there was something about our steel ball you did not like.”
“Yes,” came the instant reply. “Professor—he is good man. Very good. But one thing must not do. He must not!”
“He is going to tell me,” Johnny thought, with quickening pulse.
But at that moment there came such a roar as would drown the strongest voice, and onto the beach came the rush of a great sea. Something like a tidal wave had struck the narrow reef.
“I must hang on,” the boy thought. The next instant he was engulfed in stinging salt water. The sea had swept over the land.
Though Johnny felt that he was being swallowed by the sea, it was in reality only the froth and foam of the monster wave that reached him. One instant he was gasping for breath, the next, he was looking down on a madly whirling world.