“Dry your eyes and listen to me,” said the old man. “Not very far from this place you will find your ship all splendidly equipped. Go there at once!”
The old man disappeared, and Juan ran with all possible speed to where the ship was lying. He went on deck, and a few minutes later the ship began to move smoothly over stumps and stones.
While he was thus travelling along, Juan all of a sudden saw a man running around the mountain in less than a minute. “Corrin Corron,[1] son of the great runner!” shouted Juan, “what are you doing?” The man stopped, and said, “I’m taking my daily exercise.”
“Never mind that!” said Juan, “come up here and rest!” And Corrin Corron readily accepted the offer.
Pretty soon Juan saw another man standing on the summit of a high hill and gazing intently at some distant object. “Mirin Miron,[2] son of the great Farsight!” said Juan, “what are you doing?”
“I’m watching a game of tubigan[3] seven miles away,” answered the other.
“Never mind!” said Juan, “come up here and eat with me!” And Mirin Miron gladly went on deck.
After a while Juan saw a hunter with gun levelled. “Puntin Punton,[4] son of the great Sureshot!” said Juan, “what are you doing?”
“Three miles away there is a bat-fly annoying a sheep. I want to kill that insect.”
“Let the creature go,” said Juan, “and come with me!” And Puntin Punton, too, joined the party.