“I’d jess have to, sir.” This with a solemn helplessness.
“He has taken her measure,” dryly remarked Captain Mason.
He had found opportunity to study the splendid jewels so abundantly adorning the king and the girl.
“Those gems,” he said, “were cut by European lapidaries.”
There was a disturbing suggestion in his words, but I could not define it. This island had received rich treasures from civilization. Here was a mystery.
“How do you account for them?” I asked.
“The typhoon makes many wrecks. There’s no knowing what shores they crawl up on to die.”
“Yes; but you see that although our ship was wrecked, we came ashore. Survivors of other wrecks likely have had the same experience.”
“No doubt.”
“Then, why haven’t they given out news of this island? It is evidently very rich, and——”