A cautious approach brought the islanders under observation, though the professor and his party were hidden from the others. There may have been a dozen of the tribe men grouped about the spring. The one, most impressive appearing of the lot, had evidently but just completed a bath and just resumed his scanty garments which he was then adjusting. This person was not as dark of skin as those about him, and from the servilent actions of the others it could readily be assumed that he was their king or chief. None of the party were armed.
The professor viewed the scene for a brief interval, then, without hesitation stepped from behind the barrier of leaves. Instantly the islanders were alert and calls and exclamations filled the air. All were, however, silenced by the chief, who turned now for the first time and faced the visitors. To the latter’s great astonishment the chief immediately sprang forward, advancing toward the professor. Jo and Tom quickly raised their rifles, but as quickly lowered them again, when they saw that the approach was without menace.
The onlookers’ astonishment was greater still when they heard the chief in the best of English say, “My dear friend, what are you doing here?”
“Rather, may I say,” was the prompt reply, “what are you doing here, my dear Jranvin? What in all reason brought you to this end of the world?”
Thus saluted, and with further manifestations of regard, esteem and affection the two men grasped hands, and with the other hand upon each other’s shoulders, stood thus for a full minute.
It was the professor who first bethought himself of the surroundings, and with a recognition that they were not alone upon the scene, he cried:
“Here, boys, and Berwick. Here is my old and well regarded friend. Let me make you acquainted, Jranvin, with Jo Darlington and his brother Tom and Mr. Berwick.”
Greetings were exchanged, the islanders indifferently looking on, and the professor undertook to hastily satisfy the curiosity of his friends. There was little he could say, however, and explanations had to come naturally from the chief, for such he announced himself to be.
“It’s not a long story,” he said, “my being here, and very briefly, in a nutshell, it is this——”
“Why,” broke in the professor, “when I last saw you in London, you were ill, had been ill for a long time, and in truth I may say, I never thought to see you again on this earth.”