Part 8 (1/2)

There was a further reason why the coming of John and of Blake was a joyous event. Oma had been informed that the great copper mines were to be opened in the mountains, which would insure work for every one, and that they would be able to buy every sort of luxury and enjoy all the comforts of the white people.

Late that evening John and Blakely came accompanied by two hundred of the Illyas who had actually been engaged during the day in transporting copper from the cave to the hold of the _Wonder_.

The feast and the celebration that night in a village which, only a few months before, was of the most savage character, was, indeed, a marvel.

Oma could scarcely express himself with enough earnestness, and the women were following the boys with their eyes, and actually caressing them, in their eagerness to show appreciation.

When the time came for them to leave, the Chief accompanied the men to the sh.o.r.e below South Mountain to witness their departure. Before they left the village, the things which had been brought there by the s.h.i.+ps for the Illyas were placed in the Chief's storehouse, and Blakely paid the members of the party who had a.s.sisted them. This, also, was the occasion for much rejoicing.

Blakely, on board the _Wonder_, waved an adieu to the boys and John as the boats separated, and Sutoto gave the order to sail directly southeast.

During the afternoon the sea was calm and afforded a beautiful sail, but during the night a strong breeze came up and its intensity varied during the night. The next day, however, the sea became choppy, and over two-thirds of the natives were rolling around on the deck in the agonies of sea-sickness.

”This will give us an opportunity to try the new cure for the malady,”

said John.

”What is that?” asked George.

”Simply atrophine.”

”How is it administered?”

”By injecting it.”

”What is atrophine?” asked Harry.

”It is a crystalline, bitter and poisonous alkaloid, taken from the deadly nightshade, and the same principle is also found in the thorn apple.”

”Isn't it the same as belladonna?” remarked George.

”No; but belladonna is also an extract of nightshade.”

”Have you any of it here?”

”Yes; I brought some, together with the other drugs that the Professor ordered, and I am anxious to try it. The remedy was discovered by Prof.

Fischer, of Munich, and also simultaneously by Dr. Reginald Pollard, of South Kensington, England.”

Accompanied by the boys John went among the sufferers, and administered the medicine, giving at each injection about 1-64th of a grain. It was remarkable in its effects. Within a half hour the sickening feeling in the stomach disappeared, the eyes began to grow bright again, the pulse full, and the patient became strong and vigorous.

None of them objected to John's ministrations. Their confidence in his ability was sufficient for them and the results justified their faith.

When the boys came on deck in the morning, they strained their eyes looking toward the horizon for land but there was no land in sight. John was already on deck and he smiled as he saw them ascend the ladder. ”And where is your island?” he asked.

”How far have we gone?”

”We have been driven somewhat out of our course, it is true; but we are more than a hundred miles from Wonder Island, and have sailed past the place where the other island ought to be, according to Walter's letter.”

And John chuckled somewhat, at the crestfallen looks of the boys.

”Where are we going now?”

”I told Sutoto we would better tack to the southwest. We can use up a day at that course, and then double back, probably thirty or forty miles to the south, and in that way we can cover a wide area.”