it is spoiled."

"Yes," said Sir John; "we don't want to get to a place full of
plantations and farms; we want an out-of-the-way spot where the
naturalist and traveller have not run riot over the land; where Nature
is wild and untamed."

"And where we can find something new," said the doctor. "That place the
captain talked about is the very spot."

"But we may not find it," said Jack.

"Let's chance it, my boy," said his father; "and even if we do not hit
upon that, there are plenty of places far more interesting to us than
Java is likely to be."

And now at last they were in sight of the very place, and a wild
excitement began to fill the boy's breast as he went over the doctor's
imaginary description, one which the captain declared to be perfectly
accurate, for so many islands existed formed upon that very plan.

It did not occur to Jack that a great change had come over him, nor that
people on board were noticing him when he hurried down to finish
dressing that morning, and back on deck with his powerful binocular
glass, to stand gazing away toward the east.

"This is clearer and better than the captain's glass," he thought to
himself, "and easier to use," as he made out the misty little undefined
patch, but was disappointed to find how slightly it had changed in the
time he had been below.

He ate his breakfast hurriedly, and came on deck again with his
excitement growing, and Sir John and the doctor exchanged glances, but
nothing was said, as they leisurely finished their meal and then
followed him.

"When shall we make the land, captain?" said Sir John.

"Perhaps not till to-morrow morning," was the reply, "under sail: the
wind's falling."

"Why, where is Jack?" said the doctor suddenly. "He came on deck."

The captain gave him a queer look, and jerked his head backward, as he
stood facing the wheel.

"Forward in the bows?" said the doctor.

"No: look up."

Sir John and the doctor looked up in astonishment to find that Jack had
mounted the mainmast shrouds, and was now perched in the little apology
for a top, with his arms about the foot of the topmast, against which he
held his glass, gazing east.

Sir John drew a deep breath, and looked at his friend.

"Don't take the slightest notice," said the latter; "treat it as quite a
matter of course. He has taken his spring and is out of his misery. He
won't want any corks to swim with now, nor for us to hold him up."

"That's right, gentleme