mother! Where
are your eyes, my boys? _Ciel_, must I tell you? She is the kidnaped
princess of Azuria!"

You who read may have surmised this; so might we, had we been reading
instead of making history. The human mind that leans above a printed
page possesses a more concentrated grasp of facts than the human atoms
who run over the earth collecting them. So I caught my breath and simply
stared, too dazed to speak. It seemed as though something had given me a
surprising whack that sent a thousand sparks before my eyes. But then
slowly the whole structure began to unfold. Each step of evidence we had
picked up since the memorable night but twenty-four hours ago, now took
its place as the panorama--not flawless, but with inviting
possibilities,--and passed across my brain.

It was very late when we pushed back from the table. In its center were
the counterfeit bill, the magnifying glass, parts of the thoroughly
dissected bomb, several pages of writing pad with the professor's
deductions; and by these were some of Gates' charts, the paper I had
procured from the waiter, and another page containing those mystic
sentences Sylvia had spoken for finding her island--because I thought it
fair to her that this should be laid before my friends, especially as
she had only said them in a dream.

Strangely enough the professor was willing to admit them to his scheme
of carrying on our pursuit--a chase which he now seemed determined to
direct--when even Tommy, the superstitious Tommy, declared they would
throw us off the track a thousand miles. I could think of no plan, for
altogether it did seem like combing out the universe for two human
atoms.

"We have one sure way, of course," the professor leaned wearily back.
"Keep the _Orchid_ in sight. If we do this till she reaches her lair,
all is well."

"I wouldn't doubt she sailed, sir, right arfter placing the bomb," Gates
ventured.

"Then we can't keep her in sight," said Tommy dolefully.

"Do not thwart me," the little fellow cried, with a sudden flare of
anger that made us smile in spite of the serious work at hand.

"We'd better go ashore first," I suggested, "and get authority to
capture her. The government can deputize us by sending along an
officer."

"Authority!" Monsieur puffed out his cheeks and snapped his finger.
"That for your government's authority! I have the authority with me!"

"You!" I exclaimed.

"_Certainement!_ I was one of those true friends who left t