oil becoming
rancid. The boys then began to make combs from a specie of bamboo, and
from the ironwood tree.

During one of the fishing trips the boys brought home an immense turtle.
The Professor's eyes sparkled when he saw it.

Will related their experience in capturing it. "Is it good to eat?" he
asked.

"Yes; all turtles and tortoises are good to eat."

"What is the difference between the two?"

"The turtle is a sea animal, and the tortoise a land and water animal.
You must have caught this near the sea, as it is a specie of turtle
called the Testudo."

"What a beautiful mottled top it has!"

"That is why it interested me so much," replied the Professor. "You now
have something that is far better than the wood for making combs and
other like articles."

"Isn't that fine! Will it be difficult to make them up from this?"

"It is the simplest thing in the world. The outer shell, which is all
that is used, is put into boiling water, and this softens it so that it
can be worked easily."

"It seems singular that it is called a 'tortoise' shell if the land
animals are called tortoises."

"When the shell first became a matter of commerce, it was supposed that
the turtle and the tortoise were the same, and the name tortoise being
much older than turtle, the former appellation remained in designating
the shell."

The day and night of festivities of John and the warriors, at the Saboro
village, was ended, and the column took up its march for the country of
the Illyas.

Several of the scouts, sent out two days before, returned during the
night, and reported that there was a strong force directly ahead and
that the lower villages were also sending up a body of men, but that the
latter were still two days away.

Calling Muro, John asked: "What is the nature of the country to the
extreme south, or next to the sea?"

"I have never been there, but it is elevated, and is a fine country. One
of my men has been there, and he may be able to tell you something about
it. I will call him."

The warrior alluded to was tall, handsome and fully tattooed, as was the
custom with the most distinguished of the Saboros.

"Can you tell me," asked John, "what the nature of the country is south
of the mountains, and near the sea?"

"It is the country of the wise men of the Illyas. They will not allow
others to go near there."

"Do you know why?"

"It is said there are wonderful things there."

"Do you know whether there