ou, however."

"Why?" asked Harry.

"Because, if you remember it the third island was to the south of
Venture, and not to the north as we really found it."

CHAPTER XVIII

THE STORY OF THE LETTERED SKULL

It was late that afternoon when Clifford awoke, and plainly much,
refreshed, and improved physically. When he saw the Professor he said:
"I have not told you all, but I want the boys here for that purpose,
because I know it will interest them."

When the boys arrived they awaited the coming of John, who informed them
that Uraso had received word of the capture of Walter, but that he would
not arrive until noon.

Clifford greeted them effusively, and it was evident that he had
recovered his spirits, and was well on the road to recovery. After some
general talk on uninteresting topics, he began his story:

"I was on the vessel with Ephraim when we ran into the monsoon which
wrecked the vessel. After days of suffering I became unconscious, and
when the spar finally reached the shore, I was aroused sufficiently to
save myself, and after wandering around for some time, came up to a
tribe of natives, who took good care of me.

"I had no means of determining the latitude or longitude, because I was
then only about twenty years of age, and had shipped on the vessel at
Shanghai, because I was anxious to return home. I remained with the
people about three years, and they were called Osagas."

"Why, this town is built in the Osagas' territory," said Harry.

"That may be so, but it is enough for the present to know that it was
somewhere on this island that I reached the shore, and that about three
years thereafter I was fortunate enough to catch sight of a sailing
vessel, and on her I reached San Francisco.

"In course of time I built up a profitable shipping business, and owned
several vessels engaged in the coast and Alaska trade. Like all shipping
men on the western coast, I learned of the many accounts, most of them
fables, concerning the treasures on the islands in the South Seas, but
they never had any effect on me until about three years ago, I had a
hand in furnishing the outfit for a vessel which departed on such a
mission, that sailed some time in December or January, of that year."

"Do you know the name of the vessel?" asked John.

"Yes; the _Juan Ferde_. Why do you ask?"

"I sailed in that vessel with Blakely, one of the owners."

"Blakely? Blakely, did you say? Why he is the man who purchas