saying that they'd ever seen the
sun rise in the same place where it sets."
"True, Otto, and the conclusion I am forced to is that we have slept
right on from sunset to sunset."
"So, then, we've lost a day," murmured Pauline, who in an attitude of
helpless repose, had been winking with a languid expression at the
luminous subject of discussion.
"Good morning, Pina," said Dominick.
"Good evening, you mean," interrupted his brother. "Well, good evening.
It matters little which; how have you slept?"
"Soundly--oh, so soundly that I don't want to move."
"Well, then, don't move; I'll rise and get you some breakfast."
"Supper," interposed Otto.
"Supper be it; it matters not.--But don't say we've lost a day, sister
mine. As regards time, indeed, we have; but in strength I feel that I
have gained a week or more."
"Does any one know," said Otto, gazing with a perplexed expression at
the sky--for he had lain back again with his hands under his head--"does
any one know what day it was when we landed?"
"Thursday, I think," said Dominick.
"Oh no," exclaimed Pauline; "surely it was Wednesday or Tuesday; but the
anxiety and confusion during the wreck, and our terrible sufferings
afterwards in the little boat, have quite confused my mind on that
point."
"Well, now, here's a pretty state of things," continued Otto, sleepily;
"we've lost one day, an' we don't agree about three others, and Dom says
he's gained a week! how are we ever to find out when Sunday comes, I
should like to know? There's a puzzler--a reg'lar--puzzl'--puz--"
A soft snore told that "tired Nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep," had
again taken the little fellow captive, and prolonged silence on the part
of the other two proved them to have gone into similar captivity.
Nature had not recovered her debt in full. She was in an exacting mood,
and held them fast during the whole of another night. Then she set them
finally free at sunrise on the following day, when the soft yellow light
streamed on surrounding land and sea, converting their sleeping-place
into a silver cave by contrast.
There was no languid or yawny awakening on this occasion. Dominick sat
up the instant his eyes opened, then sprang to his feet, and ran out of
the cave. He was followed immediately by Otto and Pauline, the former
declaring with emphasis that he felt himself to be a "new man."
"Yes, Richard's himself again," said Dominick, as he stretched himself
with
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