long time in which to be isolated upon a savage little

speck of land off the larger but no less savage Borneo.

Do you think that your bravery is equal to the demands

that will be made upon it?"

Virginia laughed, nor was there the slightest tremor in its note.

"I am equal to whatever fate my father is equal to,"

she said, "nor do I think that a life upon one of these

beautiful little islands would be much of a hardship--

certainly not if it will help to promote the success of

his scientific experiments."

She used the last words on a chance that she might have

hit upon the true reason for the contemplated isolation

from civilization. They had served their purpose too

in deceiving von Horn who was now half convinced that

Professor Maxon must have divulged more of their plans

to his daughter than he had led the medical man to

believe. Perceiving her advantage from the expression

on the young man's face, Virginia followed it up in an

endeavor to elicit the details.

The result of her effort was the knowledge that on the

second day they were to sail for the Pamarung Islands

upon a small schooner which her father had purchased,

with a crew of Malays and lascars, and von Horn, who

had served in the American navy, in command. The

precise point of destination was still undecided--the

plan being to search out a suitable location upon one

of the many little islets which dot the western shore

of the Macassar Strait.

Of the many men Virginia had met during the month at

Singapore von Horn had been by far the most interesting

and companionable. Such time as he could find from the

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