here close to the table. When the book falls open, wave the
pencil round three times and jab it down. Ready?--All right.
Shut your eyes."

It was a tense and fearful moment--but very thrilling. We both
had our eyes shut tight. I heard the atlas fall open with a
bang. I wondered what page it was: England or Asia. If it
should be the map of Asia, so much would depend on where that
pencil would land. I waved three times in a circle. I began to
lower my hand. The pencil-point touched the page.

"All right," I called out, "it's done."



THE TWELFTH CHAPTER

DESTINY AND DESTINATION

WE both opened our eyes; then bumped our heads together with a
crack in our eagerness to lean over and see where we were to go.

The atlas lay open at a map called, Chart of the South Atlantic
Ocean. My pencil-point was resting right in the center of a tiny
island. The name of it was printed so small that the Doctor had
to get out his strong spectacles to read it. I was trembling
with excitement.

"Spidermonkey Island," he read out slowly. Then he whistled
softly beneath his breath. "Of all the extraordinary things!