“These things can all be explained,” replied Ravenshaw.  “It is a long story.  Sit down, and I will tell it to you.”

“Not here—­not here!” replied Austin unsteadily.  His glance went to the corner of the room and the tranquil figure on the couch.  He hid his face for a moment in his hands, then said:  “Let us go to another room.”

Ravenshaw made a sad gesture of acquiescence.  “Come,” he said quietly, lifting the lamp from the table.  The other two followed him, and Thalassa closed the surgery door gently behind them.  The doctor led them into a sitting-room opposite, where they seated themselves.  After a moment’s silence Ravenshaw began to speak in low controlled tones which gave no indication of the state of his feelings.

“You know all about this island part of the story,” he said, inquiringly, “how your brother and Remington, seeking their fortune together, came to be there?”

Austin Turold nodded.

“I am Remington,” pursued the other.  “I will take up the story from that point—­it will save time.”

Again Austin Turold assented with a nod.  There was neither anger nor resentment in his glance.  The look which rested on the speaker was one of unmixed amazement.

CHAPTER XXXIV

“I will pass over as briefly as possible what happened after I was left behind in that horrible place.  By the light of the moon I saw them go—­from the ridge I saw them put out to sea.  I watched them until the boat was a mere speck on the luminous waters, and finally vanished from sight.  I was left alone, a desperately wounded man, on an arid sulphurous island, without food or water.

“When I was sure the boat had gone I returned to our camping place, and bound my wounds with strips torn off my shirt.  Then I fell asleep.  I must have developed fever in my slumber, for I have no clear recollections of the next few days.  I vaguely recall roaming like a demented being among those solitudes in search of water, and finding a boiling spring.  The water, when cooled, was drinkable.  I suppose that saved my life.  For food, there was shell-fish and mutton-bird eggs, with no lack of boiling water to cook them.

“I lived there so long that I forgot the flight of time.  I became a wild man—­a mere shaggy animal, living, eating, and sleeping like a beast.

“I was rescued by a passing steamer at last, rescued without any effort of my own, for I had gone past caring.  From the ship they saw me leaping about the naked sides of the volcanic hills like a goat, and they put off a boat.  Some lady passengers were badly scared when I was brought aboard—­and no wonder.  They were very kind to me on that ship.  She was homeward bound, and brought me to England.  I told the captain my story, but I could see that he didn’t believe me, so I told nobody else.  Not that anybody wanted to know—­really.  One’s misfortunes are never interesting to other people.