“True—­and I am glad to know by your last words that you are sensitive about the justice of what you propose to do.  Indifference to pure and simple justice is the great curse of mankind.  It is not indeed the root, but it is the fruit of our sins.  The suspicion that detains Baderoon is more than justified, for I could bring many witnesses to prove that he has vowed to take my life, and I know him to be a murderer.”

At breakfast-time Van der Kemp announced to his friends his intention of quitting the village at once, and gave an account of his interview with the Malay lad during the night.  This, of course, reconciled them to immediate departure,—­though, in truth, the professor was the only one who required to be reconciled.

“It is very misfortunate,” he remarked with a sigh, which had difficulty in escaping through a huge mass of fish and rice.  “You see zee vonderful variety of ornizological specimens I could find here, ant zee herbareum, not to mention zee magnificent Amblypodia eumolpus ant ozer bootterflies—­ach!-a leetle mor’ feesh if you please.  Zanks.  My frond, it is a great sacrifice, but I vill go avay viz you, for I could not joostify myself if I forzook you, ant I cannot ask you to remain vile your life is in dancher.”

“I appreciate your sentiments and sacrifice thoroughly,” said the hermit.

“So does I,” said Moses, helping himself to coffee; “but ob course if I didn’t it would be all de same.  Pass de venison, Massa Nadgel, an’ don’t look as if you was goin’ to gib in a’ready.  It spoils my appetite.”

“You will have opportunities,” continued Van der Kemp, addressing the professor, “to gather a good many specimens as we go along.  Besides, if you will consent to honour my cave in Krakatoa with a visit, I promise you a hearty welcome and an interesting field of research.  You have no idea what a variety of species in all the branches of natural history my little island contains.”

Hereupon the hermit proceeded to enter into details of the flora, fauna, and geology of his island-home, and to expatiate in such glowing language on its arboreal and herbal wealth and beauty, that the professor became quite reconciled to immediate departure.

“But how,” he asked, “am I to get zere ven ve reach zee sea-coast? for your canoe holds only t’ree, as you have told me.”

“There are plenty of boats to be had.  Besides, I can send over my own boat for you to the mainland.  The distance is not great.”

“Goot.  Zat vill do.  I am happay now.”

“So,” remarked Nigel as he went off with Moses to pack up, “his ‘paradise regained’ is rather speedily to be changed into paradise forsaken!  ‘Off wi’ the old love and on wi’ the new.’  ’The expulsive power of a new affection!’”

“Das true, Massa Nadgel,” observed Moses, who entertained profound admiration for anything that sounded like proverbial philosophy.  “De purfesser am an affectionit creeter.  ’Pears to me dat he lubs de whole creation.  He kills an’ tenderly stuffs ’most eberyt’ing he kin lay hands on.  If he could only lay hold ob Baderoon an’ stuff an’ stick him in a moozeum, he’d do good service to my massa an’ also to de whole ob mankind.”