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caused by our friendly whales who were still faithfully working away with
their noses against the end of the island； driving us northward。 We had
been kept so busy with the war that we had forgotten all about them。 But
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as we paused and watched their mighty tails lashing and churning the sea；
we suddenly realized that we had not felt cold in quite along while。
Speeding up our boat lest the island be carried away from us altogether；
we passed on up the coast； and here and there we noticed that the trees on
the shore already looked greener and more healthy。 Spidermonkey Island
was getting back into her home climates。
About halfway to Popsipetel we went ashore and spent two or three
days exploring the central part of the island。 Our Indian paddlers took us
up into the mountains； very steep and high in this region； overhanging the
sea。 And they showed us what they called the Whispering Rocks。
This was a very peculiar and striking piece of scenery。 It was like a
great vast basin； or circus； in the mountains； and out of the centre of it
there rose a table of rock with an ivory chair upon it。 All around this the
mountains went up like stairs； or theatre…seats； to a great height except at
one narrow end which was open to a view of the sea。 You could imagine it
a council…place or concert…hall for giants； and the rock table in the centre
the stage for performers or the stand for the speaker。
We asked our guides why it was called the Whispering Rocks； and
they said； 〃Go down into it and we will show you。〃
The great bowl was miles deep and miles wide。 We scrambled down
the rocks and they showed us how； even when you stood far； far apart from
one another； you merely had to whisper in that great place and every one
in the theatre could hear you。 This was； the Doctor said； on account of the
echoes which played backwards and forwards between the high walls of
rock。
Our guides told us that it was here； in days long gone by when the
Popsipetels owned the whole of Spidermonkey Island； that the kings were
crowned。 The ivory chair upon the table was the throne in which they sat。
And so great was the big theatre that all the Indians in the island were able
to get seats in it to see the ceremony。
They showed us also an enormous hanging stone perched on the edge
of a volcano's craterthe highest summit in the whole island。 Although it
was very far below us； we could see it quite plainly。 and it looked wobbly
enough to be pushed off its perch with the hand。 There was a legend
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among the people； they said； that when the greatest of all Popsipetel kings
should be crowned in the ivory chair； this hanging stone would tumble into
the volcano's mouth and go straight down to the centre of the earth。
The Doctor said he would like to go and examine it closer。
And when we were come to the lip of the volcano （it took us half a day
to get up to it） we found the stone was unbelievably largebig as a
cathedral。 Underneath it we could look right down into a black hole which
seemed to have no bottom。 The Doctor explained to us that volcanoes
sometimes spurted up fire from these holes in their tops； but that those on
floating islands were always cold and dead。
〃Stubbins；〃 he said； looking up at the great stone towering above us；
〃do you know what would most likely happen if that boulder should fall
in？〃
〃No；〃 said I； 〃what？〃
〃You remember the air…chamber which the porpoises told us lies under
the centre of the island？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well； this stone is heavy enough； if it fell into the volcano； to break
through into that air…chamber from above。 And once it did； the air would
escape and the floating island would float no more。 It would sink。〃
〃But then everybody on it would be drowned； wouldn't they？〃 said
Bumpo。
〃Oh no； not necessarily。 That would depend on the depth of the sea
where the sinking took place。 The island might touch bottom when it had
only gone down； say； a hundred feet。 But there would be lots of it still
sticking up above the water then； wouldn't there？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Bumpo； 〃I suppose there would。 Well； let us hope that the
ponderous fragment does not lose its equilibriosity； for I don't believe it
would stop at the centre of the earth more likely it would fall right
through the world and come out the other side。〃
Many other wonders there were which these men showed us in the
central regions of their island。 But I have not time or space to tell you of
them now。
Descending towards the shore again； we noticed that we were still
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being watched； even here among the highlands； by the Bag…jagderags who
had followed us。 And when we put to sea once more a boatload of them
proceeded to go ahead of us in the direction of Popsipetel。 Having lighter
canoes； they traveled faster than our party； and we judged that they should
reach the villageif that was where they were going many hours before
we could。
The Doctor was now becoming anxious to see how Long Arrow was
getting on； so we all took turns at the paddles and went on traveling by
moonlight through the whole night。
We reached Popsipetel just as the dawn was breaking。
To our great surprise we found that not only we； but the whole village
also； had been up all night。 A great crowd was gathered about the dead
chief's house。 And as we landed our canoes upon the beach we saw a large
number of old men； the seniors of the tribe； coming out at the main door。
We inquired what was the meaning of all this； and were told that the
election of a new chief had been going on all through the whole night。
Bumpo asked the name of the new chief； but this； it seemed； had not yet
been given out。 It would be announced at mid…day。
As soon as the Doctor had paid a visit to Long Arrow and seen that he
was doing nicely； we proceeded to our own house at the far end of the
village。 Here we ate some breakfast and then lay down to take a good rest。
Rest； indeed； we needed； for life had been stren…uous and busy for us
ever since