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5. The Cannibal Island

Doubtless the adventures of the day had tired Rob, for he slept

throughout the night as comfortably as if he had been within his own

room, lying upon his own bed. When, at last, he opened his eyes and

gazed sleepily about him, he found himself over a great body of water,

moving along with considerable speed.

It's the ocean, of course," he said to himself. "I haven't reached Cuba

yet."

It is to be regretted that Rob's knowledge of geography was so superficial;

for, as he had intended to reach Cuba, he should have taken a course

almost southwest from Boston, instead of southeast. The sad result of

his ignorance you will presently learn, for during the entire day he

continued to travel over a boundless waste of ocean, without the sight of

even an island to cheer him.

The sun shone so hot that he regretted he had not brought an umbrella.

But he wore a wide-brimmed straw hat, which protected him somewhat,

and he finally discovered that by rising to a considerable distance above

the ocean he avoided the reflection of the sun upon the water and also

came with the current of good breeze.

Of course he dared no stop, for there was no place to land; so he calmly

continued his journey.

It may be I've missed Cuba," he thought; "but I can not change my

course now, for if I did I might get lost, and never be able to find land

again. If I keep on as I am I shall be sure to reach land of some sort, in

time, and when I wish to return home I can set the indicator to the

northwest and that will take me directly back to Boston."

This was good reasoning, but the rash youth had no idea he was

speeding over the ocean, or that he was destined to arrive shortly at the

barbarous island of Brava, off the coast of Africa. Yet such was the case;

just as the sun sank over the edge of the waves he saw, to his great

relief, a large island directly in his path.

The Master Key