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188 chums, but I could do absolutely nothing. I wrenched at my bonds, but they held like bands of steel, cutting into my wrists and ankles until they drew blood. I was entirely at Ramon Delverez's mercy.

I was more sorry for Dan than for any of us. The thought that he might become permanently insane, on account of the strong drug administered to him, was heartrending.

It was fully a quarter of an hour later when Oliver began to moan and recover his senses. At first he could not realize his situation and I was afraid he, too, was about to lose his reason. I talked to him in a soothing tone, and at last he understood. But he was so weak and miserable he had little or nothing to say.

Hour after hour went by, until I became afraid that Ramon Delverez had left us to die of starvation in this lonely hut in the forest. But as the sun was setting we heard footsteps and voices approaching. Delverez was returning, accompanied by three other men, all Spaniards or Italians. As the party entered the hut, one of them carrying a lantern, I saw that the strangers were seafaring men.