“Most Remarkable”

           Severalmilessouthofthecabin,uponastripofsandybeach,stoodtwooldmen,arguing.

           BeforethemstretchedthebroadAtlantic.AttheirbackswastheDarkContinent.Closearoundthemloomedtheimpenetrableblacknessofthejungle.

           Savagebeastsroaredandgrowled;noises,hideousandweird,assailedtheirears.Theyhadwanderedformilesinsearchoftheircamp,butalwaysinthewrongdirection.Theywereashopelesslylostasthoughtheysuddenlyhadbeentransportedtoanotherworld.

           Atsuchatime,indeed,everyfiberoftheircombinedintellectsmusthavebeenconcentrateduponthevitalquestionoftheminute—thelife-and-deathquestiontothemofretracingtheirstepstocamp.

           SamuelT.Philanderwasspeaking.

           "But,mydearprofessor,"hewassaying,"IstillmaintainthatbutforthevictoriesofFerdinandandIsabellaoverthefifteenth-centuryMoorsinSpaintheworldwouldbetodayathousandyearsinadvanceofwherewenowfindourselves.TheMoorswereessentiallyatolerant,broad-minded,liberalraceofagriculturists,artisansandmerchants—theverytypeofpeoplethathasmadepossiblesuchcivilizationaswefindtodayinAmericaandEurope—whiletheSpaniards—"

           "Tut,tut,dearMr.Philander,"interruptedProfessorPorter;"theirreligionpositivelyprecludedthepossibilitiesyousuggest.