“Tudor Brown has been here,” he cried.  “They told us on board the ‘Vega’ that his vessel was at Valparaiso when he telegraphed them to wait for him at Vancouver.  Besides, this box from Chili could not have been brought here by the ‘Vega,’ for it is evidently quite fresh.  It can not be three days, perhaps not twenty-four hours since it has been opened!”

Dr. Schwaryencrona and Mr. Bredejord shook their heads, as if they hesitated to accept Erik’s conclusions, when turning the box in his hands, he descried written in pencil the word “Albatross,” which had doubtless been done by the person who had furnished the vessel with the beef.  He pointed it out to his friends.

“Tudor Brown has been here,” he repeated, “and why should he come except to carry off Patrick O’Donoghan.  Let us go, it is evident they embarked at this creek.  His men, while they were waiting for him, have taken breakfast around this fire.  He has carried off the Irishman, either willingly or unwillingly.  I am as certain of it as if I saw them embark.”

Notwithstanding this firm belief, Erik carefully explored the neighborhood, to assure himself that Patrick O’Donoghan was no longer there.  An hour’s walk convinced him that the island was uninhabited.  There was no trace of a path, nor the least vestige of a human being.  On all sides valleys extended as far as his sight could reach, without even a bird to animate its solitude.  And above all, the gigantic bones which they beheld lying around in every direction, gave them a feeling of disgust; it seemed as if an army of animals had taken refuge in this solitary island only to die there.

“Let us go!” said Dr. Schwaryencrona.  “There is no use in making a more complete search of the island; we have seen sufficient to assure us that Patrick O’Donoghan would not require much urging to induce him to leave this place!”

Four hours later they were again on board of the “Alaska,” and continuing their journey.

Erik did not hide the fact that his hopes had received a severe check.  Tudor Brown had been ahead of him, he had succeeded in reaching the island first, and doubtless had carried off Patrick O’Donoghan.  It was therefore hardly probable that they would succeed in finding him again.  A man capable of displaying such ability in his fiendish attack upon the “Alaska,” and who could adopt such energetic measures to carry off the Irishman from such a place, would assuredly exert himself to the utmost to prevent them from ever coming in contact with him.  The world is large, and its waters were open to the “Albatross.”  Who could tell to what point of the compass Patrick O’Donoghan and his secret would be carried?