The greatest
agitation was immediately manifest among the crowd on the deck of the air
ship. They seemed to be even more startled than they had been by the
sound of Jack's voice. They interchanged looks, and, apparently, a few
words, spoken in very low voices, and glanced from Juba to us in a way
which plainly showed that they were astonished at our being together.
Edmund, whose perspicacity never deserted him, immediately penetrated
their thoughts.
"It is clear," he said, "that these people recognize Juba as an
inhabitant of the dark hemisphere, while, as to us, they are puzzled, and
all the more so now that Juba has made his appearance. I think it certain
that they have never actually met any representative of Juba's race
before, but no doubt he bears, to their eyes, ethnological
characteristics which escape our discernment, and it is likely that
tradition has handed down to them facts about the inhabitants of the
other side of their planet which accord with his appearance."
"Then, they must conclude that we have come from the other side, and
brought Juba along as a captive," I said.
"Undoubtedly."
"And what must they think of us--that we are inhabitants of the dark
hemisphere also?"
"What else can they think?"
I do not know into what train of speculation this might have led us if a
new incident had not suddenly changed the current of our thoughts.
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