In Search of an Unknown Race — page 246: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

232 VAN. The nearest the black could come to the word ‘Sisland” was ‘‘land.” Pointing to himself, then to the others, the Kroo finally evolved this rather peculiar proposition : ‘«S’pose you white feller cap’n um vessel. You sail we black feller for land—we go home.” Well, San Francisco was the nearest port, and from there the kidnapped natives could be sent back to New Hebrides in one of the many trading vessels to the South Seas. But it was not wisdom to go into detail, particularly as it would be impossible to make himself plain. So Van nodded. ‘‘VYou make me live captain—I take you to land,” he said quietly, and his reply being interpreted to the others, a universal hand clapping attested to their delight. Like all the inhabitants of New Hebrides, they were tall and powerfully built, with strongly marked African features, that in repose showed no signs of the savage ferocity which characterizes the cannibal race. But what Van thought most of just then was their ability to become good sailors, for a wide expanse of ocean yet remained to be crossed. Before anything else was attended to, Van brought Captain Peterson’s sextant on deck in readiness for tak- ing the sun when its highest altitude should be attained. With it he also brought the chart and log book for an examination. He easily ascertained the schooner's whereabouts at the time she was becalmcd the evening before—which was about 40 degrees north and 165 de- grees west, or about two thirds of the way across the Werth Pacific, GEomichbooksico