Arthur laughed, and admitted that this grave impeachment of the character of his chronometer, was not entirely without foundation, and that in consequence, the strict accuracy of the results arrived at, could not be relied on. "The only thing that we can be at all certain about in regard to our position," said Max, "is, that we are south of the line." "How can that be?" inquired Browne, "the Pole-star is visible from here, or, at any rate, we saw it on the second or third night we were at sea in the boat." "A part of the Great Bear can be seen," answered Arthur, "but not the north star, I think. I looked for it last night, and though I could see all the stars of the Dipper, the pointers were near the horizon, and the Pole-star below it. But even if visible, it would be no evidence that we are north of the equator, for I believe it can be seen from the fourth or fifth degree of south latitude." "See now," said Browne, "what a pretty neighbourhood you are getting us into, with your wise calculations! If we are south of the line, and far west of the Kingsmills, we must be somewhere near the Bidera Sea, and the Mendana Archipelago, about which the young sailor Roby, who was always boasting of having sailed with the famous Captain Morell, used to tell us such wonderful stories." "It is good ground," replied Arthur, "for one who wants to exercise a traveller's privilege, and recount marvels and prodigies, without fear of contradiction. Those seas are full of large islands, with countless numbers of smaller ones, and remain to this day almost unexplored. In fact, little more is now ascertained in regard to them, than was known two hundred and fifty years ago, soon after their discovery by the Spanish navigator Mendana; so that a man who pretends, as Roby does, to have gone over the ground himself, may tell pretty much what stories he pleases, without danger of any one being able to convict him of inaccuracy." "What!" exclaimed Johnny, opening his eyes to their utmost extent, "do you suppose we are near those islands Jack Roby tells about, where the natives chew betel and lime out of a carbo-gourd, and sacrifice men to their idols, and tear out and devour the hearts of their enemies?" "And where King Rogerogee lived," added Max, "(you remember him Johnny), the giant seven feet and a half high, who wore a paradise plume on his head, and a girdle of the claws and beaks of birds around his waist? Why, this may be the very island of Podee over which he reigned, and we ought not to be greatly surprised to see him look in upon us at any moment, with his paradise plume waving among the tops of the trees, and his spear, eighteen feet long, in his hand." "Don't let Rogerogee disturb your dreams, Johnny," said Arthur, "if there is any such place as the island of Podee, which I very much doubt, it is, according to Roby's own account, but a few leagues to the east of Papua, and some twelve or thirteen hundred miles at least, west of us."