Martin Holt seemed to be stupefied by the revelation.

The others dragged him away, and now he is with them!" We were all agreed that things had happened as I supposed, and now the question was, did Dirk Peters, in his present state of mind, mean to absent himself?
Would he consent to resume his place among us?
We all left the cavern, and after an hour's search we came in sight of Dirk Peters, whose first impulse was to escape from us.

At length, however, Hurliguerly and Francis came up with him.

He stood still and made no resistance.

I advanced and spoke to him, the others did the same.