The hours until the dawn were eternities of waking nightmare.

Reason, resuming sway at last, steadied me.

Even had I spoken and been believed where in these wastes after all the hours could we search for Throckmartin?
Certainly the captain would not turn back to Port Moresby.

And even if he did, of what use for me to set forth for the Nan-Matal without the equipment which Throckmartin himself had decided was necessary if one hoped to cope with the mystery that lurked there?
There was but one thing to do--follow his instructions; get the paraphernalia in Melbourne or Sydney if it were possible; if not sail to America as swiftly as might be, secure it there and as swiftly return to Ponape.

And this I determined to do.
Calmness came back to me after I had made this decision.