So soon as they had gone Good went to the little box where he kept his medicines, unlocked it, and took out a note-book, in the fly-leaves of which was an almanack.

"Now look here, you fellows, isn't to-morrow the 4th of June ?" he said.
We had kept a careful note of the days, so were able to answer that it was.
"Very good; then here we have it--'4 June, total eclipse of the moon commences at 8.15 Greenwich time, visible in Teneriffe--_South Africa_, &c.' There's a sign for you.

Tell them we will darken the moon to-morrow night." The idea was a splendid one; indeed, the only weak spot about it was a fear lest Good's almanack might be incorrect.

If we made a false prophecy on such a subject, our prestige would be gone for ever, and so would Ignosi's chance of the throne of the Kukuanas.
"Suppose that the almanack is wrong," suggested Sir Henry to Good, who was busily employed in working out something on a blank page of the book.
"I see no reason to suppose anything of the sort," was his answer.
"Eclipses always come up to time; at least that is my experience of them, and it especially states that this one will be visible in South Africa.

I have worked out the reckonings as well as I can, without knowing our exact position; and I make out that the eclipse should begin here about ten o'clock tomorrow night, and last till half-past twelve.