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diff --git a/21760.txt b/21760.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..70bd0ca --- /dev/null +++ b/21760.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7795 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Wonder Island Boys: Adventures on Strange +Islands, by Roger Thompson Finlay + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Wonder Island Boys: Adventures on Strange Islands + + +Author: Roger Thompson Finlay + + + +Release Date: June 7, 2007 [eBook #21760] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS: ADVENTURES +ON STRANGE ISLANDS*** + + +E-text prepared by Joe Longo and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed +Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 21760-h.htm or 21760-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/1/7/6/21760/21760-h/21760-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/1/7/6/21760/21760-h.zip) + + + + + +THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS + +by + +ROGER T. FINLAY + +A new series of books, each complete in itself, relating the remarkable +experiences of two boys and a man, who are cast upon an island in the +South Seas with absolutely nothing but the clothing they wore. By the +exercise of their ingenuity they succeed in fashioning clothing, tools +and weapons and not only do they train nature's forces to work for them +but they subdue and finally civilize neighboring savage tribes. The +books contain two thousand items of interest that every boy ought to +know. + + THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS + The Castaways + + THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS + Exploring the Island + + THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS + The Mysteries of the Caverns + + THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS + The Tribesmen + + THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS + The Capture and Pursuit + + THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS + The Conquest of the Savages + + THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS + Adventures on Strange Islands + + THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS + Treasures of the Islands + + _Large 12mo, cloth. Many illustrations._ + _60 cents per vol., postpaid._ + + PUBLISHED BY + THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY + 147 FOURTH AVENUE NEW YORK + + + + +ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS + + + + +THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS + +ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS + +by + +ROGER T. FINLAY + +Illustrated + + + + + + + +[Illustration: NYBC] + + +The New York Book Company +New York + +Copyright, 1915, by +The New York Book Company + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER + +I. THE STRANGE OARS AND ROPES Page 15 + + The charted island. Previous history of the boys. The professor. + Mysteries. The strange oars and ropes. Experiments. The various + trips through the Island. Meeting the natives. The caves. + Finding metals and ores. A strange village. + +II. A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE Page 26 + + The Town of Unity. Enterprises on the island. Building a ship. + Homesick. Considering the question of other islands. Treasure + hunting. The Krishnos. Their beliefs and practices. The + comparison of customs with the white people. Preparing to launch + the vessel. The professor decides to remain. Angel. The message. + Blakely. A scrap of paper with illegible words. The V-shaped + tracing. Guessing the contents of the note. + +III. THE ARROW ON THE SHEET Page 38 + + Deciphering the discolored paper. The arrow on the sheet. The + first Walter letter. The comparison. Dimensions of the vessel. + The engine. The professor and John's error. Pointing to an + island. Convinced of the correctness of the boys' views. + Launching of the vessel. The feast day. Putting up the rigging. + Selecting a crew. Preliminary trials. The day for departure. The + trip to Valparaiso. Reshipping to New York. Telegrams home after + three years. Angels and the wonders of New York. The great + change in the boys. The return to Wonder Island. Reaching + Valparaiso. Meeting Blakely. The new steamer. Installation of a + line to Wonder Island. The return trip. + +IV. THE SKULL WITH THE CRYPTIC WRITING Page 51 + + Steaming up Enterprise River. Unity in sight. The natives at the + wharf. The enthusiasm. The chiefs witness the arrival. A "Grand + Homecoming." The boys visit the natives. Contemplating voyages + to discover other islands. Native sailors. Sutoto captain of the + _Pioneer_. Rumors about the boys. Plans for the proposed trips. + The force for the expedition. A cargo of copper. The trip to the + copper treasure cave. Tides. Fireflies. Explanation of the + light. Light without heat The problem of light. Advantages of + light which generates no heat. Color of daylight. Phosphorescent + glow. Catching fireflies. Scaling the heights. The spot where + the Walter note was found. A skull with mysterious characters on + it. The mark on the skull and the mark in the message. The star. + Cryptic signs. + +V. THE TRIP TO THE NEW ISLAND Page 63 + + Sutoto at the top of the peak. The telescope. The view of Unity. + The Illyas' village. The visit to the last captured village. The + reception. The kindness of the chief. The great change in the + village. The feast of John and the boys. Happiness of the + people. The Illyas at work. Return of the _Wonder_ to Unity. The + _Pioneer_ on its way to other Islands. Seasickness of the crew. + Trying the new cure. Atrophine, and how administered. Explaining + its origin, and how it acts. The effect on the crew. Driven out + of their course. A light in the dense darkness. Land ahead. + Awaiting the morning. Fifty leagues from Wonder Island. The cove + in the shore line. Anchoring. The two boats sent ashore. Signs + to indicate that people lived on the island. Reminiscences of + the Yaks and bears. The discovery of coffee trees. The wild + variety. Identity of vegetation in widely-separated countries. + +VI. DISCOVERY OF THE ISLAND AND EXPLORATIONS Page 75 + + Return to the landing. John's advice. Surveying the island. The + cardinal points of the compass. Laying out the coast line by + triangulation. What measurement of angles means. Transferring + the angles to paper. Making plans by means of a scale. + Proportionate lengths of the different limbs of the angles. The + shore line to the south. Instructions to Sutoto. The party to + explore the interior. Starting on their mission. The equipment + of the party. The spears, and bolos. The camera and field + glasses. Amazing tropical vegetation and fruit. Stone hatchet + found. Independent exploits of the boys. Temporary separation. + Disappearance of George. A pistol shot in the distance. The + search. Evidences of a scuffle. George's tracks found. The + footprints of natives. Muro scouting in the direction of the + natives. The runner to the ship. The _Pioneer_ sailing away. The + new landing place. Uraso advised of the capture. + +VII. CAPTURE OF GEORGE BY THE NATIVES Page 89 + + George's capture. Hearing John's whistle. Firing the gun. The + surprise of the natives. Rendered unconscious. He recovers. Sees + his gun and glasses in the hands of the natives. Discovers that + his revolver is still in his pocket. The natives see him trying + to discover the time by his watch. The fight of the savages for + the watch. George's determination to escape. The natives + discover the revolver. He surprises the natives by explaining + the knife and glasses. While explaining the glasses accidentally + discovers the ocean in the distance. The matchsafe. Discovers + the village. Tries to escape before reaching there. Planning the + details. Surprised at the appearance of another party. All hope + lost. A powerful Chief. George and the Chief. Investigating + George's belongings. How George unwittingly told the Chief about + the gun and glasses. The Chief arrests the captors. George + explains the weapons. Returns the revolver to George. Invites + him to the village. In the home of the Chieftain. Description of + the "Palace." + +VIII. FIGHT OF THE NATIVES FOR THE TRINKETS Page 102 + + Scouting. Muro's work. The first traces. Arrival of Uraso. His + grief at the news. The conference. John and party march to the + east. Finding George's chain. Evidences of a struggle. + Determining the number of enemies by the footprints. Reading + characters by feet. How people are distinguished. Observing + peculiarities of actions. Estimating the number of natives in + the party which captured George. Discovering the Chief's + footmarks. Judging of the safety of George by the marks of the + feet. Uraso discovers the tree where George exhibited the power + of the bullet to the Chief. Inferences as to the characters of + the natives who captured George. The trinkets and buttons of + more importance to the savages than the person of the captive. + Power as the great factor with savages. Why right is might. + +IX. THE GIANT CHIEF AND HIS "PALACE" Page 113 + + The Chief interested in George's belongings. Discovery of a + ship's chair. The matchsafe in the Chief's hands. The imitative + quality. The first meal. The peculiar knives and forks. The + Chief's capacity for food. The character of the meal. The siesta + after the meal. George's opportunity. Stealing from the Chief's + house. The daughter of the Chief. Wandering from the Chief's + house. His midnight sleep from exhaustion. The watchers at his + bedside. Finding the soap plant. Breakfast. Absence of the + Chief. George's suspicions. Follows the Chief. The appearance of + John and Harry. The meeting. George introduces the party to the + Chief. Uraso and Muro able to converse with the Chief. George's + story. "The Palace." The village. The feast. + +X. PECULIARITIES OF THE NATIVE TRIBE Page 125 + + How the feast was served. John relates the story of the boys to + the Chief. The Chief interested in the wonderful ship. The story + of the island. The runner to the ship. No Krishnos on the + islands. Sutoto sees the runners. Sails for the village. The + Chief does not believe in a great spirit. His philosophy. + Strength is the only right. No caves on the island. + Disappointment of the boys. Bad people to the north. Their own + kin, but convicts. Stealing and lying the only crimes. No crime + to steal from each other, only from the Chief. The sun as a + great Chief. The coming of the ship. The natives on the + seashore. Casting of the anchor. Sutoto sees the Chief's + daughter. George's captors on the way to the convict colony. + Intercession on the part of the boys. The food at the banquet. + The natives' aversion to fish. Snake worshippers. Witch doctors. + The bad god Baigona. Peculiar ideas of right and wrong among the + natives. The survey of the southern part of the island. + Triangulation from the mast of a ship. + +XI. SUTOTO AND THE CHIEF'S DAUGHTER Page 137 + + Sutoto's love affair. Cinda, the Chief's daughter. The Chief is + told of the wonders of Wonder Island. About the activities of + the natives on that island. His curiosity. John tells him how + the white people live. The acute questionings of the Chief. + Teaching him how trade and commerce is carried on. Money and its + uses. How it gets its value. Why it is a measure only. The trip + to the north in charge of the Chief's son. Gruesome tales of the + ferocity of the convicts. John still anxious to find some + particular cave. His chart. The unsolved mystery of the boat. + The clothing of the natives. Bracelets. Glitter to attract + natives. Weaving, the only industry. The aptness of native women + to adopt fancy articles of dress and ornament. John's scheme, + anticipating the wedding of Sutoto and Cinda. A "State affair." + The mission to the Professor. Sending the _Pioneer_ to Wonder + Island. Stut captain of the ship. Sutoto's secret mission + through Stut. + +XII. THE SKELETON BENEATH THE BOAT Page 148 + + How the present journey reminded the boys of their first + adventure on Wonder Island. Peculiar animals. The kagu. The + fashionable millinery styles. Singular habit of the bird. The + benne plant. Its remarkable properties. Lard from trees. The + coffee trees. A tree with sandpaper leaves. The indicus. + Analyzing soils. How plants digest food. Larvae. The early forms + of many animals. Kinds of food in the earth. The bruang. The + sun-bear of Malay. The bear and the honey pot. How it was tamed. + The sport. The ocean. George and Harry at the beach. Bathing in + the surf. The discovery of the wreck of an upturned boat. + Finding the compartments belonging to their lost boat on Wonder + Island. Sending for John. The skeleton beneath the upturned + boat. The bound skeleton. The startling discovery of the same + kinds of ropes found in their lost boat. Evidence of a crime. + +XIII. A CONVICT COLONY OF NATIVES Page 161 + + Describing the skeleton. A soldier or an adventurer. Their first + hatchet. The narrow neck of land. The Rose of Jericho. The + resurrection plant. The Australian kangaroo. The exiled people. + The Chief's son tells about them. Explains they do not believe + in killing except in self-defense. The upas tree. Its flowering + branch. Valuable mineral in the hills. Description of the + convict's home. Banishment one of the most serious forms of + punishment for crimes. The survey of the mountains. Hunting for + caves. How the parties, were organized. The influence of odors + on human actions. Tests of odors on patients. How they affect + dreams. Calcareous formations. Where the real caves are found. + Erosive action of water on limestone. + +XIV. A WHITE PARALYTIC IN THE CONVICT COLONY Page 174 + + The wide search for the caves. George finds a cave entrance. + Preparing to explore the cave. The lamps. A blind lead. A + fissure, not an erosion. The joke on George. The first sight of + the location of the dreaded criminal colony. The magnificent + wild fruits. The beautiful flowers. The first criminals. The + industry of the people. Cultivating fruit and vegetables. + Hutoton. Peculiarity in names. Well-dressed natives. The + distinguished head of the village. His dignity. The welcome to + the village. The well-kept huts. The garden plots and bowers of + flowers. The criminals preparing a feast of welcome. The boys + discover a white man. A paralytic patient. How the convicts + cared for him. Surprised to learn that the convicts rewarded the + men who rescued the paralytic. How the savages calculated time. + The movement of the sun, and how it gave them the time. + +XV. SAVAGE MARRIAGE CUSTOMS Page 185 + + Criminal Colonies. The effects on the people. Its advantages. + The principles of punishment. Protecting society. Isolating + patients who have contagious or infectious diseases. Trying to + ascertain the identity of the paralytic. John's promise to + reward the people for the care bestowed on the white man. + Refusing to be paid, for taking care of him. Contrasting Hutoton + with Sasite, the home of the Chief. Returning to Sasite. The + first glimpse of the returning _Pioneer_. The interesting party + aboard. The Chief and the entire village at the seashore. The + Professor. Muro's wife. Blakely. The Chief meets the Professor. + The Chief knows why the Professor is a wise man. The double + eyes, spectacles. The Chief with the spectacles. Muro's wife + meets the Chief's wife. They confer about Cinda and Sutoto. The + savage customs in marriage. The ceremonies. Stut tells the boys + about Sutoto's mission to procure his wedding outfit. The + surprising news that Sutoto and Cinda were to be secretly + married that night. The plot. Muro's wife informed. + +XVI. SUTOTO AND CINDA'S MARRIAGE; AND THE SURPRISE Page 193 + + The Chief's wife gets the news. The Chief brought into the + conference. His will the only law on the matter of marriage. He + consents to their plan. The two requirements in the ceremony of + marriage according to their rites. The gift of fruit, of fowl, + and of game. The blindfolding of the bridegroom. The absolute + silence when eating. Preparation for the banquet that night. + Sutoto and Cinda arrange to be married that night while the + people are at the banquet. Decide to conform strictly to the + rites of the tribe. The boys learn of the stealthy plans. + Witness the ceremony in Cinda's home. The Chief arrests the + bridal couple and takes them aboard the ship. The criminals + before the Chief. The Chief upbraids Sutoto. The reconciliation. + The presents brought over from Wonder Island. Grief of the boys + because they had forgotten a present. The surprise of the + natives at the beautiful silver forks. Spices. Coffee. Cream and + sugar. Curiosity about the cows. The great surprise to Sutoto. + He is made Chief of his tribe. Monuments. The presents. The + great mirror, the present of the boys. The crowns. The final + ceremony. The dance. Originally a religious ceremony. The + encircling wreath. + +XVII. HUTOTON; THE PLACE OF DEATH Page 207 + + Preparations for further explorations. Consulting the charts. + Determine to sail northward, on way to Wonder Island. Reasons + from shape of the island why an island might be to the north. + Geological formations. Upheavals. Islands mere ridges. Sutoto to + return to Wonder Island. The Chief agrees to go to Wonder + Island. His family to accompany him. Proposed visit to Hutoton. + Boarding the ship. The welcome of the convicts. Taking the + paralytic to the ship. Stores from the ships for the convict + colony. The _Pioneer_ sails to the north. Discovery of a new + island. Taking observations from the sun. The calendar. Summer + and winter. Taking the angle of the sun, and what it means. + Triangulation. The nautical chart. Greenwich or Standard time. + The island which they had left named _Venture_. The new island + and its magnificent vegetation. John, with the boys and two + boatloads, land. The exploring parties formed. The boys and Muro + at the head of one party. Traces of savages. Appearances that + cannibals were there. A shower of arrows their first surprise. + The volley and the disappearance of the natives. Reappearance of + the savages. Surrounded. Preparing for defense. The second + attack. The fight. The natives apparently preparing to rush + them. + +XVIII. DISCOVERY OF A NEW ISLAND, AND A SAVAGE TRIBE Page 222 + + The effect of the second volley. The determination of the + attacking party. The fire on all sides. The ammunition getting + low. The relief party under John. Hearing the sounds of firing. + The surprise of the natives. The savages repulsed. Muro and the + men follow the fleeing natives. Recalled by John. Aiding the + wounded. Taking along a wounded Chief. The litter. The decoy. + Returning to the ship. Observing the enemy from a tree-top. + Following up the party. A rear guard. The runner reports the + determination of the natives to follow. The signal shots to the + ship. Reinforcements. The determination to explore the island + and meet the natives. John with the boys and a strong party + remain. The _Pioneer_ sails for Wonder Island. Holding a + council. + +XIX. FIGHT WITH NATIVES AND RETURN TO WONDER ISLAND Page 231 + + Arrangements for the _Pioneer_ to return. Ammunition needed. The + arrangement of the men for scouting and picketing. Leaving + security harbor. A plant which devours insects. Venus's + fly-trap. How plants absorb food. Irritability. How the leaf + digests the fly. Food absorbed by leaves as well as by roots. A + cache of human skulls. Head hunters. The vele. A hoodoo. The + rattle. The vele and the bamboo box. How it is worked to produce + the charm. Evidences of extreme superstitions. Witch doctors. + Peculiar noises. Doleful sounds. Speculating on the mysteries of + the island. + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + PAGE + He turned it over and examined every portion 75 + The rites were progressing very satisfactorily 195 + She ... found herself standing in front of a tall oval mirror 218 + + Fig. 1. The Mysterious Message. 28 + Fig. 2. The Walter Letter. 40 + Fig. 3. The Fire-fly. 57 + Fig. 4. Inscription on the Skull. 60 + Fig. 5. Measuring by Triangulation. 76 + Fig. 6. The Second Limb 78 + Fig. 7. Triangulation from a Vessel. 80 + Fig. 8. The Kagu. 149 + Fig. 9. Sesame Oil Plant. The Benne. 119 + Fig. 10. Flower of Indica Tree. 152 + Fig. 11. Bruang. The Malayan Bear. 155 + Fig. 12. Rose of Jericho. 163 + Fig. 13. The Koala. 164 + Fig. 14. The Flower of the Upas Tree. 167 + Fig. 15. Getting Angle from Position of the Sun. 212 + Fig. 16. Venus' Fly-Trap. 234 + + + + +ADVENTURES ON STRANGE ISLANDS + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE STRANGE OARS AND ROPES + + +"I am awfully anxious to know where the charted islands can be that John +spoke about," remarked George, as Harry was consulting the plans of the +boat they were building. + +"They must be in this section of the southern seas, or his party +wouldn't have sailed in this direction," answered Harry, after a pause. + +"Do you think he would be offended if we spoke to him about it!" + +"No;" answered Harry, after some reflection. "He has spoken to me about +it several times. But why do you ask!" + +"For the reason that I think it would be a grand thing to hunt them up." + +Harry laughed, and then slowly said: "That would be a big thing to +undertake. But what about going home?" + +"I hadn't forgotten that. I meant that when we came back it would be +proper for us to undertake." + +"Well, haven't you had enough trouble during the past two years?" And +Harry laughed, just as though they hadn't gone through sufficient trials +to last a life time. + +"I wouldn't mind going through the same experiences, when I remember +what we have learned and what all of us have accomplished," responded +George, as he looked through the window, reflectively, and watched the +natives at work. + + * * * * * + +It will be difficult to understand the force of the above conversation, +unless the reader knows the situation in which the boys were placed at +the time it took place, and the locality of the scene where the +conversation was held. + +Over two years previously two boys, George Mayfield and Harry Crandall, +were members of a school training ship which left the Harbor of New +York, for a cruise in southern waters, the object being to instruct the +crew of seventy boys in the art of seamanship, as well as to give them a +foundation knowledge in the arts and sciences. + +On board they became intimate with a gray-haired Professor, who became +very ill. They were particularly attracted to him, and waited upon him, +until they reached the Pacific Ocean, where, for some reason the ship +met a catastrophe, and the crew were compelled to take to open boats. + +The two boys, with several companions, and the Professor, were together +in one of the life boats, and after leaving the sinking ship a terrific +gale, one of the great monsoons, separated them from the companion +boats, and for six days they were driven about in the vast ocean, +absolutely helpless. During this time all their young companions were +washed overboard, and they were driven to the point of despair, when +they were cast ashore on an island. + +They were thus placed on an unknown land, with nothing but their scanty +clothing, and devoid even of a knife. There is no indication that the +land was inhabited, and for the first three months, while recuperating, +they had no opportunity to go far from the spot where they landed. + +After the Professor had regained his health, they began to make a few +necessary things, and hunt for the food which was necessary to preserve +life. As they grew bolder, however, they fashioned crude implements, +like bows and arrows, and primitive articles of utility. + +They made a few trips into the interior, and then saw the first +indications which pointed to the presence of inhabitants. From some of +the traces it was evident that the people must be savages, and then they +saw the necessity of preparing themselves to meet hostile neighbors. + +Then began the most remarkable series of adventures on the part of the +boys, under the instruction of the Professor, to provide not only the +necessaries of life, but many of the luxuries. While engaged in the +different enterprises they undertook numerous excursions, all of which +confirmed them in the first intimations that they had landed on an +island, and that it contained one or more savage tribes. + +To recount all that the boys did, even in the briefest space, would be +impossible in this book, and it is not necessary, in order to relate the +happenings from this time on; but some things are necessary, because we +shall have to deal with incidents which took place during their +adventures, and this volume also brings into the scene several +characters, in addition to the three which have been named, as the +principal participants. + +The incidents referred to were called by the boys "the mysteries." When +they landed on the island they erected a flag pole, and improvised a +flag which was kept at half mast, and mounted on a high point, so that +it would attract passing ships, if their island chanced to be in the +path of vessels. During one of their excursions the flag pole and staff +disappeared. + +For the purpose of making one of the trips by water a boat was built, +and they sailed it up a large stream, only to find that within ten miles +of their home was an immense cataract, or falls, around which they could +not porter the vessel. It was left below the falls in a secure position, +and ten days later, when they went for it, were surprised at its +disappearance. + +Later on it was found miles away, but the little closets which they had +built in to hold their food and clothing, had disappeared, and they were +still more startled to find a pair of oars, which they could not have +made, attached to the boat. + +In repairing the boat a note was discovered, written by some one who +could not have been a member of their ill-fated vessel. This added to +their perplexities, for it indicated that white people had been on the +island, as well as savages. + +Then they found strange ropes, evidently fashioned by a crude hand; a +skull of a well-developed man was picked up on the shore not far from +their home; part of the wreckage of a vessel was discovered; a herd of +yaks was captured and a mysterious brand deciphered on one of them. + +But in their wanderings they found the entrance to a cavern, and this +was explored, resulting in finding that it was formerly a pirates' lair, +and they were astounded at finding immense wealth in its hidden +recesses. + +They industriously searched the island, and found numerous ores which +were dug out and smelted and from which they were able to build many +things that added to their comfort; and finally, firearms were +constructed, and powder made. + +They spent much of the time in chemical experiments, in hunting for and +gathering the different vegetables, and fibres, and from the latter +learned how to weave cloth, to make felt, and to turn skins into leather +from the animals which they hunted. + +Their adventures were not wholly devoid of the amusing things of life. +In one of the expeditions they captured a young Orang-outang. This was +carefully taught to do many things, and it became not only a valuable +assistant, and a wonderful scout in their wanderings, but it afforded +them immense amusement, which was appreciated by the boys. + +And now, having been provided with suitable weapons, they determined to +go on voyages of discovery, being prompted in this course, because they +found in the wreckage along one of the rivers, and far in the interior, +a life boat which was a companion to their own which had been lost when +they were stranded in the great tempest. + +It was evident to them that some of their companions were on the island, +and probably, captives. This made the quest a most exciting one, so +every energy was bent toward the end of helping the unfortunates. + +On the initial expedition, after the completion of the first weapons, +they came into contact with several tribes of savages, one of whom was +captured, after being wounded. It developed that he was a chief of one +of the tribes which at that time were at war with each other. + +Returning from this trip they discovered at their home a distinguished +looking white man in rags, totally devoid of intellect, and unable to +speak. It was evident that he had met with some accident, but he was +entirely harmless, and obediently took up and performed every sort of +manual labor,--in fact, was an expert in any sort of mechanical +operation required of him. + +In hunting, or in scouting, he was a perfect specimen of the hunter, or +the soldier. It seemed to be an instinct with him to render every kind +of service that might be needed, with the gun, or the tools which were +all about him. In the absence of a better name they christened him John. + +On the second trip into the unknown portions of the island they met +three of the savage tribes, with whom they had several battles, and one +of the natives was wounded and captured. While wandering through the +forests, in their efforts to return to their home, they ran into a +savage village, where they were successful in rescuing two boys who had +been shipmates on the _Investigator_ which went down months before. + +While this was a source of joy it was clouded by the information that +they were not the ones who came to the island in the life boat that the +boys had found in the river. This was evidence that others must still be +in the island, and probably held as captives. + +Some months after the silent John came to them, his reason and the +ability to speak returned to him, and he told a wonderful tale of his +wanderings, and that which impressed the boys most was the information +that he had shipped in a vessel which was designed to search out the +treasures hidden in the islands of the South seas. + +From hints which he dropped from time to time, the islands containing +the treasure were charted, and later on, one of the caves so charted was +found on the island they now occupied, although they also found several +which were not alluded to and could not be recognized by the +description, according to the story told by John. + +John was an educated man, an archaeologist, and, next to the Professor, +had the most varied knowledge of any one the boys ever met, and it can +be understood, that their association with men of that class made them +remarkably active in seeking out and understanding the wonderful things +that nature presents in every field of human activity. + +In order to be as brief as possible with this part of the story, it is +necessary to add that the rescue of the two boys, and the restoration of +John's faculties, made a strong party, and new weapons were made, and +the real expeditions through the island begun. + +During the first extended trip, the Professor was captured. Out of this +misadventure grew some of the most remarkable series of events, but +finally, they were successful in rescuing four more of their former +companions, and two of John's shipwrecked companions. + +The capture of the Chief, formerly alluded to, and the subsequent rescue +of a chief who was about to be offered up as a sacrifice, served as a +means to bring two of the tribes to the rescue of those in the +expedition, and the Professor, by his wisdom, was able to enlist the +services of the tribe which had captured him. + +The events which lead directly up to the beginning of this volume were +brought about by the enmity of two of the most bitter and vindictive +tribes, which compelled the Professor and the boys to form an expedition +against those hostiles, in which four other tribes assisted. + +They captured the Chief, and rescued two of their former companions, and +then built a town called Unity, where the advantages of civilization +were taught the natives, and to which place many of the families of the +natives emigrated. + +All the chiefs formed an alliance of peace, and the Professor was made +the chief magistrate. After peace and order had been restored, the boys +again began to long for home. Prior to this they had determined to build +a ship large enough to take them to the nearest shipping point, and they +were now feverishly engaged in the work with the aid of the natives, who +were eager to learn how the white men built the wonderful things which +they saw all about them. + +It will, therefore, be understood, that the remarks of George, at the +opening of this chapter, had reference to the fact that the most +important of the islands, or the ones having the most of the treasures +could not be the one on which they resided, but pertained to some other +localities. + +"Well, if there is anything I am interested in, it is to know why the +wonderful buildings we found at the Illyas' village were put up at that +place, and what caused all trace of them to be lost," said Harry, after +George had expressed his last opinion. + +"Do you remember what John said, after we came out of the cave below the +village?" + +"No; what was it!" + +"He said the copper in the cave might explain it." + +After the capture of the last tribe, John demanded that the Chief inform +them of the location of the Hoodoo, or Medicine Men of the tribe, and +he reluctantly consented, but the Chief warned them, that to attempt to +enter the cave would mean Death. + +John knew that the Chief and the people believed the death tales told by +the Medicine Men, as it was tales of this kind which enabled them to +maintain such a hold on the people. In order to destroy the power of +those people, who really had been the cause of much of their troubles, +John announced that he would take the Chief and his followers to the +cave, and that he would then go into the cave alone, and come out again, +to prove that the Medicine Men had lied to him. + +John entered the cave, and single-handed captured the Krishnos, as they +were called, and brought them out, thus verifying his statement that +those men had deceived the people. Soon thereafter John and the boys +entered the cave, which, from the description he had, contained an +immense amount of treasure, but they were unable to discover any trace +of it if it existed. + +By accident the calcareous deposit was broken off at one part in their +search, and below was found a dark material, which, after examination, +was found to be copper. It was not in its native state, but was a +product produced by smelting the ore, and they uncovered an immense +quantity of it, sufficient to show that the portion of the cave in which +it was found was really a storehouse. + +Not more than a mile away was the Native village, where they held the +tribe captive. The village was absolutely unlike anything else in the +form of habitations found in the island. Three of the buildings were +large structures, built in three of the well-known types of +architecture, and the other parts of the village were laid off +regularly. + +Surrounding the village was a strong embankment, as though originally +used as a fortification, and the village itself was located on the side +of a hill, betokening sanitary considerations. + +"But I do not see," observed George, "what the copper in the cave had to +do with the town?" + +"Nor do I," responded Harry. "Suppose we see John at the first +opportunity. There are other things besides the copper I would like to +know. John has asked every one that he has come into contact with about +the different wrecks that have come ashore within the past two years, +and no one seems to have any idea that more than two of the +_Investigator's_ boats came ashore." + +"Well, if they did it isn't at all likely that they could come to the +southern shore, when the wrecked vessel was to the north of the island." + +"It is just for that reason," responded George, "that I believe we shall +find other islands in the vicinity, and who knows but some of the boats +reached those islands?" + +"I am with you," said Harry. "Shall we talk to John about it?" + +"By all means. But stop! Why not have a talk with the Professor first?" + +"Good idea. We owe everything to him." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE + + +The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little +stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for +turning the machinery which had been put up. This consisted of a saw +mill, a small foundry, a machine shop, as well as grist mill and other +mechanism suitable for a town. + +All these enterprises were now being operated by the natives. The +leading commercial genius of the town was Blakely, who was one of the +owners of the vessel on which John had sailed from San Francisco, and +which was also wrecked by the same monsoon which sent the schoolship +_Investigator_ to the bottom. + +It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably +turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which +naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of +the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open +communication with the outside world. + +To do this meant that they must build a ship, and thus reach +civilization, and vessels could then bring such things to the islands as +the natives could use, and take away the produce that the natives could +turn out. + +Such a plan was one which was heartily seconded by all the boys, who, +although they had been engaged in the most wonderful experiences, were +homesick, and longed to see their parents in the States, and thus +relieve them of their anxiety, after an absence of more than two years. + +It was with a will that all took a hand in the work, and the ship was +nearing completion. They had no facilities for making a large engine, so +the vessel was a sailer, with a small propeller, and the largest size +engine they could turn out was to be used as an auxiliary. + +The next evening while the Professor, John and the boys were together, +Harry brought up the subject of the talk of the previous evening. + +"George and I have been talking about making a voyage of discovery." + +The Professor looked at Harry with that genial smile which the boys had +learned to love. Without answering for the moment, the old man turned to +John, as the latter's face lit up. + +"I thought you boys were homesick?" he said. + +"Well, yes," answered George. "But only for a little while." + +"Only homesick for a little while?" and the Professor's hearty laugh +followed. + +"I mean we are homesick,--that is, we can be cured of it in a little +while." + +Without relaxing that broad smile, the Professor continued: "I suppose +you want to be cured before you go on the voyage of discovery? Is that +it?" + +"Yes." + +"But what do you expect to discover!" asked John, gravely. + +"Just what you suggested on one occasion," said Harry. + +"We want to know where the treasures are on the islands," remarked +George. + +"Then, there is another thing," ventured Harry. "I don't think all the +boats of our ship were lost, and it is likely that they found refuge on +some other island." + +"But how do you know there are other islands near here?" asked the +Professor. + +"Well, I don't know, only from what John has said." + +John looked at Harry for a moment quizzically, and then said: "When did +I say so?" he asked with a smile. + +"When you told about the charts of the treasure caves." + +"But we have found them, haven't we?" + +"Yes; but not all of them." + +"That is true; and your argument is correct. Unquestionably, there are +other islands, probably not in the immediate vicinity, but near enough +that they could have caught some of the boats. I quite agree with you +that we ought to make the attempt. The Professor and I have just been +talking of taking up the matter in order to relieve any who might have +been so unfortunate as to be east away." + +"I am surprised," said the Professor, "that you are not through with +treasure hunting, and want some more of it." + +"But you know, Professor, that some of the most interesting times we had +were during the investigations we made at the big cave at the Cataract +on Wonder Island!" + +"Quite true; but think of the immense riches you now have. In the vault +beneath the floor of the main shop you have the combined treasure of the +two caves," continued the Professor. + +"Yes; and that shall be taken back by you to your homes in the States, +and you will want to enjoy it," and John said this with a most sincere +air, as he looked at the boys. + +"That would be nice," said Harry reflectively. "But if we are there the +only thing we can do is to spend it, and there is no particular fun in +doing that." + +"What? No fun in spending the money?" exclaimed the Professor. + +"Why, we haven't spent a cent since we have been here, and we have +enjoyed every hour of the time, except--except--" and George hung his +head for a moment. + +"I know," said the dear old Professor; "I know what you mean. Home still +has a warm place in your heart. That is right. You must see your home, +and then,--" + +"Then we want to come back," broke in Harry. + +"It makes me happy to see that the lessons of the past while we have +been together has impressed on your minds one thing; that it is not +riches which give happiness." + +"I know that," said Harry. "When I go out and see these poor people +here, and I meet smiles on every face, and a welcome everywhere, the +thought that we have tried to make them feel and know that wars were +wrong, and that true happiness consists in trying to make others happy, +it gives me more pleasure than all the gold which we took from the caves +of the Buccaneers." + +"Yes, and there is another thing, that I have been thinking about," said +George. "I really don't think the people here are so bad, and never have +thought so." + +"Well, they have been doing some pretty bad things," remarked John. "I +would like to know what makes you think as you do." + +"I mean, that if it wasn't for certain classes, like the Krishnos, say, +the people would not be trying to sacrifice each other. Those fellows +are the ones who lie to the people, just as the fellows at the last cave +told the people and the Chiefs that if they went into the cave the Great +Spirit would destroy them." + +John and the Professor both laughed, while the boys looked on. There did +not seem to be anything amusing about that, and they wondered why they +should laugh at George's remark. + +"Did it ever occur to you how like that is to the white man's way of +doing things?" asked John. + +"I never thought of that!" said Harry. + +"Do the white people act that way, too?" inquired George. "I never knew +that we had people who tried to deceive others so they could give them +up as a sacrifice?" + +"What do you think the Krishnos deceive the people for?" asked the +Professor. + +"So as to give them the power," answered George. + +"Quite true. But what is the object of that power?" + +"So they can rule?" + +"Yes; but what gives them the power to rule?" + +"Oh, I see now! They get paid for it! And that is why the Krishnos have +all the best things, and are better cared for than even the chiefs are?" + +"You have given the right answer. The Krishnos don't want to sacrifice +human life because they love to do it, but because in the doing of it +they inspire fear, and through fear they can get what they want." + +"But, Professor, you haven't yet told us how that is like the white +people do it." + +"In exactly the same way. The Krishnos own the big gun factories, and +they tell the chiefs that the people across the river, or on the other +side of the mountain are going to rise up against them, and they must +arm the people and attack them. You see the white man's Krishnos have a +great cave, called a gun factory, and while he does not want to offer up +any sacrifices for the love of it, he does so because it is his business +to make guns, and ammunition, and shells which explode with terrific +force, and destroy hundreds at every shot." + +"Well, after all, we are not much better than the savages here, are +we?" said Harry, as he looked around, with a sad expression. + +"We have advanced a little beyond them," interpolated John. "We have +tried to systematize the killing. The savage goes at it without regard. +But the white man has set rules to conduct the slaughter. Of course, the +rules do not say that they shall not kill but it does point out the +impolite ways of killing." + +The Professor smiled at this homely way of putting it, but the boys +looked doubtfully at John's exposition, and then George ventured to +remark: "I can see the force of it, and it is my opinion that the savage +way is, after all, the most reasonable." + +"If it is not the most reasonable," answered the Professor, "it is +certainly the most logical. But we are getting away from our subject. I +understand from what John says that within the next week we shall be +able to launch the vessel!" + +"Yes," answered Harry. "Everything is now so far ahead that in two weeks +more we can be ready to sail." + +"That is well. I hear there is considerable rivalry among the men to go +with you?" + +"But aren't you going with us?" asked George in a voice of alarm. + +"No; my place is here. I have no desire to go back. I have induced John, +much against his will, I know, to go with you, but I cannot leave my +people here. I will welcome you only the more gladly when you return." + +Harry was almost in tears, as he said: "But we wanted you to go back +with us so we could take you to our homes and let our people see you. +They would be so happy to see you and to hear you talk." + +"Thank you so much for the kind invitation. Sometime in the future, when +everything is properly settled here, and I can see my way clear, I will +consider it an honor to visit your homes, and enjoy the friendship of +your dear ones; but not now." + +The door opened quietly, and Angel stepped in, Angel being the +Orang-outang to which we have alluded. He was now nearly as tall as +George. He gravely shambled over to the Professor, and placed an +envelope in his hand. + +Angel was the most wonderful character in that community. He was the pet +and the playmate of all the children. No one dared to harm him or offer +an insult. Such a thing would have caused an insurrection in that town. + +While he could not speak, he could understand practically everything +that was told him. Daily he performed many extraordinary tasks, thanks +to the training and care that George had bestowed upon him from the day +he had become a captive. + +The Professor opened the envelope, and adjusted his glasses. As he read +his eyes opened wider and wider, while John and the boys drew closer. +While reading one of the sheets the Professor was slowly unfolding a +scrap of dark colored material, smaller than the sheet he was reading. + +"What is it?" asked Harry. + +"The letter is from Blakely," he said as he passed the papers to John. +"And what do you think it is about?" + +All eagerly peered at the letter and then at the brown missive, whatever +it was. + +"Read it aloud," said the Professor. + +John handed it to George, and this is Blakely's letter: + + "SOUTH MOUNTAIN, + Below Illya. + + "My Dear Professor: + + "I felt sure that my view as to the character of the mountain range + below the town was correct. Copper outcroppings were found as far + south as the range can be seen, and there is also silver in abundance. + This will surely be a profitable field for the natives. Yesterday, + while prospecting on the southeastern side of the main ridge, I was + surprised to find a part of a metal pot, evidently of cast iron. Quite + a number of articles, of no particular value were lying near, but + within the fragment of the pot, and protected by a shale of rock, was + the enclosed scrap, which I thought might interest you, as you have a + leaning in the direction of finding out hidden and abstruse things. + Probably, you can decipher what it says. All the men are well, and are + feeling jolly. We may be ready to return in a week. I hope the old + ship is coming along all right. + + "Hurriedly, as ever, + + "BLAKELY." + +"That is satisfactory. Blakely is the right man for his job," remarked +John. + +"Now, let us see what the scrap has to say," said the Professor. + +John held the scrap up to the light, and all peered at it. "I think +there are cross lines on it, although I am not quite sure," he said, as +he again held it up so the light could flash through it. + +"What difference would that make whether it had or it hadn't cross +lines?" asked Harry. + +"Simply this: I wanted to satisfy myself whether or not it was taken +from a ship's pad, which is generally ruled both ways." + +"What is the object of having paper ruled both ways?" + +"It is a convenient way of making calculations where measurements are +necessary, as is the case in figuring out and placing the different +celestial marks which guide the sailors. I think this is a marine pad. +Now, let us see what it contains, before we go further." + +"See the name signed at the bottom," cried out George. "W-a-l-t. That +must be a 't'. But the rest is blurred." + +"I wonder if that isn't Walter?" said Harry. + +"Who is Walter?" asked John. + +"Walter? Why he is the man who signed the note we found on the +_Investigator's_ life boat No. 3 and from whom we have never heard." + +"I remember now," said John, reflectively. "He mentioned Wright who was +one of my companions. But I did not know Walter,--but what is this?" All +craned forward now. "Here is a line; it looks like a large V, pointing +to the south;--that is if the upper part of the paper is the north." + +"There is some sort of tracing on it," said George. + +"Your eyesight is good, George, see if you can see any figures on the +sheet that will explain the V, and the reason for the name below." + +"There is the slightest sign of a figure, or a word just below the point +of the V. It looks like '30'. This seems to be an arrow, which points to +the right diagonally." + +"Now you boys have something to occupy your minds. Yon have been +interested in the Walter note for a year; now is the time to do some +investigating." + +"I have an idea," said Harry, jumping up. "Where can we find the +original Walter's note? We can compare the signature, and that will tell +whether it is Walter or not." + +The Professor smiled as he noticed the eagerness of the boys. They +rushed out of the room and went over to the shop to reclaim the note +that had given them so much concern fourteen months before. + +When they had gone John said: "I presume you have already guessed what +the note contains?" + +"Unquestionably it has reference to the location of the main ledge of +copper or other ore which is measured from some point in that vicinity, +and which may be determined later on by noting the place where the +missive was found, or from some natural landmark." + +"That is my view, but I felt it would be better for the boys to dig it +out for themselves," replied John. + +The wonderful nature of the instruction which the boys had obtained +during their stay on the island, was characterized by this little +incident. Everything learned by one's own exertions is not only more +valuable because of that fact, but the facts thus gleaned will leave a +stronger impress upon the mind. + +The boys thus learned by doing things themselves, that they became +strong and self reliant, and it made them happy to think that they were +able to pick up the threads, however tangled, and weave them into a +harmonious whole. It is the secret of doing things well. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE ARROW ON THE SHEET + + +When the boys reached their rooms they set to work to decipher the +colored paper. It was about four by six inches in size, and had been +folded twice, as the creases plainly showed. Assuring themselves that it +was paper which had been crossruled, as suggested by John, they tried to +decipher the straggling letters and form them into some coherent form. + +The paper had the following appearance when they received it: + +[Illustration: _Fig. 1. The Mysterious Message._] + +The words, or parts of words "dire," in the first line, and "30 gues" in +the second line, together with the letters "Walt" are the only +absolutely clear things to be noticed. + +"The writing is right across the V-shaped marks, and the arrow is plain +enough. It may be though, that the arrow has nothing to do with the +V-shaped mark." And George held the paper away from his eyes to get the +proper effect at a distance. + +"I wonder how close the mountain is to the sea?" ventured Harry. + +"I don't see what difference that would make," replied George. "That +_30_ must mean some measurement. It is either feet, or miles, or yards, +or,--" + +"Why can't you see that 'gues' is a part of the word 'leagues.'" + +Harry jumped up as though shot. "Well, that was stupid of us, sure +enough." + +"With that key before us, we can make some headway. I believe the +V-shape is the lower end of the mountain, probably a headland, and the +arrow points to a place 30 leagues to the,--see here, in the last line +is a W. and there is a blur before it and after it. That may be SWE, +EWS, SWW, SWS, and,--" + +"Don't go so fast," shrieked Harry. "What do you suppose the capital I +stands for at the beginning of the third line?" + +"I--I--, why,--_Island_, of course," said George, with an air of +superiority. "But it cannot be west." + +"Well, the arrow points southeast." + +"How do you know?" asked George, dubiously. + +"Why, that word at the extreme top must be 'north,' and if so then the +arrow is pointing south, and the 'W' belongs to something in that +direction." + +"There, in the second line is a word that looks like 'land.' Can it be a +part of the word 'Island'?" + +"It doesn't seem so, as there is too much space before the letters. It +seems to me though, that it reads 'land 30 leagues' but what does 'se' +mean?" + +The boys were up late that night, and they went to bed with the missive +still unsolved. Before retiring Harry said: "Let us wait until daylight. +The sun may help us out." + +When they awoke the first thing that occurred to George was the original +Walter letter, so that the writing could be compared. It was found, and +George came in with an exultant bound. + +"I am sure now that it was Walter. Here it is." The original letter was +as follows: + +[Illustration: _Fig. 2. Walter Letter._ + Go directly south from the large river which flows to the east, + west of the mountains. We are too closely watched to escape. The + tribe at war with our captors are to the west of. If I escape I + will follow the river to the sea so you will understand where I am. + Walter. ] + +"Compare the two and you will see they look alike," said George. + +"What shall we tell the Professor!" asked Harry. + +"Well but I am not yet through with the paper. Suppose we moisten it, +and that may bring out something we didn't see before." + +This was done, but it made the entire document worse than before. + +"Too bad we have spoiled it," remarked Harry, "but I think we are safe +in telling the Professor and John what we have found out." + +For the time being, however, the boys had other urgent work to do. The +day for launching had been set, and every working hour was valuable, so +they were over at the ship yard early, and the boys did not see either +John or the Professor during the day. + +The vessel as designed by Harry, and supervised by John, was ninety feet +long, and had a beam of eighteen feet, with a very deep keel, and high +bulwarks. It was constructed of a species of oak, found in abundance in +the forest west of the town, and was cut up into boards, and dried in +specially-prepared kilns which were put up for the purpose. + +While lumber dried in this way is not the best for ordinary uses, it +will serve for shipping purposes, because there is always more or less +moisture present in the hull of the vessel, and the object was to enable +them to get the material in the speediest way. + +The saw mill was one of their first experiments in building machinery, +and it was in constant service from the day it was first erected, +getting out lumber for building purposes. + +The engine was designed only for auxiliary purposes, and the boiler was +intended to use coal, of which they found an ample supply in the +northern portion of the island, as explained in a previous book. + +When the boys returned to their rooms late that afternoon, the first +thing that interested them was the message. When it was brought in it +was dry, and a slight change was noticed in its appearance. Now, what +appeared to be the first word of the message, was discernible, the word +"Take," and the word "Head" could be made out before and as a part of +"land," in the second line. + +"We have it," cried Harry, as he jumped up. "Now let them know about +it." + +They were across the open space, without any ceremony, and without +taking trouble to announce themselves, were in the Professor's room. + +"We have it,--we have made it out," was the announcement, as Harry held +up the message. + +"Does it tell you where the Copper mine is located?" asked the +Professor. + +"Copper mine!" exclaimed George. "What has a copper mine to do with it?" + +"John and I concluded, from certain markings on the paper, that it +contained a diagram of the mine!" + +"Well, you were mistaken," said Harry with a chuckle. "It is something +about an island, thirty leagues to the southeast, somewhere." + +"Is that so?" exclaimed the Professor in surprise. "Get John. He will be +surprised." + +John came hurriedly at the announcement, and the contents of the missive +pointed out. "This is certainly good news," he said. "That was fine work +on your part." + +"You see the arrow, and the part of the word 'leagues.' That couldn't +mean feet or yards, or miles." + +"Quite evident," said John, as he mused for a while. "This confirms, in +a measure, the information that we have as to the proximity of these +islands, but the charts show them farther away." + +"Undoubtedly, if Walter knew what he was talking about, we have an +interesting problem to decipher, and the determination to make the +voyage is a wise and timely one," interposed the Professor. + +"Now for the ship," said Harry. "Every day is a hundred, in my mind." + +As may be imagined, the boys now worked with feverish haste. Other +islands here, and waiting for them! Sometimes they were almost tempted +to give up the trip home, but the Professor would not hear of it. + +"Do not change your plans, if you have any good conclusions when you +start out. Don't oscillate from one thing to another. Always make up +your minds and then take a wise, persistent course. It is that which +always serves you best." + +"No; we will go home first, and _then_ for the islands," said Harry, who +felt relieved that the impetuous nature of George could be brought to +their way of thinking, although George was by far the most homesick of +the entire lot. + +All the boys were on hand when the vessel was launched. It rode the +water beautifully, and the natives were the most enthusiastic helpers. +They felt proud of their work. Uraso and Muro, the two chiefs, who were +the most prominent men in the community, and particularly Sutoto, the +intelligent Beree, and Stut, the brother-in-law of Muro, were on hand. + +It was a great feast day for the people. Tears actually flowed from the +Professor's eyes, as he saw the women and children crowd about him. He +was almost a God to them. They were accustomed to receive visits from +him in his weekly rounds, and how at such times he loved to tell them +how to make and arrange things about the house, which contributed to +their comfort. + +Everybody was at work; all were happy, and no one appreciated this more +than the women, who had been lifted out of the bonds of slavery and +elevated through the wise administration of the Professor. + +Angel, too, was in evidence. He was the first to climb the mast, as the +ship floated in the stream. + +"I wonder whether Angel remembers the first trip he took with us on boat +No. 1?" asked Harry. + +Angel bestowed a knowing look on Harry. "I believe he knows what you +said," remarked George. + +In another week the rigging had been put up, and the boiler and engine +were installed before the launching, so that the necessary work +required to enable the ship to sail, was the provisioning. John +suggested that what was of far more importance would be the work of +training a crew to handle the ship, so they turned their minds toward +the solution of this question. + +The selection of a crew was a most difficult task, because all the men +were willing to volunteer. It was decided, however, that only the +unmarried men should be taken, and this at once eliminated many who +might otherwise have been selected. + +For three days the ship was taken out to sea, under sail only, and John +found no trouble in maneuvering the vessel with his new crew. John was a +sailor, and had once been owner of a vessel, so that they were in +competent hands. + +But the final day came, when they must go. It was a most trying time for +the poor boys. Almost at the last moment, Harry and George walked back +to the Professor's room, and broke out into tears. + +"Everybody is leaving you," said Harry, "and I cannot bear to go and +leave you in this way." + +All the rescued boys were on board, as well as Blakely, since the +Professor had insisted that the latter should go, for business reasons, +so that the Professor was left alone, the only white man on Wonder +Island, when the ship sailed down the river. + +True, there was no reason to fear for his safety. The natives loved him +too devotedly, but the boys felt that he must often be lonely in his new +surroundings, with no one but the natives about him. They little knew +that the solace and comfort of the grand old man was the knowledge that +he had helped his fellow man, though the color of the skin was darker +than his own. + + * * * * * + +Their voyage was accompanied by favoring winds and perfect weather. +Valparaiso, Chile, was the first port at which they landed, and as a +trip around the Horn, or even through the Straits of Magellan, and up +along the Atlantic coast, would mean several months, with their own +vessel, they shipped in one of the line steamers, and within seven weeks +they saw Sandy Hook lightship, and then the forts which lined the +opposite shore at the Narrows. + +Telegrams to their parents created paroxysms of joy in many homes which +had been robbed when the _Investigator_ went down. There were no happier +homes than the ones Harry and George were welcomed to. + +The papers told the stories of the boys in pages and pages of +descriptions, and they showed the photos, and told what the boys had +done in their temporary home. The hero of all this wonderful home-coming +was Angel. + +The people, the houses, the wonderful automobiles which he saw on every +hand, at first alarmed him, but when he saw that George did not seem a +bit afraid, he reconciled himself to the situation. + +His first automobile ride was a revelation to him. He held on tightly to +George, at first, but soon the sensation became one of joy, and he could +not get enough of it. The boys were certainly feted, but when they told +their parents that they must go back, the proposition met with strong +opposition. + +The parents forgot that the boys were now over two years older than when +they went away, and it seemed singular that the surroundings did not +seem the same to them as before the happy boyhood days before they left +home. + +For business reasons the parents knew that it would be prudent to permit +them to return and they were influenced by the remarkable change they +saw in the manners and actions of the boys. They saw the youths were +strong and self reliant, ever ready to act and to carry out their +resolutions. These boys had been transformed into men. + +They spent many days going over old scenes and visiting friends. They +enjoyed to the utmost the reunion with their families, but they could +not cease talking about the Professor. They now realized in full what he +had been to them, and what his example and teaching meant to them. There +was really a feeling amounting almost to jealousy on the part of the +people at home against the Professor, but it was not one of bitterness. + +One who could exert such a healthy influence on the lives of the young, +as he possessed, was worthy of the adulation that the boys bestowed. But +John was not forgotten in these periods of happiness. + +They were never happy when telling the tales of their adventures except +when John was present, and the latter was the most sought-for +individual, because when he once began to tell some of his vivid tales +the people would not let him stop. + +Finally the time for departure came. A merry party gathered upon the +dock when the explorers were about to depart. They would write at least +once a month, as Blakely had assured them that he would arrange to have +a steamer run a round trip each four weeks, to take care of the +commodities which would be made up by the natives. + +The steamship _Panama_ slowly moved out into the bay, and the boys +remembered the memorable event which took place at that same dock thirty +months before. Then they left with a sort of half joy in their hearts, +and now they were going away to finish up the great adventures which +they had started when they reached the island of Wonder. + +All hearts were anxious as the ship neared Valparaiso, because there +they would leave the liner from New York, and again ship in the boat +they had built. They keenly scanned the pier as the vessel was being +warped in. + +"Ah! there is Blakely on the dock," said Harry. + +"But I don't see the _Pioneer_ here!" responded George. + +_Pioneer_ was the name of the vessel they had built, and which brought +them to that port from their island home. + +The moment the vessel came alongside the dock, George called to Blakely: +"Where is our boat?" + +"At Wonder Island," was the reply. + +"At Wonder Island?" said Harry, and the boys looked at each other in +amazement. And now they must wait several weeks, probably, until it +returns. This was disappointing, indeed. + +The boys rushed off. "And where shall we go now?" asked Harry. + +"Over to our ship," replied Blakely. + +They followed his gaze to a dock beyond, where lay a beautiful vessel, a +steamer, all decked out with flags. + +"Is that our vessel!" + +"Yes, and I have been to Wonder Island on her since you left. We just +arrived two days ago. We are ready to steam out within two hours." + +"Then don't let us waste a moment's time," said Harry. + +"I thought you might want to take a look over the town," said Blakely. + +"I have no wish to do so, as long as we have the islands in view," +remarked George. "And how is the Professor," he continued in an eager +tone. + +"He is well and happy. But I have no doubt he longs for you, as he +frequently goes over to your rooms, and wanders around the shop, a thing +which he never did while you were there." + +This was joyful news to the boys. How they longed to sail up Enterprise +River. The steamer which Blakely had bought, and which was destined to +ply between Wonder Island and the nearest trans-shipping point, was +called the _Wonder_, a thing which the boys had not noticed until they +were nearing the vessel. + +It was a saucy little steamer, and as they drew near Blakely said: "What +speed do you think she will make?" + +"Fifteen miles at least," remarked Harry. + +"I am guaranteed eighteen miles an hour at the least." + +"Isn't that fine," said George. "What does she burn?" + +"Either wood, coal or petroleum." + +"Now would be the time to look up the oil deposits on the island," +remarked Harry. + +Within an hour the ship was under way, greatly to the delight of the +boys. + +Notwithstanding the ship was sent forward under full steam, the speed +was far too slow for the impatient boys. They were on the bridge most of +the time with the Captain who had been employed to run the vessel. He +proved to be a jolly, red-faced tar, who loved the antics of the boys. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE SKULL WITH THE CRYPTIC WRITING + + +It was at the latter part of May when the _Wonder_ steamed up the broad +river which led to the town of Unity. When they were within two miles of +the town, where they could begin to see the beautiful white houses in +the distance, Blakely came up to the bridge, and suggested that it would +be time to give the town a salute. + +The Captain gave the order and the great whistle began to make a +horrible din, and kept it up for a full half mile. Long before the boat +came into sight of the dock itself the boys could see the people of the +town hurrying down to the wharf. + +When they saw the boys on the bridge pandemonium was let loose. + +"This looks and acts just like a real American town," said Harry. + +"See the Professor," said Harry, as he rushed to the end of the bridge, +and frantically waved his hat. + +The plank was swung and fastened, and the crew of natives rushed off and +met their friends, but George and Harry were not permitted to walk down +the gang plank. The joy at seeing them again was so intense that the +people took them on their shoulders, and the Professor had a hard time +to get near enough to grasp them and bid a welcome. + +The people marveled at the boys. They were dressed up in regulation +American style, and the Professor asked them if they had brought the +"latest" cuts to put in the show windows. + +Everybody followed, and the bantering and cheering made a continuous +performance for them until they reached their home. All the chiefs were +there, dressed up for the occasion, and what delighted them more than +anything else was the fact that the Krishnos, the former witch doctors +of the tribes, and who were now the teachers for the children, were the +first to offer congratulations on their return. + +There was no work in the town that day. Everybody determined to +celebrate, and it was with hearts full of joy that the boys witnessed +the demonstrations in their behalf. + +"Isn't this a glorious home-coming?" said George. "It was worth the trip +here to witness it." + +"It does seem strange to call it a 'home-coming,' but that is just what +it is," answered Harry. "How happy the people are. They seem to +appreciate everything that has been done for them, and it is such a +pleasure to do things for those who appreciate it." + +The stories which John brought to the Professor were so beguiling that +he promised the boys that he would probably be able during the next year +to make a visit with them to their homes, and this delighted them beyond +measure. + +Although they had been absent four months, they noted many improvements +made during their absence. The boys, on their own initiative, visited +many of the homes, and talked to the people, and told them of the visit +home. And how those simple people enjoyed this kindly act, and cherished +it for months afterwards. + +But it was now time to think seriously of the contemplated voyage of +discovery, which was ever uppermost in the minds of the boys. While +conversing on the subject a few evenings after their return, Harry +remarked: "I suppose we must use the _Pioneer_ for our trip, as the +_Wonder_ will have to make the regular trips?" + +"John and I think that would be the wisest plan. The native sailors are +now well adapted to handle her, and do you know that Sutoto sailed her +around the island?" + +This was pleasing to the boys, who liked Sutoto. + +"And who are the others that went with him?" + +"Why Lolo was one of them, and Stut and Chump. Oh, they had a jolly +time; so they said, and I can believe it, because they are simply crazy +to make another trip." And the Professor beamed as he related many of +the incidents which they told him of their experiences. + +While they were talking, Sutoto appeared, and was immediately admitted. +After some talk, Sutoto said: "The Professor said that when you returned +you would have some work for me with the _Pioneer_." + +"Yes, and you shall command her," said Harry. + +Sutoto could not but show his pleasure. "I knew you would come back, but +so many here said you would not." + +At this point Professor explained that there were many rumors among the +people to the effect that the boys would never again come back, and all +showed grief at the news. I assured them that you were just as anxious +to return as they were to have you and I then told Sutoto that I knew +you had plans which would require his services, but I thought it would +be more agreeable if you imparted the nature of it to him. + +The boys were not slow to outline the plans to him, but advised him to +keep the information to himself, which he promised to do. It was enough +for him to know that he would command the ship. It was this that induced +Sutoto to take out the ship, and finally to circumnavigate the island, +so as to try out the sailors and properly to fit them for the work when +the boys returned. + +"Now that being settled, Sutoto, we are going to leave the work of +provisioning the _Pioneer_ to you. We must take a supply of guns and +ammunition, as well, and probably it would be wise to have a small troop +of the best soldiers," was Harry's instruction. + +"Uraso wants to go. I am sure he would be the best one to take. + +"What will Muro say to that?" asked the Professor. + +"Oh, take him along, by all means," said George, "because I want Lolo to +go with us." + +It was then settled that they were to take a small force, sufficient for +immediate purposes, and if it was found that the islands discovered were +too well settled with hostiles it would be an easy matter to remain +aloof, or return for reinforcements. + +While arrangements were being made for the departure of the expedition +Blakely informed the Professor that it would be good policy to make up +part of the cargo of the _Wonder_ with copper, and that both vessels +could proceed to the southeastern part of the island, and the men aboard +could be used to transport the copper to the sea. + +In this way the expedition would serve a double purpose. No one +attempted to go contrary to the wishes of Blakely on matters which +touched upon the commercial ventures in which they were engaged. + +John was only too glad that Blakely had hit upon that idea, as he was +anxious to visit that part of the coast, contiguous to the copper +deposit, and what was more, he wanted to see the place where Blakely +found the missive which the boys had translated. + +As there was still a week before the _Wonder_ would sail for its +northern port of call, both of the ships wended their way to the east, +skirting the coast as closely as possible, John on the _Pioneer_ with +the boys. + +They now had an opportunity to see the Great South Mountains from the +sea. They remembered when they last saw them on land, during the +campaign against the Illyas, and also the wonderful village on the +western side of the mountains. What would their present wanderings bring +forth? + +That evening they landed within a cove, both vessels being brought as +near the shore as possible. + +"We can safely go in close this evening, because the tide is now out," +said John. + +Sutoto, while he had navigated the vessel, and had shown remarkable +skill, was, nevertheless, not well versed in tides and the action of the +moon. + +Quick to learn, he asked John why the tides thus changed. John explained +the reason that the tides flowed in and out twice during each +twenty-four hours, or a little less than that time, so that high water, +or low water would always be at a time a little later each day, and then +stated that it would be an easy matter to so make the calculations that +they would be able to tell ahead for a whole year just when during each +day the highest or lowest water would be. + +While waiting on the ship during the hours of the evening they were +interested in the magnificent fire flies which they saw on the shore and +along the mountain side. This was not an unfamiliar sight to them as +they had witnessed such scenes many times before. + +But now they saw such sights as they had never before observed. They +must have been giant glow birds, because some of the lights flew at +least hundreds of feet emitting continuous streams of light, and this +was not all, many of the lights were colored, particularly red and blue +or simply faint tinges of those tints. + +"I have often thought that there is nothing more wonderful than the fire +fly," said George. + +"But what do you think makes it so wonderful?" asked John. + +"Well, I suppose the wonderful part is that it has strength enough to +make a light," answered Harry. + +"No, the remarkable thing is that the light which it emits is absolutely +cool. Experiments which have been made go to show that there is no heat. +In every form of light which man has been able to produce thus far +artificially, a great heat is evolved, and it would be a most valuable +discovery to find out why these insects are able to do it without +raising the temperature." + +[Illustration: _Fig. 3. The Fire-fly._] + +"But what difference does it make if heat is produced?" asked Harry. + +"The production of heat means the loss of power. The heat generated +takes up more of the power than the light which is produced, so that it +would be a great economy if the heat could be dispensed with." + +"But if there was no heat in the light produced would it make any +difference in the lamps themselves?" + +"Unquestionably. The lamps would last much longer." + +"What are the things which must be learned in order to get the secret of +cold light?" + +"Well, there are number of questions which must be determined. While it +is known that the fire fly and the glow worm emit what is called a +phosphorescent light, this fact is a mere prelude to the knowledge of +what is the exact color of daylight." + +"Color of Daylight? Why, I supposed it was white." + +"But the light of the glow worm and fire fly are not white." + +They watched them, and soon appreciated that John's statement was true. + +"You asked what were some of the things to be solved? Well, to find out +the secret of the phosphorescent glow. That is one thing. What is the +best artificial light, is the next. Then, what substance will have the +most intense glow when a current passes through it, and give out the +least heat." + +"Well, has no one attempted to explain any of these things?" + +"Yes; many explanations have been offered, but all of them leave the +subject dark somewhere." And John laughed as he saw that the boys +appreciated his little attempt at witticism. + +"But the time will come when man will find out this, as everything in +his way. When you think of it, that electricians, chemists, +metallurgists, physiologists, engineers, physicists and microscopists, +are all working on the problem, we should be able to extract the secret +sooner or later." + +"I am going to have some of those fellows," shouted George, and when the +natives on board heard the request of George there was a scramble for +the boats, and John was delighted to give them instructions for +capturing the insects. + +Early the next day the entire party landed, and Blakely, together with +John and the boys, started for the high peak, the one visible for miles +from the west, and which John and the boys often wished to visit. + +One of the things which the boys brought with them from the States, was +a pair of strong glasses, and these were constantly in use. + +"What do you say to scaling that point?" said Harry. + +"Just what I have been thinking about," said George. + +Sutoto, who was with the party, showed by his glowing eyes that he +wanted to be of the party. "Certainly you shall go," said Harry. + +"Before going we must visit the place where the Walter note was found," +called out John. + +The boys had forgotten this. "Most assuredly," answered George, "I had +almost forgotten that." + +Blakely led the way up alongside the rugged cliff. "See that bluish +green outcropping," he said as they were pulling themselves up. + +John stopped and chipped off some specimens. "Wonderful!" he exclaimed. +"Better than anything I have ever found in Mexico. These hills remind me +of the formation all along western Chihuahua, and through northeastern +Sonora." + +The ledge on which they finally emerged was fully six hundred feet above +sea level. When they turned around and viewed the sea below them, and +saw the ships at anchor, they were delirious with joy. How Sutoto +enjoyed the scene. He had never seen anything like it before and he was +amazed and stupefied. He turned and grasped George by the hand. He was +too full to speak. + +"But wait, Sutoto, until we get to the top," said Harry, as he saw his +countenance. As they looked up at the top they wondered what they might +see from the elevation. + +"Here is the spot," cried out Blakely. "This is the pot in which the +message was found. And here is something that I dug up afterwards." + +[Illustration: _Fig. 4. Inscription on the Skull._] + +The boys crowded around. It was a skull on which was engraved the +characters ABCC, followed by a star. + +All looked at John, thinking he might offer some solution. He turned it +over, and examined every portion. Not a word was spoken. "Tell me the +exact position in which this was found," he asked, as he looked at +Blakely. + +"The first thing I found was the pot, which was simply turned upside +down, in exactly this way. This is the place. It rested on this flat +stone. The skull was behind it on this upper shelf." + +"And was there nothing else on the shelf?" + +"Nothing whatever." + +John stooped down and carefully examined the shelf. All followed his +motions. "Do you see that mark?" he said, pointing to a heavy scratch, +which was now plain. "That mark is associated with the skull, if not +with the message. I am unable at this time fully to decipher the marks +on the skull, but I have an idea of the meaning." + +"I wonder if the scratch across that is in the same direction as the +arrow in the letter?" asked George. + +"Unquestionably: let me see your glasses," and George unslung them as +John took them and gazed long in the direction of the line on the shelf. + +He lowered the glasses and slowly shook his head. Something was forming +itself in his mind, this was evident. He walked around the ledge and +back again. Finally, he said: "I wish it were night, it might help to +solve the riddle." + +"And why?" asked Harry. + +"Those letters have reference to the star which follows." + +"It seems to me to be a singular thing that anyone should leave this +here in the hope or expectation that it could be a guide for any one," +remarked George. + +"There is certainly one explanation of that," answered John. "It is +evident that the articles were placed there as a form of note to others, +and it is a sort of cryptic sign, intelligible only to those who have +the key. The fact that these signs are here denote several things, one +of which is that something important, such, for instance, as treasures, +or the location of hidden wealth, or the directions necessary to find +mining lodes, or even to point out the direction and distances of other +islands in the distance." + +"But," said Harry, "the fact that we have found these things here looks +as though there were other parties besides Walter and that he was +associated with them in some sort of enterprise." + +"Quite true; but I am not at all satisfied that the Walter note has +anything to do with the skull. In fact there is every evidence to me +that they are entirely disconnected with each other." + +This announcement was the most surprising to Blakely, who now added a +few points of information. "I should have said that the skull was not +exposed as you now see it on the shelf. After I went up the side of the +hill, I returned and landed on the ledge, and then I noticed the skull +through the apertures formed by the stones now lying at the side." + +"That is evidence to my mind, that Walter knew nothing of the existence +of the skull at the time he left the message, and yet, singular as it +may seem, both the skull and Walter's message point to the same thing." + +This announcement was certainly curious and interesting, and keyed up +the listeners to a high pitch of expectation. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE TRIP TO THE NEW ISLAND + + +Exciting as were the events alluded to in the last chapter, the boys +insisted on taking Sutoto to the top of the peak. John and Blakely +gathered up the fragments, and when the boys left they were busily +engaged in making careful measurements of the stone and ledges. + +It was not an easy task to gain the summit, but when they reached it, +there was spread before them the most remarkable panorama. To the north +they could see South River, the first stream they discovered when they +came to the island. + +They looked on it almost lovingly. "If it were not for the mountain +range to the north we could see clear to Cataract," said Harry. + +"The dear old place!" exclaimed George. Sutoto smiled. He had been +there, and he shared the views of the boys. + +"Let me have the glasses," shouted Harry, as he adjusted them and turned +to the west. "Unity," was the only thing he said, as he handed the +glasses to Sutoto. The latter looked, and stepped back in surprise. +George kept his eyes on Sutoto, as the latter bent forward in his +eagerness to see the town which was now so plain to him, although more +than fifty miles away. + +George leisurely took the glasses, as Sutoto said slowly, and with +proper emphasis, "Wonderful! wonderful!" + +He turned the glasses to the southeast, hoping to catch a glimpse of the +land of treasures, but they saw nothing but the wide open sea, calm and +peaceful, and he wondered that it could ever be so angry and tempestuous +as they had known it to be on two momentous occasions. + +They remained there for a long time, and viewed every portion of the +island. When they descended they took a route leading to the west, and +when nearly at the bottom, heard the unmistakable sounds of voices below +them. For a moment the boys were alarmed, but Sutoto set up a shout, his +quick ears having detected the voices of their friends. It was the first +caravan load of copper which they were taking from the great cave near +the Illyas' village. + +"Glory! we are near the Illyas' village," said Harry, as he stumbled +down the mountain side, and saw the train of men with the loads. + +They would now do some more visiting. They must surely go over to the +village where they captured the last of the hostile tribes. As they +neared the village they were surprised to see Oma coming toward them. He +greeted them like a monarch, and led them into the village. + +"I am glad to welcome you," he said. The boys were astounded at the +words. This man, the most vindictive and bitter of all the tribesmen, +had learned to speak, and showed by his actions that he was glad to +welcome them. + +But when they came to the village, the surprise of the boys was so great +that they could hardly speak. Instead of filth and uncleanliness +everywhere, they saw carefully attended lawns, and houses, instead of +huts. The people came out and greeted them with laughter. + +And then the boys recognized many of the men who had lived in Unity, and +who had worked for them in the shops, and in the fields. The Chief then +escorted them to the large building, the same one in which the Chief was +captured by the boys, the year before. + +What a change! Formerly the furniture in the room was one jumbled mass +of debris, and the household arrangements were only such as savage +conditions warranted. Now, the large interior had been cut up into +rooms, and they were furnished with comfortable belongings. + +The Chief saw the curiosity of the boys, and he read their thoughts. +"You wonder at the difference? Yes; it is a difference. We owe it to +that wonderful Chief, and to you, and to John." + +"Yes; John will be here soon," said George. + +"I have seen him. He will be here. We are preparing a great feast for +him," and the boys opened their eyes and smiled as they heard this +announcement. + +The people flocked about them, and the men who knew the boys were only +too proud to be recognized by them. Thus they visited every nook and +corner of the town, surprised and glad to see that the Chief had +insisted on his people going to Unity and learning the ways of the white +people. + +There was a further reason why the coming of John and of Blake was a +joyous event. Oma had been informed that the great copper mines were to +be opened in the mountains, which would insure work for every one, and +that they would be able to buy every sort of luxury and enjoy all the +comforts of the white people. + +Late that evening John and Blakely came accompanied by two hundred of +the Illyas who had actually been engaged during the day in transporting +copper from the cave to the hold of the _Wonder_. + +The feast and the celebration that night in a village which, only a few +months before, was of the most savage character, was, indeed, a marvel. +Oma could scarcely express himself with enough earnestness, and the +women were following the boys with their eyes, and actually caressing +them, in their eagerness to show appreciation. + +When the time came for them to leave, the Chief accompanied the men to +the shore below South Mountain to witness their departure. Before they +left the village, the things which had been brought there by the ships +for the Illyas were placed in the Chief's storehouse, and Blakely paid +the members of the party who had assisted them. This, also, was the +occasion for much rejoicing. + +Blakely, on board the _Wonder_, waved an adieu to the boys and John as +the boats separated, and Sutoto gave the order to sail directly +southeast. + +During the afternoon the sea was calm and afforded a beautiful sail, but +during the night a strong breeze came up and its intensity varied during +the night. The next day, however, the sea became choppy, and over +two-thirds of the natives were rolling around on the deck in the agonies +of sea-sickness. + +"This will give us an opportunity to try the new cure for the malady," +said John. + +"What is that?" asked George. + +"Simply atrophine." + +"How is it administered?" + +"By injecting it." + +"What is atrophine?" asked Harry. + +"It is a crystalline, bitter and poisonous alkaloid, taken from the +deadly nightshade, and the same principle is also found in the thorn +apple." + +"Isn't it the same as belladonna?" remarked George. + +"No; but belladonna is also an extract of nightshade." + +"Have you any of it here?" + +"Yes; I brought some, together with the other drugs that the Professor +ordered, and I am anxious to try it. The remedy was discovered by Prof. +Fischer, of Munich, and also simultaneously by Dr. Reginald Pollard, of +South Kensington, England." + +Accompanied by the boys John went among the sufferers, and administered +the medicine, giving at each injection about 1-64th of a grain. It was +remarkable in its effects. Within a half hour the sickening feeling in +the stomach disappeared, the eyes began to grow bright again, the pulse +full, and the patient became strong and vigorous. + +None of them objected to John's ministrations. Their confidence in his +ability was sufficient for them and the results justified their faith. + +When the boys came on deck in the morning, they strained their eyes +looking toward the horizon for land but there was no land in sight. John +was already on deck and he smiled as he saw them ascend the ladder. "And +where is your island?" he asked. + +"How far have we gone?" + +"We have been driven somewhat out of our course, it is true; but we are +more than a hundred miles from Wonder Island, and have sailed past the +place where the other island ought to be, according to Walter's letter." +And John chuckled somewhat, at the crestfallen looks of the boys. + +"Where are we going now?" + +"I told Sutoto we would better tack to the southwest. We can use up a +day at that course, and then double back, probably thirty or forty miles +to the south, and in that way we can cover a wide area." + +While sailing in that direction they had to go pretty much into the face +of the wind, but it was considered wise to explore that region to the +south of the islands first, and then take another section to the east or +to the west. + +Night came on without any indications of land, and the course was +altered directly to the east. The boys remained up until nearly twelve +that night, but no light or evidence of land came in sight. Tired with +the exertions of the day, they retired, and were soon asleep. + +How long they slept was immaterial to them. Sutoto came into their +cabin, and awakened them, saying, "We can see some lights in the east." +They heard the voice, and its earnest expression, and without waiting to +dress scrambled out. Far off to the southeast was a faint glimmer, then +it died away. + +After a moment or two it appeared again, somewhat brighter than before. +The night was intensely dark, and the wind was blowing a steady gale, so +that the boat not only rocked but it moved forward into the lines of +waves across their path. + +John was above, and they hurriedly rushed to see him. He was smiling, as +they approached, and he greeted them by saying "We have reached your +island, probably." + +"How long have you seen the light?" asked George. + +"A half hour, or more," he answered. + +The boys were not in the mood now to return to bed, so they went back to +dress, and then returned, meanwhile watching the light with eager eyes. +The course of the ship was directed toward it, and every one on board +had now heard the news. + +Soon the watch on the port side sang out: "Land ahead," and every one +sprang to the left side. There, plainly in the darkness, was a headland, +or a spur, which they were passing at almost right angles. The most +intense excitement prevailed. + +Still the light was directly ahead, and, apparently, a long distance +from them. John told Sutoto to haul in the sails, and to take a course +directly to the south. He explained that it would be wise to stand off +the shore as long as possible, as the ship's clock showed that it was +now past four o'clock so that within the next hour they might be able to +view the land clearly enough to determine their future course. + +Impatiently they awaited that period of gloom which is said to be the +darkest time,--just before the dawn. This seemed to be so to the +watchers, but shortly after five the curtain lifted. A slight haze was +over the land, but they had found an island, at least. + +"Do you know our position?" asked Harry, as John approached. "Yes; I +have just figured it out. We are fifty leagues (one hundred and fifty +miles) southeast of Wonder Island." + +The boys looked at each other. Evidently Walter was wrong, or they had +read his letter incorrectly. But they saw land, and John assured them +that there was no land between that place and their own island. + +Anxiously they awaited daylight, and when it came they gazed out on a +barren waste,--a rocky and uninviting shore. + +"Steer for the little cove beyond the great rock," said John. + +The sails were hoisted, and the vessel slowly moved south, and rounded +into the waters bounded by the circular shore line. The anchor was soon +cast, and then began the launching of the boats. + +John called the men before him, and gave a few words of advice. "We have +no knowledge of the character of the land, or of the people who may live +there. Two boats will be manned, and ten will take their places in each. +Uraso will have charge of one, and Muro of the other. When we reach the +shore Muro will remain with the men under his command, while Uraso will +follow me. It will be understood that so long as no shots are heard by +Muro and his party that our expedition is safe, but should any firing be +heard, then the ship must be signaled and those in the vessel here must +come to shore, and Muro with his soldiers will at once come to our +relief. I hope we shall have no occasion for calling on you, but we must +be prepared for any emergency." + +The two boats pulled for the shore. After landing John, with Uraso's men +the boys quickly scrambled up the rough cliffs beyond. When the heights +were gained they looked over a beautifully wooded landscape, but it was +still, except for the birds and the small animals which looked at them +in a startled manner, and then scurried for cover. + +"I doubt whether there are any people living here," remarked Harry. +"There is not a sign of living beings." + +"You are quite mistaken there," said John. + +The boys looked at John. "Have you seen any signs?" asked George. + +"Yes; did you notice how the animals fled at our approach?" + +They had noticed it, but neglected to draw any inference from it. + +"That is one of the surest signs. Do you now remember how differently +the animals acted in the region around Cataract from those in the +southwest portion of Wonder Island?" + +"I now remember that is so. Don't you remember, George, when we came +across the first herd of yaks, that they hardly noticed us? I am sure +that the animals out at West River didn't wait to interview us." + +"Well, I remember the big bear was very anxious to make our +acquaintance," said George, and Harry smiled, as he remembered how the +big fellow took his revenge by tearing up their baggage. + +John directed the men to the right, and in the direction of an elevation +which seemed to be clear of timber. From that point they searched the +intervening wooded area, and caught sight of a still higher tableland +miles beyond. + +"Your glasses would be serviceable here," said John. George handed them +to John, and he gazed through them long and earnestly. "I am unable to +find any traces of human beings, and I cannot account for the light +which we saw during the night, and which must have been nearly ahead of +us." + +He walked forward, the men following. They marched for more than a mile, +every object being examined. Fallen trees were particularly +investigated, and clumps of trees were searched, even the bark of trees +being minutely gone over by John. + +The natives, generally so keen to discover evidences of their kind, +walked along, and shook their heads, to indicate the absence of all +signs. The land in the interior was elevated, but it was not rough or +broken, the only place where an upheaval had taken place appearing to be +the west coast. + +"This seems to look bad for our purposes," said John, as he turned to +the boys. + +"What do you mean?" asked Harry. + +"I don't think there are any caves in this section," he answered. "But +we might as well investigate farther to the right, and see what the land +looks like." + +"Aren't those coffee trees?" said George, in great eagerness, as he +bounded forwardly. + +There, not a hundred feet away, were the beautiful trees with white +clusters all over them. Thousands of these trees were in sight. + +"I believe we have struck a coffee plantation," exclaimed Harry. + +John did not answer, but went up to one of the trees and carefully +examined it. "No, these trees have grown wild, and no one has ever +gathered the berries." + +"But what an opportunity there would be here for gathering coffee! Too +bad Blakely isn't here," said George. + +"We never saw anything like it on Wonder Island," suggested Harry. "Now, +why is it that cocoa will grow in wonderful profusion on one island, +and none on the next, and the other island will have bananas and the +other not?" + +"The explanation of that has been the means of bringing out a wonderful +study, that is explained by the nature of the soil itself. In every +country certain sections will spontaneously produce product alike, in +almost every essential quality. Thus, flax, for instance, is found, +identical in its character, in Kamscatska, and in Minnesota; in the +Siberian wilds and in Central America; on the heights of the Himalayas, +and in the lowest plains of South America." + +"But how do you explain the similarity? They must have come from seed, +and how did the seeds get from place to place, when there were no ships +to carry them?" + +"There can be only one explanation. The soil itself, if identical in its +character, will, eventually, produce the same vegetables and vegetation. +Thus, it has been found that the localities where this wild flax was +found, had soil which was the same in its nature, and calculated to +produce the same in kind." + +For four hours the little band marched to the south, and came back along +a track nearer the sea, without discovering the slightest indication of +human habitations, except the frightened looks and actions of the +animals in their path. + +[Illustration: "_He turned it over and examined every portion_" + [See p. 60]] + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +DISCOVERY OF THE ISLAND AND EXPLORATIONS + + +Weary, they dragged themselves over the cliffs and down to the waiting +natives. Muro was surprised to learn that they had found no signs of +people, so they rowed back to the ship, and after a hearty meal, retired +for the night. + +In the morning when they asked John for his opinion, he said, "The only +course is to sail south, and circumnavigate the island. In doing so we +shall effect a landing every ten miles or so, and then go into the +interior. This will thus enable us to learn all about the land. At the +same time we must survey the island, so as to learn its extent, as well +as its general shape and outline." + +"But how can we survey it without the instruments?" + +"That is readily done, by observing the headlands, or some special coast +line marks, and then taking the angles from those points." + +"Well, that will be interesting, at least. How shall we start?" + +"Do you see that point to the south which may be five or ten miles +away?" + +"Yes." + +"Now, examine the compass, and turn it so that the cardinal points are +directly north and south. Now sight across the face of the compass so +that you get the exact line between this point and yonder object. What +do you make it to be?" + +"Why I make it out to be S. E." + +[Illustration: _Fig. 5. Measuring by Triangulation._] + +"That is correct. The line 1 is south by east." + +"But how can we find out how long line 1 is?" asked Harry. + +"Why by triangulation," said George, quickly. + +"I know that, but how can we do it on sea?" + +"It can be done on sea, as well as on land, but we had better go and +make the first measurement by triangulation correctly, and do this in +our subsequent measurements, unless it should be necessary to make the +measurements at sea. The plan followed on shipboard will be found +similar to the plan followed on land." + +The boat was manned and the boys with a crew of the men and John made +for the shore, and together they went inland to a point marked B (Fig. +5), and sighted across to the same object C that was noted of the ship. +This, then, gave three lines, 1, 2 and 3, forming a triangle. + +"If these angles are placed on a paper the distance from A to C can be +determined on the principles of proportion," remarked John. + +"How is that done?" + +"We will assume that the lines 1, 2, are at right angles to each other. +This is not necessary, but it happens to be so in this case. Let us +first measure the distance along the line 2, which may be any number of +inches, or feet. Suppose we call the line one inch long. Then draw the +line 1, so that it will be sufficiently long to be sure and meet the +line 3." + +"Yes; I now see how it is done," remarked George, with enthusiasm. "If +the line 3 is drawn at the angle we got, when we looked at C, from B, +the line will cross line 1 at C." + +"That is correct. Now, if it is one inch from A to B, we may use that +inch as a measurement to get the distance along the line." + +"Let me step it off," said Harry. "I find it is just two and +three-quarters inches." + +"What was the distance, in feet from A to B?" asked John. + +"I have the figures here," said George. "We found it was six hundred and +ninety feet." + +"If, now, you will multiply 690 by 2-3/4, we shall have the distance +from this point A, and yonder point, or headland C." + +[Illustration: _Fig. 6. The Second Limb._] + +"I make it out to be just 1897.5," was Harry's conclusion. + +The boys, together with John and a half dozen of the natives, went along +the shore, and mounted the point C, and from that place selected another +point in a southerly direction, and again made the same calculations. + +The vessel in the meantime was put under sail and anchored a mile +below, giving the surveying party time to make several triangulations, +and late in the afternoon the party came on board, tired and ready to +take a rest. + +From the position taken up by the ship they could see a long stretch of +shore line, practically straight, trending toward the southeast, and +with their glass could see, miles away, a headland which afforded a +pronounced point for observation. + +The next morning the same parties rowed to the shore, and Uraso was left +with the party to guard the shore boat, while Muro accompanied John and +the boys. On this occasion John issued the following instruction: + +"The long point which you see in the distance is, probably, 15 miles +beyond. It is not more than that, but this clear atmosphere is liable to +deceive. I have instructed Sutoto to wait until one o'clock today, and +if by that time there is no word from us Uraso will return to the ship, +and you will take up anchor and steer for the headland beyond." + +"So that you may understand our movements, we will strike into the +interior, taking a course due east, for ten miles, or thereabout, and +then turn to the south, and reach the sea near the place where the +vessel will be located." + +"I understand, now, how the distance can be measured by triangulation on +land; but how to get the distances, on shipboard, is what puzzles me," +said Harry. + +John smiled as he replied: "I knew you would come to that sooner or +later, so I prepared a little sketch (Fig. 7), which shows the bow of a +vessel, and the tall mast. The lines from A to B give an angle with the +vertical line of the mast, which will enable you to determine how far +the ship is from any point." + +"But I am still in the dark as to how, even if we have that distance, we +can thereby tell by triangulation, on the vessel, how far one point is +from another on the land." + +[Illustration: _Fig. 7. Triangulation from a Vessel._] + +"After the distance from the vessel to the point is determined, as I +have shown, then the length of the ship itself is used as the two points +to sight from, and the two lines thus projected, from the opposite ends +of the vessel, together with the line lengthwise along the ship, form a +triangle, the same as the triangle lines 1, 2, 3, in the sketch (Fig. +5)." + +It might be well at this place to describe the equipment of the party as +it left the boat. The natives carried a plentiful supply of provisions. +Each had a gun, the best kind of breech loaders, and also a spear. + +The natives love to handle spears better than anything else in the way +of a weapon, and each also had a knife, and some carried the inevitable +bolo, that primitive form of hatchet which is known all over the world +where steel or iron is available, and the people have arrived at such a +state that they are able to make metal articles. + +John and the boys also carried guns, but the boys had revolvers, seven +shooters, not of large bore, but very convenient weapons, in close +quarters. Each carried also a knife, and belt to contain the cartridges +for the guns. + +Harry carried a camera, which he had brought from the States, and George +had the field glass strapped across the shoulders. John felt that they +had a force large enough to make a fairly effective stand against a +pretty strong force of natives, the entire party counting, in this +instance, sixteen. + +As they advanced into the interior, it was evident that they were +gradually ascending, so that at about six miles from the landing place +they reached the crest of the rising ground. Beyond, where the nature of +the ground permitted they saw clearly that the distance beyond had a +lower altitude than the place where they stood. + +During this trip there was no evidence that the island was occupied, but +they saw the most amazing evidences of tropical fruits and trees. +Magnificent trees were in evidence everywhere, and the woods, besides +mahogany, and ebony, were of the most valuable character. + +John noted all these things, but the boys were most interested in the +birds and animals which roamed about. The latter were not large or +vicious looking, but it was not permitted to shoot any of them lest it +might alarm Uraso, who was at the landing. + +Ahead could be seen several ridges, one of them heavily wooded. Reaching +the summit they beheld a beautiful valley below, and opposite on a +shelving rock, stood a type of mountain deer like a sentinel, while a +dozen or more were feeding on the green slope beneath. + +Frequently on the march the boys would take side trips, in the attempt +to run down some of the curious animals, but they were careful to keep +the main force in sight. + +Thus they tramped on fully five miles beyond the crest of the ridge, and +occasionally John would stop to examine some suspicious-looking +indication of habitation. + +"It would surprise me very much to find that the island is not +inhabited," he said, as he examined what appeared to be a path. + +At this juncture one of the native scouts came up and showed John a +curious stone formation. John took it, and turned it over several times. +"That is part of a stone hatchet." The scout nodded assent with a +smile. + +All now became intent on searching. This finally resulted in bringing to +light a well-formed spear, not unlike those originally used on Wonder +Island among the native tribes. + +Surely they were getting evidence pretty fast now. Then, while crossing +a little rivulet, one of the scouts plainly saw the print of a native +foot, which was unmistakable. True, it had been made days before, +probably a month, but there it was, and now it was incumbent on them to +find out where the people were. + +The entire party scattered along the little stream, and searched both +banks for a considerable distance, the boys taking an active part in the +work. Usually the boys kept together, and entertained each other, but on +this occasion all were so intent on discovering where, and in what +direction the footprints would lead, that they quite forgot to watch +each other. + +John gave a customary whistle, as he was in the habit of doing, when it +was desired to call the party together, and all of the scouts promptly +returned, as well as Harry. George was nowhere to be seen. John +questioned Harry. He had first missed him at the bend in the stream not +two hundred feet to the north. + +He rushed back in that direction, while John gave another blast on the +whistle, and then listened intently for a reply. Harry came back without +any intelligence, and almost frantic. John and the scouts then broke +into a run, and Harry turned with them. + +That instant a shot rang out. "That must be George," exclaimed John. +"Forward as quickly as possible." + +The party turned the bend of the river. All along this part of the +stream the banks were cut up by ridges and diminutive cliffs, and in +many places were large shelving rocks which came up close to the stream. + +Immediately after the shot John stopped, and listened for some sound, +and the natives, usually so alert to recognize noises, did likewise. + +"That shot means that George is in some danger," said John. + +"But why does he not answer the whistle? Why should he shoot, and then +not call to us, if there is any danger," said Harry in despair. + +They turned the bend, and searched to and fro. The shot could not have +been more than eight hundred feet away. The searchers spread out into a +fan-shaped formation. One of the scouts ran up hurriedly and called to +John, who went forward, and there, alongside of a huge rock, where there +was little grass, he saw unmistakable evidence of a scuffle. + +"These are the footprints of George's shoes," remarked Harry. + +"Yes, and here are the prints of the native feet," said John, as one of +the scouts distinctly pointed out two or three well defined marks. + +"They are, undoubtedly, near at hand. We must now be on our guard," said +John, as he pondered on the situation. + +"I wonder why they didn't attack us?" asked Harry. + +"The reason, no doubt, is that it is a small party. A larger body would +not have attempted to capture one of us by stealth." + +John turned to Hasmo, one of the fleetest runners, and instructed him to +go back to the landing place at once, and advise Uraso to bring his men +and provisions, as well as additional ammunition, and to hold the ship +until additional word should be sent. + +Hasmo was off in an instant, and then John issued additional +instructions. "It is evident," he said, "that we must look for the +people to the east or, more likely, toward the southeast. That is the +reason why I had the boat held at the place where we have just landed. +There is also another reason why I think the tribes, if there are any, +are to the south, and that is, in this latitude they are much less +exposed to the effects of the great winds that occur at certain portions +of the year." + +Harry wandered about, not knowing what to do, at this terrible +catastrophe. George in the hands of the savages! He could hardly believe +it. + +"Don't worry about George too much," said John consolingly. "I am +inclined to think he has had enough experience within the past two years +to help him out of immediate trouble, and we will then be able to take a +hand." + +This somewhat relieved Harry. It is possible that George might be able +to take care of himself. "But suppose they kill him?" This was his great +fear. + +"It is not at all likely they will do that," remarked Muro. "Those who +captured him form only a small party, and it is not at all likely that +there was a chief with them. Under the circumstances they would not dare +kill him until the Chief ordered it." + +John smiled as he nodded at the explanation given by Muro. After all, it +was not as bad as it might be. Now to the rescue. Muro begged permission +to do scouting work until Uraso arrived, and selecting Stut as his +companion, they glided through the forest directly to the east. + +They were now fully twelve miles from the boat, and the runner could be +depended on to reach Uraso within an hour, if not hindered on the +journey. It would then take, possibly, two hours more for the party to +return, so that it was safe to assume that they would have to remain in +the vicinity for the next three hours. + +John decided that the time should be spent in exploring the directions +to the southeast and to the northeast as well, so they might be well +informed when the reinforcements arrived. + +Hasmo glided through the forest like a deer. He knew that it was +imperative to reach the shore before one o'clock, because at that time +the vessel would leave for the southeastern point. To get there too late +would mean a trip for fifteen miles or more along the shore to reach the +next landing. + +The dense forest near the shore prevented him from seeing the vessel +until he crossed the last ridge, and when he finally came within view +of the harbor the ship had disappeared. He stopped and glanced to the +south, but no ship was in sight. This was a situation which had been +considered, from the point of view of the departure of the vessel; but +where had it gone? + +He went to the shore, where Uraso's party had been, and then, +laboriously ascended the point beyond, and from which he could get a +clear view of the sea. There, far beyond, was the _Pioneer_, sailing to +the southeast under a strong breeze. + +He tore off his jacket, and seizing a branch, began to wave it back and +forth. The ship went on, and there was no indication that they noticed +him. He remained thus for nearly a quarter of an hour, and then knew +that he must follow the ship until he reached the next landing place. + +The trip along the shore was a most difficult one, as he could not +follow the beach. Many of the rocks along the shore were licked by the +waves, so that he had to take a course beyond the cliffs, and the land +was not only rough, but numerous gulleys, or draws, as they are called, +were washed out, making speed impossible. + +It required more than two hours to make the trip, and it was +considerably after three when he hailed the boat from the shore, and +hurriedly told the story of George's capture. + +Uraso was not slow in gathering the men needed for the expedition, and +when the guns and ammunition were brought out all of the men actually +begged to go along, but he knew that John would not sanction leaving the +vessel without a crew. + + * * * * * + +John and his scouts impatiently awaited the return of the men and during +this time received the reports from the scouts as they came in. It was +evident from the slight traces found that the band which captured George +had gone east. It was no doubt from some indication to this effect +obtained by Muro, that induced him to take his course in that direction, +also. + +All had departed but Muro: Four o'clock came, and then five, but neither +Muro nor Uraso appeared. This did, indeed, look strange to John, who +could, in a measure, account for Muro's non-appearance; but he could not +understand why Uraso did not come. It then occurred that after all Hasmo +might not have been able to reach the landing before sailing time, and +with this theory he consoled Harry, who was constantly on the alert, +waiting for tidings. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +CAPTURE OF GEORGE BY THE NATIVES + + +Let us now follow George. He went along the stream on its westerly side, +while Harry was examining the eastern shore. Coming to a little rivulet, +which flowed into the main stream at this point, he passed alongside the +projecting ledges of rock, that for the moment hid him from the view of +Harry. + +Here he saw some peculiar rocks, and outcroppings, which reminded him so +forcibly of the early days on Wonder Island, when the Professor so +strongly impressed on them the value of investigation. The gun was stood +up, leaning against the rocks, when he was seized by two strong arms, +and a hand placed over his mouth. + +In the struggle his hand touched the gun, and as his captor drew him +back, he took the gun with him, and no effort was made to dispossess him +of the weapon. He was carried along, one hand pinioned to his side, +while the other hand carrying the gun was free, but he was unable to use +it. + +He could not have been carried more than a hundred feet, before he heard +John's whistle. This startled his captors, for he now saw that there +were two burly specimens, almost wholly naked, and for the moment the +hold on the imprisoned arm was relaxed. + +Quick as a flash he drew up the gun and fired. This was the shot heard +by John and Harry. The shot was such a surprise that the savages were +almost paralyzed, and dropped their hold, but it was only for an +instant. Realizing that the noise was made by George's weapon, and not +caused by any of the boy's companions, the nearest savage swung around +viciously, and poor George was knocked unconscious by the blow. + +How long he remained in this state he did not know. When consciousness +returned he was lying, on some tufted grass, and a half dozen vicious +looking savages stood around him. Then he remembered the circumstances +of his capture. + +He eyed them for a time, and then slowly sat up. One of the party had +George's field glasses slung around him, just as he himself had them on +when captured. One of them was fondling the gun, but it was evident from +the manner in which he held it that he had no knowledge of its uses. + +His cartridge belt graced the form of one of the other savages, and it +was evident that they considered the things thus taken more in the +nature of ornaments than as weapons. He slowly felt his pockets and was +surprised that they had removed nothing. + +While he was rising to a sitting posture he could feel his revolver, and +wondered why he had not been disarmed. A glimmer of joy shot through +him. His hands were free, and he had no pain, except the sore feeling +that was keen on the side of his head, and which was, no doubt, caused +by the blow. + +Not a word was spoken by either. He hoped something would be said and +probably he would be able to recognize the language, as his two years' +experience in Wonder Island gave him a fairly good understanding of the +native tongues. + +He pronounced some words, in the Saboro and also in the Illya dialect, +but they stared at each other, and answered in some words that were +utterly unlike anything known on their own island. + +Soon, after a conversation among themselves, he was raised up and urged +forward. The first thing that George did was to note the position of the +sun, and he then stealthily drew out his watch. + +When the savages, who were closely watching him, saw the watch two of +them pounced upon him, and in the struggle, one of them tore it from the +chain. The holder of the chain threw it away, and attacked the one who +had the watch. + +This was certainly an interesting struggle for George to witness. He had +his thoughts, however. Now was the time to make a strike for liberty, so +he quietly moved his hand toward the revolver. George was not aware that +a pair of eyes was intently watching him while the struggle was going +on. + +Before the hand reached the revolver, the savage leaped forward. His +heart sank. The opportunity was lost. He dove down into the pocket and +brought forth a knife, and it was hardly out of his pocket until the +prying native had it in his hand. + +George gave a forced smile. The native saw it, and looked admiringly at +the beautiful handle. He turned it around and viewed it from every +side, and then deftly drew a strand of material from his clout and, +winding it around the knife, threw the loop of the strand over his head. + +This, too, then, was an ornament! They did not know the uses of the +knife. George kept up the smile, and soon the savage smiled in return. +This was a good beginning, surely! But what surprised him most of all +was the perfectly natural manner in which the defeated party in the +contest after the watch took his loss. + +The victor fashioned it as a pendant, and the other looked calmly on +while his opponent admired it. There was not a particle of resentment in +the loser. + +George did not show any alarm to the savages, although it would be too +much to say that he was entirely at ease. The instructions received from +John, the experiences of Tom and Ralph when they were captured, were +lessons for him, so, when the savages smiled back at him he pointed to +the knife, and made motions as though he intended to open the blade. + +All savages are curious. Many of them have this trait developed to a +remarkable degree. George's motions attracted the man. Then he leaned +forward, and removed the knife from the loop. He held it up, exactly +like a magician would exhibit some article that he intended should +disappear. + +Then, as the savage's mouth was now open, he inserted his thumb nail +into the crease of the large knife, and opened the blade. Then he +extended out his hand, and offered the open knife to the savage. + +To say that he was merely surprised is putting it mildly. He could not +possibly open his eyes wider, and instead of taking it, drew back. Then +George quickly closed the blade again, and offered it in that way, and +he was induced to slowly take it back, while he glanced at George +suspiciously. + +The burly individual who carried the field glass was then approached by +George. The latter took the glasses and put them to his eyes. At this +act the savages set up a whoop, and the glass was snatched from him. +Evidently they thought it was something like the gun. + +George smiled, and again made the motion, as though he desired to take +the glass. The savage took the loop from his neck, and handed the +instrument to George. The latter put it to his eyes and pointed them to +the east, carefully adjusting them to get the proper focus. + +To his surprise he saw the evidences of a village in the far distant +landscape, and, beyond it, the sea. What a discovery this was, indeed! + +The glasses were then presented to the burly savage, who now claimed its +ownership, and tried to induce him to look through it. In this George +finally succeeded, and after he saw the effect of the distant landscape, +the attitude of the man changed, and he looked on George with a species +of admiration and wonderment. + +George walked about them, in the most careless manner imaginable, but +they never took their eyes from him. He smiled at them, again took the +knife and performed the feat over and over again, and then instructed +the savage how to do it. + +Suddenly he thought of the match safe. What a jolly trick that would be +to spring on them. But it would be more effective at night, he +reflected, and so he refrained from taking it out. It was evident, +however, that he was making a hit of some kind. Whether it would aid him +in escaping he did not know, but he tried every means possible to +ingratiate himself, and to show that he had no fear. The view of the +village which he had accidentally discovered impressed itself on him +with startling force. If he once reached the village escape would be +difficult, and consequently he viewed the searching eyes of his captors +with great uneasiness. + +This was evident by the cat-like action of the one who got the knife. If +he made the slightest move of his hands, he could see the eyes following +them. Once he stumbled as they were marching along. This was purposely +done, in the hope that during the time he was recovering his erect +position he could draw the revolver. + +He had his course of action all planned out. He had no desire to kill, +and he made up his mind that he would first cover them and then by +motions wave them away, but it would be necessary to depend upon mimicry +for this. + +He had learned from John that savages are naturally the most expert +pantomimists, and are able to express many things by gestures, this +faculty having been made the more acute because the different tribes +are frequently brought into contact without any connecting link in the +dialects or languages. + +If they refused, or made any attempt to seize him, he would then shoot +the leader, and thus strike terror into the others. But while he was +thus arranging all the details in his mind, he was startled at seeing a +whole group of savages leap from the side of the ill-defined path, which +they were now traveling, and they speedily surrounded the captor and +captive. + +Then began a bedlam of explanations as they crowded around George. Some +came up and felt his arms, and other portions of his body. He smiled +meanwhile. It was the only thing he could do, and he knew it would be +useless to look troubled. + +The next moment the visitors were examining the glass, the cartridge +belt, the knife and the watch, and George was, temporarily forgotten, +although surrounded so that he could not possibly force his way through. + +He thought it a remarkable thing that they should thus hold and watch +him with such tenacity. While thus discussing him, a new party appeared, +and now for the first time there was an attempt to show deference. + +The leader of the party was the most powerful savage George had ever +seen. Uraso was a powerful warrior, and Chum was also noted for his +strength, but it seemed that the man now coming up must be a giant. Some +of the immediate party rushed up to him, and after making a respectful +bow, told him of the capture. + +He approached with dignity, and those around George moved away. + +Without a moment's hesitation George moved toward the Chief, and when +ten feet away, he stopped, straightened himself erect, and with a most +courtly bow smiled as he recovered his position. + +The strong and resolute manner in which this was done was really a cause +for marvel in the savage. He looked at his people, and spoke a few +words, and those who had been his guards came forward most +deferentially, and, so far as George could understand, told of the +circumstances surrounding his capture. + +But there was one thing which struck George as a peculiar thing. The +three men who had participated in the loot of his valuables did not +exhibit them while talking to the Chief. + +There was a long palaver, and many gestures indulged in. The question +occurred to him: What had become of the articles which they had taken? +Did they purposely hide them? + +At the close of the conversation two of the Chief's immediate associates +came forward, and began to investigate his belongings. The first thing +they brought out was the revolver, and at this George was almost on the +point of breaking down. Then he grew bitter. + +The silver match box was the next to attract the attention of the +searchers; and so they went through from one pocket to the other in the +most approved style. + +These were laid before the Chief who grunted his approval at the +different things, and his admiration, judging from the character of his +remarks, was unbounded at the silver-plated revolver. + +From the curious way in which he handled it George was alarmed. It was +an automatic, and if the Chief once pulled the trigger there would be +trouble for some one. George held up a warning hand, and the Chief +looked up from the weapon. + +The only thing he could do was to point to the revolver, and vigorously +shake his head. The Chief looked around as though inquiring the meaning +of such a sign. He was not interfered with as he walked up to the +savage, and held out his hand. The Chief handed him the weapon. + +Then, picking up a leaf, he motioned to one near him to place it on the +side of a tree. At a word from the Chief the man did so, but George +motioned to him to carry it still further away. He took deliberate aim, +and thanks to his long and regular practice, the leaf received the +impress of the bullet, while the savages jumped in all directions at the +report. + +Only the Chief remained impassive. He never moved, but when the leaf was +brought to him, he looked on the youth with a kindly smile. George was +quick to notice this. He again walked over to the Chief, and placed the +weapon in his hand, and guided his finger to the trigger, while at the +same time holding up his hand so as to sight it. + +This time the shot was directed to the nearest tree. The savages +scurried to give them room. When the Chief pulled the trigger and the +discharge followed, George caught him by the arm, and took him to the +tree, pointing out the hole made by the bullet. + +There was a wondering look on the Chief's face. He looked at the weapon, +and then at the hole. There was a question in the peculiar guttural +sounds of his language, which slowly came from his lips. Evidently the +Chief wanted to know something. + +Ah! he knew what it was. What made the hole? George took the weapon, and +extracted one of the bullets, and then pointed to the hole in the tree. +It was plain that even this did not satisfy him. Better still; why not +dig out the bullet; and as he thought of it he instinctively reached in +his pocket for the knife. + +Then he remembered. One of his captors had it. Without any ceremony he +walked over to the man who had it, and by motions indicated that he +wanted the knife. The savage was mute. He boldly searched the folds of +the rude clout, and without a protest on the part of the savage he +brought forth the coveted knife. + +This action was indeed a surprise to the Chief. A frown gathered on the +Chief's face. George saw it, and really trembled for the first time, as +he saw the eyes of the Giant riveted on the knife, and then turned to +the culprit. The latter fell to the ground, and muttered something, and +instantly the two others were also seized, as they uncovered the other +belongings and laid them before the Chief. + +George looked on the scene with genuine regret. The culprits were led +away, and he speculated on their fate. But the Chief's eyes immediately +returned to the hole in the tree, while the gaze of the others rested on +the cartridges, the watch and the field glasses. The knife was in +George's hand, and he slowly opened it whereat the appearance of the +blade startled the Chief. He was all eagerness now, so George closed the +blade and opened it again, and then cut a circle around the bullet hole +and chipped the wood away. + +There was the bullet, and he slowly drew it forth, a shapeless bit of +lead. When he had deposited it in the Chief's hand, he laid one of the +cartridges alongside, and also showed the empty shell. Then he quietly +laid the closed knife in the Chief's hand and stood back with his arms +folded, as though he owned the entire Island. + +If the action of the Chief counted for anything the boy did have +everything in sight. The Chief returned the revolver to George, and then +began to examine the articles before him. The most interesting appeared +to be the cartridge belt. He looked at the revolver and cartridges, and +then turned over the revolver bullet and shell which George had +exhibited. + +It was now plain that the Chief could not understand the use of the +large cartridges. George's mind was working by this time. He did not +recall that the gun was in evidence at any time after they met the first +crowd on the road. + +The Chief pointed to the cartridges, and George looked toward the group +which had captured him. This was enough for the wily savage. A stern +command was issued, and in an incredible short space of time the gun +appeared. Where it could have been hidden was a marvel. Certainly these +people must be adepts in the art of concealment. + +The Chief handled the gun in a most awkward fashion and George politely +took it from his hand, and after glancing about for a moment, saw a bird +on a branch. This he brought down, upon which one of the men ran +forward, picked it up and brought it to the Chief. After this the weapon +was turned over to him, and the peculiar chuckle that followed was, +undoubtedly, the savage's way of expressing delight. + +One of the attendants then came forward at the order of the Chief, who, +after the articles were gathered up, indicated to George that he should +follow, and turned toward the village. George did not regard the +prerogatives of royalty, but he took up a most democratic position by +the side of the Chief, to which the latter did not object. + +It required nearly an hour before they reached the village. Women and +children, and boys his own age were in evidence everywhere. They came +out of the huts and followed the procession, on the way to the Chief's +quarters. + +Singularly George did not now feel the slightest bit of fear. On the +other hand, there was confidence, a sort of assurance that he could not +express. This feeling came to him, not so much from the general demeanor +of the Chief, as on account of the one act, namely, the return to him of +the revolver. + +The Chief's home was an entirely different sort of affair from the other +dwellings. It was noted that, the homes of the ordinary people were made +singularly like those of the tribes on Wonder Island, usually of twigs +braided and brought together at the upper end so as to form cone-like +enclosures, and all were covered with clay, so as to keep out the rains. + +Outside of these houses appeared to be the sleeping quarters, and a +glance at some of them impressed George as being exceedingly filthy. The +houses were intended only for the rainy season, apparently, as was the +custom in many places on their own island. + +But the Chief's dwelling was a most pretentious affair, judged by the +surrounding homes. It had a large interior court, without a roof, but +the immediate dwelling had four or more rooms. The Chief walked through +one room, and entered the court, where George was embarrassed to see two +girls, and several boys, together with three women, all of whom stared +at him, the girls giggling exactly as he had seen them do at home. + +The articles taken from him were then deposited upon the floor, and the +Chief reclined on a sort of raised couch. George glanced around and the +first thing that his eyes met was a chair, in one corner of the room, +and then some articles that he knew could not have been made on the +island. + +This was his introduction to the home of the Chief. He then fell to +wondering how it would be possible to talk and tell him about his +friends. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +FIGHT OF THE NATIVES FOR THE TRINKETS + + +Scouting in an unknown country, with assurances that foes may be in +ambush at every turn, is not a rapid way of marching. Ordinarily, in the +open road, a man will walk three or four miles an hour. But in a forest, +where every tree may conceal a foe, it is quite different. + +Muro was an expert in scouting work. He had had years of experience in +this sort of life, and, moreover, was a chief of one of the most +powerful tribes on the island. + +He and his companion went directly east, in the most stealthy fashion, +and, a half mile beyond they circled to the south, next swinging around +to the north, so as to take in as wide a sweep as possible. + +Before dark they obtained the first real traces of the tramp of feet, +and as it was now too late to enable them to follow up the trail they +went back toward the scene of the capture, so that they might thus be +able to follow the trail easily the next morning. + +It was very dark when they crept in and were halted by the sentries +which John had posted. Harry was the first to greet Muro. "Have you +found anything?" + +"Yes," answered Muro. "We know the direction they have gone. In the +morning we can go on from the place where we discovered the trail." + +"How far is it from here?" + +"More than ten miles." + +The distance mentioned was in itself sufficient evidence that Muro had +not wasted time. + +They spent the remaining hours of the evening awaiting further news and +it was fully ten o'clock before the sentry to the south reported the +probable approach of Uraso. Harry leaped out from the circle, and +followed the sentry. It was, indeed, Uraso who had been reporter. + +"Tell me all about it," he requested, and Harry, with a voice full of +pathos, told him how it happened. When he had finished, Uraso said: + +"I was told by my father that somewhere here in the seas was an island +where were found most terrible people, who killed every one they +captured. I hope this is not the place." And Uraso did not say this to +excite Harry's fears, but, like many natives, he was frank, and open in +his speech. + +"I hope there will be no trouble," was Harry's response. + +"We need not worry about George," added Uraso. "The way that he was +taken shows that they are taking him to the Chief. A boy like George +would be likely to interest the Chief, at first for a time, and time is +all we want." + +"I am glad you have the same opinion as John," answered Harry. + +John, Muro and Uraso held a conference that night. As a result Harry was +comforted to know and feel that George was safe, and that within a day +or two at most, they would be able to come up with the tribe. + +The entire party now numbered thirty-five, all well armed. In the +morning, as soon as it was light enough to see they were up, and after a +quick breakfast Muro directed them along the trail made the night +before, and the spot where Muro found the trace was reached about nine +o'clock. + +John and his party now spread out so as to take in a wide expanse, and +they marched toward the east for fully two hours. Sometimes all traces +would be lost, and then there would be a halt and a search, and the +native wit of the scouts was generally acute enough to recover the +trail. + +During these periodical searches, one of the men bounded forward with a +cry, as he held up a hand in which something was swinging. + +As usual Harry was there like a shot. "That is George's chain," he cried +out. + +"Where did you find this?" asked John. + +The scout rushed over to the place, and all followed. The ground about +plainly showed the evidences of the struggle where George's captors +fought for the possession of the watch. + +The trail was beginning to get warm. It was readily followed for several +miles, and then disappeared, but after patient hunting it came to light, +and shortly after noon the spot was reached where the Chief came on the +scene, and the appearance of the ground indicated that there must have +been a large number in the party. + +Here was an occasion where one great quality of many savage tribes +stands out so prominently, and that is in determining the number of +their enemies by the foot prints. Hundreds of imprints on the soil, +crossing and recrossing each other, will to the untrained seem a +hopeless riddle. + +On one occasion on Wonder Island, John stated that one of a party they +were trailing, was wounded in one of his legs. The explanation was +simple: The pressure of the foot in the soil was less on the lame than +on the sound leg, and the stride was uneven. + +But the scouts had to decipher the peculiar imprint of each foot, and +then compare it with all the others, in turn. + +"I could tell the difference in the shape of a shoe from another," said +Harry, "but I do not see how it is possible to tell one foot print from +another." + +"How do you distinguish people?" asked John. + +"Well, usually, by their faces." + +"Quite true. Now feet are just as different as faces are. But there are +other ways by which we recognize people." + +"Yes," was the response. "I can tell who many people are at distances so +great that I cannot see their faces." + +"How do you do that?" + +"By the way they walk, by their size, or by some action that seems to be +peculiar to them." + +"The observations are correct," answered John. "At the same time, if all +the men you knew happened to be in a crowd, and moving around among each +other, you would be able to recognize and place each without any +difficulty; is not that true!" + +"Yes; and I think I understand the trend of your remark now." + +"And what is that?" + +"You mean to say that if the scouts are able to read, or to become +acquainted with the foot prints, they can read them as readily as I +would read the faces of my friends." + +"That is the exact inference I wish to draw." + +"Well, I want to see that done," and Harry followed up Uraso, and +watched Muro, and the most intelligent of the scouts, while they +carefully stepped over the ground, each being careful while doing so to +step in the foot marks of the preceding scout. + +"That is a curious thing to do," he remarked, as he turned to John. + +"What is that?" the latter asked. + +"Stepping in the tracks made by the leader." + +"That is for the purpose of keeping the surface of the ground absolutely +the same as the tribe left it." + +"Well the boys seem to understand detective work pretty well." + +All of them laughed at this complimentary allusion, as it must be +understood that all the scouts taken from the island had learned to +speak the English language, and some of them, like Uraso, were +exceptionally skilled. + +When the different ones had gone over the ground thoroughly, John asked +the opinion of the searchers. + +"From my count there must have been twenty-four," remarked Uraso. + +Muro smiled, as he said: "Uraso is mistaken, there are twenty-five." +Uraso was not at all perturbed, but walked over to the surveyed plot and +said: "The most prominent one is the fellow with the spreading toes. +See! here is his left foot. See that broad foot is all around the place. +This broad foot with a toe missing, is another fellow; and here are two +with rather long feet, you can see them all about, and they are, no +doubt, active fellows." + +"Well, that is picking them out plainly enough," remarked Harry. + +"But," continued Uraso, "I want you to look at this foot. It is the +largest I ever saw." + +"I am satisfied that fellow is the Chief," remarked Muro. + +"There is evidence of that here too," said Uraso, as Muro nodded his +head. + +Harry looked on in bewilderment. "Assuredly that is something new. How +do you know _that_?" he asked. + +"The best indication is," said Uraso, "that the fellow with the big feet +does very little walking, and all the other fellows have danced about +him." + +Harry laughed, and was satisfied. "That was certainly clever," he +remarked. "But why shouldn't they be clever. These boys are the finest +and bravest in the world," and Uraso and Muro smiled and were happy at +this encomium of the boy they all loved so much. + +"The last foot I have counted is that little sawed-off sample that has +danced all around the edge; see it here, and here!" + +Muro walked forward, and, stooping down, pointed to the imprint of a +shoe, said: "That is our boy's shoe." + +Uraso laughed, as he admitted neglecting George's presence in the crowd +of prints. "But I have found something else. George has had an interview +with the Chief. He has been making some explanations to the Chief about +his revolver." + +John smiled, and kept his eye on a tree to the right. + +"And how do you know that?" asked Harry. + +Uraso walked over to the tree, after picking up something, and pointed +to a cut-out in the side of the tree. It was the mark of the bullet, and +the circular cut which George had made that John had observed, and which +had been noticed by Uraso and Muro. + +"The scene here looks very promising to me," said John. + +"Yes, it is better and better," remarked Muro. + +"But you haven't told us yet, how you know that George was interviewing +the Chief." + +"Come here and I will show you. Now look closely at the foot prints of +George. Then observe the indications as to the attitude of the Chief. +George goes up to the Chief. They turn around. Here is a shell. Beyond +is the tree where they had the mark, and here are the tracks of the +Chief and George as they go up to the tree." + +Harry was now convinced. It must be said, however, that many of the +marks made were so illy-defined, that it required extraordinary vision +to observe them, and this is what Harry marveled at. + +"What you say only proves the value of minute observation," remarked +John. "Those who are not accustomed to see these things, can not detect +what are very plain markings. Sometimes a slightly torn leaf, under +certain conditions, will tell a story in itself,--just such a +commonplace and ordinary thing as a ruptured leaf." + +The consensus of opinion was that there were fully twenty-five in the +party counting George, and it is remarkable that when the matter was +afterwards investigated it was found that Uraso's count was right. + +There were six in the party which took George, twelve who surrounded the +party before the Chief arrived, and five more were with him when he came +up. + +Another consultation was held. John remarked: "I am of the opinion that +the people who have captured George are not at all bad, or vindictive. +Therefore we must exercise care and not needlessly injure any of them. I +need not say that it is our purpose here to aid the people, to make +friends of them, and not enemies." + +"That is in accordance with our wish," said Uraso, with the approval of +all present. + +"It is perfectly evident that these people, in taking George, did what +most people in a savage condition would do. The great and overshadowing +trait in humanity is to acquire something. It is just possible that the +cartridge belt, or the field glasses, or the buttons on his coat were of +more importance to them than George himself." + +"Then you mean they had to get George to get the buttons," said Harry, +laughing in his relief. + +"Of course," answered John, and Muro laughed aloud, as he recalled his +first experiences with the boys. + +"John has hit upon the very thing which is at the bottom of the whole +business. All we wanted was to get the trinket, and the prisoner +belonged to the Chief." + +"Or to the Krishnos," remarked Muro. + +"Well we might as well go on if we can find the trail," remarked John. + +"Yes, it is plain enough now," answered one of them. + +"But let us exercise caution," remarked John. "Move along slowly and +keep a sharp lookout on our flanks." + +Harry was walking by the side of Uraso. There had always been a warm +friendship between the two. Lolo, Uraso's favorite son, was Harry's age, +and the two were companions, and this was a source of great joy to the +Chief, for Uraso was the head man of the Osagas, and one of the most +progressive of all the prominent men. + +Harry was dangling the chain which had been found in the morning. "I +have been wondering why he dropped this!" he asked. + +"I have an idea that it was lost in the fight for the possession of the +watch." + +"The fight? Why did they have a fight?" + +"Well, the ground where the chain was found looked very much like it." + +"I don't see why the fellows don't agree to divide up things properly +when they get them, instead of scrambling for them in that way!" + +"You can see it is perfectly natural for them to fight for it under the +circumstances. They do not understand anything but power." + +"I should think the loser would be resentful, and try to even it up on +the other fellow," remarked Harry. + +"On the other hand, the moment the stronger fellow wins, that is the end +of the dispute. The best one won. In his creed there is no other +argument. That is the savage's religion. You people have told us +differently. The Professor has often said: 'There is only this +difference between us, with you, might is right; with us right is +might.'" + +"Well, what do you really think about it now?" asked Harry. + +Uraso did not smile, as he remarked somewhat sadly: "It took me a long +time to understand that. How could right be might? At first it looked +foolish, and Muro and I talked it over many times. Then Oma, and Tastoa +and Oroto, the other Chiefs, spoke to me about it. But while I did not +understand it I had faith in the Professor. + +"Then we went to Unity, and built the town, and the people began to go +there, and when we saw the Professor, and the way he treated every one, +never doing a wrong to anybody, we could not believe that he was sane. +But everywhere we went we heard people talking about him, and the way he +acted, and we saw all the white people do the same as the Professor did, +we noticed that no one would dare say a word against the Professor, or +John. + +"We marveled at that. The Professor went out among the people of all the +tribes, and never carried a weapon of any kind. But no one would have +dared to injure him. If a man had even attempted to injure him the +people would have torn him to pieces. Then I understood. Right was and +is _Might_, but it takes a savage a long time to understand it, and he +must learn it from something practical that comes to him in every day +life; he will never know it in any other way." + +Harry walked on in silence. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE GIANT CHIEF AND HIS "PALACE" + + +We must now return to George and see how he fared during the first night +of his captivity. After the Chief had seated himself, and had begun to +examine the articles taken from George, the latter had an opportunity to +examine the surroundings more closely. + +The Chief made no remarks to him, nor did he ask him to be seated. At +the moment he entered the room he noticed the chair. As the Chief did +not pay any attention to him after they entered, George walked over and +deliberately sat down on it. + +The two attendants who carried in the articles, stared at him, and the +women and children, particularly the latter, seemed to be paralyzed at +his attitude seated in the chair. It was covered with dust, an evidence +that it was never used for the purposes of a seat. On reflection, he +thought that must be the reason they looked at him so queerly. + +The Chief, however, gave no indication that his act was a rude or +questionable one. He tried on the cartridge belt, but it was far too +short for his corpulent body, and George could hardly repress a laugh, +as he noticed the attempt to adjust it. + +The field glasses came in for a share of attention, then the silver +match box, and the women craned their heads forward, as it glittered. +The Chief held it off from his eyes, so he could properly view it; just +as George had often seen women do in trying to match articles. + +All the while the Chief was emitting grunts betokening pleasure and +satisfaction. The adjusting screw on the field glass next attracted his +attention. The turning moved the barrels in and out, and this was, in +all probability, the most remarkable thing he ever saw. + +George could stand it no longer. He left his seat, the younger children +shrinking back as he arose, and quietly walked to the Chief, and sat +down in front of him. As he did so he pointed to the match safe which +the Chief held in his left hand. + +The latter did not resist the attempt to take it, but looked on +wonderingly as George pressed the point, and the lid flew open. Then, +taking one of the matches from the receptacle, he held the box in one +hand, exhibited the match in the other, for a moment, and then drew the +match across the box, and ignited it. + +The Chief actually drew in a breath that was audible everywhere in that +neighborhood. He nodded with approval. Harry closed the box and handed +it back; he then directed the Chief's attention to the little point, and +pressed it, when the lid again flew open. + +This time the Chief closed it, and he pressed the point. The success of +the experiment was so great that he eventually called his wife to +witness it, for she came over, while he performed the miraculous thing. + +He took out a match. Its use was just as great a mystery. He was taught +just what to do, and the primitive man sat there and struck the matches, +one after the other, in the greatest delight. What amused George more +than anything else was, that every time a match was struck, he closed +the box, and then opened it before extracting another. + +George noted the imitative quality so marked in all savages. It did not, +apparently, occur to him that he could strike two matches without the +lid flying open in the period intervening the two operations. + +It was now growing dark, and soon an attendant came in with several +curiously-arranged lights, made from some sort of weed or vegetation, +the smoke of which appeared to be most agreeable. From an adjoining +room, an appetizing odor reached George and, staring in that direction, +the Chief noticed the boy's expectant attitude. + +The Chief arose, his mighty frame towering above the rest, and a command +was given. Almost immediately two servitors came through the opening, +one of them carrying a large bowl of the most savory stew. The bowl was +not of native manufacture, and George, observing this, suddenly +remembered what John had said, that the Chief was always sure to get the +best and most valuable parts of the wreckages along the shore, and he +felt sure that this was salvage from some shipwreck. + +The Chief smiled, as the bowl was set before him. It was smoking hot, +and George smiled back as he noticed the friendly look, and saw that the +Chief's wife graciously arranged the accompanying vegetables, although +he had no idea what the latter were. + +A second attendant brought pointed sticks, and two paddle-shaped blades. +The Chief without ceremony dived into the mess and speared a piece of +the meat, and waved it to and fro, to cool it. Here was an opportunity +to follow the example thus set, and George was glad to take the hint. + +He didn't look around to inquire for a plate, nor did he ask for a +napkin. The meat was good, the vegetables appetizing, and the +conversation lagged so much that there was no chance for unseasonable +interruptions during the meal. + +If George had never before that hour witnessed a savage eat, he would +have been mortified at the small amount he himself was capable of +putting away, when he compared the relative amounts consumed. He was of +the opinion, before they began, that the bowl was intended for the whole +family, but the Chief ate all of it, except the small part that George +disposed of in the meantime. + +But he was perfectly content. He ate until he could eat no more, and +then to his extreme disgust, a wooden platter of fruit was set before +them. Bananas were the only things he recognized. A small pear-shaped +fruit attracted him, and then an egg-shaped, brown-colored fruit, with a +sweet, strong perfume, was among the varieties. + +The Chief was graciousness itself, exhibiting not one trait of +selfishness, as he forced the fruit on George. When the Chief had +finished the fruit George was relieved, but uncomfortable. He had eaten +beyond his capacity. The articles containing the food were removed, and +the Chief, who, during this time, was in a reclining position, slowly +sank down, and was soon asleep. + +The family sat around for a time, and then all slowly disappeared and he +could hear the jumble of voices in the adjoining apartment, as they were +undoubtedly engaged in their meal. + +What a peculiar position to be placed in. Alone with the sleeping +savage! Still, he did not seem to be so very savage. There was no one in +sight. He arose and walked toward the opening. Not even a guard +prevented him from leaving. + +He stepped out. He still had his revolver, but that was all. Now was the +time to effect his escape. He turned the corner of the main structure, +and there stood one of the Chief's girls, the one who had attracted +George's attention when he was first ushered into the palace, as George +named the place in his mind. + +As this girl will have an important place in reciting this history, it +may be well to describe her. She was about the height of George, with a +much lighter skin than the majority of those whom he had seen thus far. +Her eyes were large and beautiful, and while her hair, intensely black +and very profuse, was not at all kinky. It should be said that the +savages on the island, like those on Wonder Island, while dark, did not +have curly hair of the Ethiopian, so that they were not of the negroid +type but more nearly allied to the Malay family. + +She smiled, and George, abashed for the moment, went up to her, and she +did not at all shrink from him. Now that he had made the advance he was +at a loss what to do. The only thing that both perfectly understood, was +to smile, and smile they did. + +But why not say something. He tried it, and those great eyes appeared to +open still wider. George turned and waved his hand, and affrighted, +apparently, she darted into the side entrance. The darkness prevented +him from seeing what was there, and he dared not enter. The moon was +shining brightly. + +The desire to escape again took possession of him. But why try to +escape? He felt sure the Chief meant no harm, and then he wandered to +the other side of the building, and there lay the great ocean, the shore +of which was not a thousand feet away. + +He sat down on a log, and pondered and, feeling fatigued from the +unusual efforts of the day, he lay down for a nap. How long he remained +there it was impossible to tell, for when he awoke, he found himself by +the side of the trunk, and near him two of the body guard who +accompanied the Chief the day before. + +He sat up, rubbed his eyes, arose, and without any suggestion or command +on the part of the watchers, marched back to the Chief's palace, and +entered the room to see the latter awake and reclining at his place on +the floor. + +He offered a salutation to George, and the latter smiled and bowed +graciously. One of the attendants touched him on the arm, and he was led +to a room, adjoining the court; but there was no door, by means of which +he could close the room, nor did he discover a window, or anything +suggesting an opening at the other side of the apartment. + +A delightful odor came from some kind of grass which was piled in one +corner. He examined it, and concluded that it had been placed there for +his particular benefit. This was indeed a thoughtful thing on the +Chief's part. They were making a home for him, that was evident. + +But he was too tired to reflect long on these things. Without removing +his clothes he threw himself down on the sweet, clean grass, and he knew +no more until, when the morning sun flooded the court, he could peer +out, and see the family moving to and fro, but the Chief was nowhere in +sight. + +While they had not ventured to tell him what was just the correct thing +to do, he walked out, and then wandered to the open portal at the front. +No one seemed to heed him. He walked down toward the ocean, and saw some +women carrying water in curiously-shaped gourds. + +He followed the path, which led to a spring; delicious, cool and +refreshing. Then he bathed his face, and washed his hands. But he missed +the soap. He had not, however, forgotten the early days on Wonder +Island, when the Professor found the soap tree. + +He glanced around. There, sure enough, was the identical bush, and +breaking off several twigs, the small branches were crushed up together +with the leaves, and with these he returned to the brook and had a good +soap wash. + +This peculiar action was witnessed by some of the women, and the tale +was quickly told, and became current in the village. When George visited +the same spot, the bush had entirely disappeared. + +The Chief had not returned when he went back, but his breakfast was +ready, and the maiden with the great round eyes, and the mother, +evidently, waited on him. + +George looked toward the Chief's place. She understood, and pointed to +the west. He mused awhile. What could she mean! It must not be supposed +that during all this time George was not thinking of Harry, and John, +and the boys who came over with them on this trip. + +They always called each other "boys." All the natives on Wonder Island +were boys to them, and it was amusing to hear them say the word in +return. They were all boys, Uraso, and Muro, as well; all but the +Professor, John and Blakely. + +When George went out after breakfast he was surprised to note the +absence of the men. No one but women and children were about. Then the +truth flashed on him. The Chief had gone out, on hearing of the approach +of John and his party. + +He rushed out toward the western path that led from the village, and he +had not gone three hundred yards before the men, all armed with spears, +came back, with the Chief at their head. All were in consternation. + +George knew what this meant now. He held up his hand as they hurriedly +moved toward him, and pointed to the west. He did this smiling to assure +him of the friendly character of the visit. The Chief stopped. George +moved through the group and beckoned the Chief to follow. + +He hesitated but a moment, and then gave the necessary command. Coming +through the forest beyond were John and the "Boys." When they were still +too far for hailing distance George raised his hat and waved it. + +When John and his party were still a hundred yards away, they stopped at +the unusual sight. Meanwhile George and the Chief moved on. Harry could +not restrain himself, and broke from the party, in his mad rush to +welcome George. + +"Bow, Harry; bow; he is a dandy Chief." + +Harry obediently made a gracious bow, and the Chief acknowledged the +salute. + +All that Harry could say, was: "Oh, George!" + +John and the company came up, and George rushed to John, as he said: "I +have had the nicest time in the world, but I am afraid the Chief does +not know whether you are friends or enemies." + +John turned to the men, and quietly said: "This man is a friend, and we +must treat him as a Chief. All give him a respectful greeting." The +Chief stood still, as all the warriors ranged themselves in front and +all bowed low, to the obvious relief of the savage. + +Then John brought Uraso and Muro forward, and by well timed gestures +indicated to the Chief that they were also Chiefs, and he instantly +showed that he recognized the pantomimic language, and deferentially +bowed, as he had seen George do. + +Uraso stepped forward and went up to the burly form, and pressed his +nose against his nose. Then, he spoke a few words. The Chief looked at +him for a moment, and then answered. Muro was not slow to follow the +example, and he also addressed the Chief. + +When Uraso turned and took John's hand and in a dialect, which both +seemed to understand, he told about John and the boys, the Chief turned +to his men and said a dozen words, which were instantly recognized by +Uraso and Muro. They smiled. + +"What did he say?" asked George. + +"He told them to go to the village and prepare food." + +All but a half dozen of the immediate followers of the Chief turned and +darted back to the village. + +"Do you know the Chief's language?" asked Harry, as Uraso gave way to +Muro. + +"We can understand each other pretty well. There are many words which +are the same, but he uses some which are new to me." + +"Do you suppose they are the same people as are on our island?" + +"I do not know that. We have heard that all the people in the different +islands came from the same place, but where we do not know." + +Then the boys crowded around George, and insisted on having him tell his +story. Did you ever hear a boy tell a thrilling story of his own +adventures? Well George was in his heaven of delight as he told of his +treatment, and how he had dined with the Chief, and slept in his palace. + +"His palace?" queried Harry. + +"Yes, palace! It isn't a common house!" And George dilated on it to such +an extent that Harry actually grew envious at the big time that George +had at their expense. + +The party wended its way down the hill, and when the village was reached +the sight there astounded George. He had left it a sleepy place. Now all +was bustle. Fires were being built; the men and women were busy +preparing food. A species of hog, well known on Wonder Island, was being +prepared and spitted, and hung over the heated coals. + +They saw the favorite native vegetable, the Taro root, and also, to +their surprise, an abundance of Uraso's poison bulb, the Amarylla, which +he had tried to prepare in stealth after he had been captured, and the +telling of which was the occasion of many jokes at the expense of George +and Harry. + +John, the two boys, together with Uraso and Muro, were ushered into the +Chief's house. + +"And this is what you call a 'palace'?" remarked Harry. + +"Why not?" + +"From your description I thought it might be on top of a big hill with +graded steps leading up between rows of flowers, and the rooms filled +with statuary, with a large fountain playing in the center of a fine +banquet hall." + +George laughed at the joke. "The trouble with you is that you are not a +philosopher, Harry. If you had been as well treated as I have been you +would think the same as I do." + +John overheard the conversation, and remarked: "I must say that there is +more philosophy in that view than even you, George, appreciate." + +"Have I said anything unusual?" he asked with a sort of mock gravity. + +"Quite so; have you ever heard the saying 'Handsome is, as handsome +does'? Well, that is the root of all true actions in life. From the +noble manner in which this Chief treated George, giving him the best +that he had, and installing him in the finest room in the house, is +doing all that any one can do." + +"That is the way I really felt about it at the time. I was tired and +hungry, and instead of meeting an enemy, I met a friend." + +"Do you see, Harry? George did right in calling this a palace. If it so +appears in his heart, and he feels that impulse, isn't that just as real +as though you see it with your eyes?" + +"I didn't think of it in that way," said Harry, apologetically. "I like +the old fellow. He is good enough to be a white man." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +PECULIARITIES OF THE NATIVE TRIBE + + +Within an hour the feast was ready, and the men in the open were already +making merry with the maidens who prepared the meal. George and Harry +frequently nudged each other, as they caught the eyes of some of the +native boys who were very attentive to the gentler sex. + +Within the Chief's dwelling there was the most animated conversation +indulged in by the Chief, Uraso and John, and to this number were added +the Chief's brother, and a handsome man who was probably one of the +Chief's principal advisors. Muro and Uraso were the interpreters. + +The latter, by turns, told the Chief where they sailed from, and what +their history had been for the past three years. They told about the +wonderful Professor, and all concerning John, and what part the two boys +had taken in the transformation of the island. + +"But where is this wonderful ship?" asked the Chief. + +"On the other side of the island," answered Uraso. + +"Then why do you not bring it here?" + +"We should have done so, but we did not know we had a friend here." + +"I want to see the wonderful place you have told me about,--your home, +and how you make people happy," said the Chief. + +John's face lit up when this was interpreted to him. + +"What do your people work at?" the Chief abruptly asked Muro. + +"We make many curious things, like the articles you have here," and he +pointed to George's belongings, which were still lying about. + +The Chief hurriedly gathered them up and handed them to George. The +latter, after turning to John, refused to take them, and addressing +Uraso, said: "Tell him that I want him to take them, and my gun, as +well." + +The Chief could not understand this, and at first refused, but John, as +well as Uraso, insisted, and the latter said: + +"These boys can make these things, and they do not feel that they are +sacrificing anything, beyond what it is their duty to do." + +The Chief looked doubtfully at the boys, as he remarked: "Do you tell me +that these _memees_, (Boys) made these things?" + +Uraso and Muro both assured them that such was the case, and added: "And +still more wonderful things." + +After some conversation Uraso turned to John and said: "The Chief wishes +to send a runner to bring the ship to the harbor here. Hasmo may +accompany him." + +This arrangement had John's approval, and when Hasmo was advised of the +mission, he jumped up with delight, and, together with the Chief's +fleetest messenger, speeded off to make the intervening twenty-five +miles. + +It was not much of a task for the two men. In less than four hours, +Sutoto saw two men on the shore, one of them waving a signal that he +understood. A boat was put off, and when the runners came aboard, and +the news imparted, all on board sprang to their places, the anchor was +hurriedly taken up, and the _Pioneer_ soon rounded the point, while they +all eagerly scanned the shore. + +The Chief and his visitors remained in the "palace" for three hours, +while the latter told and retold the stories which so much interested +the chieftain. Then John began to question him upon matters that more +nearly concerned their visit. + +"Ask him," he said, "if they have any Krishnos here?" + +"He does not know what they are," answered Muro. + +"Does he believe in a Great Spirit?" + +"No he has never heard anything of that kind." + +"Ask him if he knows who makes the rain and the sunshine, and the +clouds." + +"He says that the questions are surprising to him." + +"Has he never thought of those things?" + +"No; all he knows is that he lives and that he is a Chief and is the one +who must govern the people." + +"Does he know why he is the Chief?" + +"Yes; because he is stronger than any one else." + +"That would certainly make him a Chief," remarked Harry. "I never saw +such a big man." + +"Do they have any big holes in the ground!" + +When the question was asked he waited a moment, and then slowly shook +his head. + +"They have nothing of that kind to his knowledge." + +The countenances of Harry and George fell. John noticed it, and smiled +at the disappointment. + +"There are no caves around here," said George. + +"Are there any mountains on the island?" + +"There are high hills." + +"Have they any neighbors, or different tribes?" + +"Yes; to the north, (pointing in that direction) are some bad people, +but they belong to him." + +"Why do they not live near to the village!" + +"Because they would make the people bad." + +"What did they do that was so bad?" + +"They stole and lied." + +"From whom did they steal?" + +"From the Chief." + +"Did they steal from each other?" + +"No; they could not steal from each other." + +At this remark the boys laughed. John began to be interested now in his +questionings. + +"Do you mean it is not wrong to steal from each other, but only from the +Chief?" + +He nodded an assent. This was a curious bit of reasoning. It needed +some explanation. John continued: + +"Why is it wrong to steal from the Chief and not from each other?" + +At this question the Chief did not answer as promptly as usual. He +weighed the question in his mind. He smiled as though to say: How can it +be wrong for people to take things from each other? They do not own +anything. No one but the Chief owns things. + +His answer, when finally given, was not at all clear, at least so the +boys thought. + +"The Chief in his wisdom gives to all alike; and when he gives it the +property still belongs to him and not the people; but if they take it +from the Chief then they are robbers." + +"Ask him," said John, "whether, if when he gives anything to one of his +people, and it still belongs to him, after he gives it, why it is not +stealing from him, if some one takes it away from the one he gave it +to?" + +The Chief was not at all taken aback at this question. Pointing to the +sun, he said: + +"That is a great Chief. He gives seed to the people, and they plant it. +But the great Chief does not forget it. The seed comes up to see its +father. It still belongs to him. When he gives that seed to the people +it is for their use. Every one has a right to take it and use it, and it +is no crime. But if he takes it away from the Chief, he destroys what +belongs to him, and he then does a wrong which must be punished." + +"This may not be very clear to you," said John, "but it means that +whoever takes it away and destroys it wilfully, is guilty of a crime. +Whatever the Great Chief gives willingly, like the fruits of the earth, +is intended for all alike, and men should not be called criminals for +taking what they need, if they do not wilfully destroy it." + +"That is a wonderful idea, when I come to think of it," remarked George. +"And to think that a savage could work that out in his mind." + +"But there is one thing that looks a little queer to me. He said he did +not know or believe in a Great Spirit, and yet he talks of the sun as a +Great Spirit," remarked Harry. + +"I will put the question to him," said John. "You said that you did not +believe in a Great Spirit, but now you speak about the sun as a Great +Chief. Do you not believe in him?" + +"No; I only know that he is there; I do not believe in him any more than +in the carago (moon)." + +A great noise was heard outside; the Chief looked up, as an attendant +entered. He spoke to Uraso, and the latter turned to John and said: + +"Our ship is coming." + +This announcement broke up the interview. It was exciting and +interesting from first to last, and when they emerged from the dwelling +the host and visitors were friends that the future never could sever. It +gave a new inspiration to the boys, and it showed them that even a low +state of man was capable of expressing things that were worthy of +consideration. + +The entire village went to the seashore. The inhabitants wondered at the +great vessel, and were impressed at the manner in which it was handled. + +"I am anxious to see the man who can row such a vessel," said the Chief. + +"He is one of the men from our island," answered Muro. + +This seemed to be an astonishing thing to him. He had seen vessels +before, but in the distance. At long intervals parts of ships had come +ashore; but this was the first time that a vessel had ever landed, +within his recollection. + +As it drew near he marveled at its size. He could see the man at the +bow-sprit who was constantly throwing something attached to a line +overboard, and then drawing it in again. + +He questioned the reason for such a strange action, and was told that +the man was trying the depth of the water, so that they might not come +too close to the shore, and strike the bottom. Then some of the sailors +dropped something overboard, with a great splash, and a huge sail fell +down like magic, and the ship still moved toward the shore and turned +around. + +The Chief was inquisitive concerning every action. Why did the ship act +like a human and turn around? He could hardly believe the statement when +told that the anchor was a giant claw, and that when it reached the +bottom it took hold and had sufficient strength to stop the ship and +make it swing around, as he had witnessed. + +A boat was lowered, and the last one to descend was Sutoto. Uraso +pointed out his figure, and the Chief kept his eyes on him. The first +man to leave the boat was Sutoto, and both boys rushed down to meet him. +It was the course they always pursued, to be in the lead to welcome +anyone. + +They led him to the Chief, and he put his great arms about Sutoto, to +the latter's great embarrassment. But what affected Sutoto more than +anything else, were the eyes of the Chief's daughter, who had acted so +shyly to George the night before. From that moment Sutoto saw no one +else, and she,--well, Harry and George laughed, and slyly caressed +Sutoto, as they saw her admiring glances. + +Sutoto was the handsomest native on Wonder Island. He was the brave and +fleet runner who undertook the mission to pass through the three savage +tribes to carry a message, written on a plaintain leaf by the Professor, +to John and the boys while they were surrounded by the hostiles. + +The friendship between him and the boys grew stronger and better from +that day on. The tribute to him was one which the boys enjoyed for his +sake, and because he deserved it. + +There was a feast that night, unparalleled in the knowledge of the boys. +It was like going to a new world, and meeting new people. Only one +little thing seemed to mar the joyous occasion for the boys for a time. +When they were returning from the beach, they saw three of the natives, +together with their wives and children, with their hands bound, and in +charge of a half dozen warriors. + +George recognized the three as his captors. Then was impressed upon him +the fact that they were about to pay the penalty for stealing his things +and hiding the theft from the Chief. They were to be exiled to the place +where the bad people lived. + +George hurriedly told Uraso the story of the theft, and begged him to +intercede with the Chief. Instantly, when he learned that George +requested it, he turned to Uraso, and said: "He may release them." + +He rushed up to the now bewildered culprits, in order to sever the +bonds, and then recalling that he had given his knife to the Chief, he +called to Harry, and together they freed the limbs of the captives and +the Chief, with a few words of admonition, dismissed them. The boys +never forgot the grateful looks that came from the men and their wives. + +When they had departed Muro said: "Under their law the women and +children of the culprits are criminals also, and so they were doomed to +go together." + +It would be a difficult matter to describe the food prepared and eaten +at this banquet. Several varieties of fowl, all wild types, and the wild +boar, as well as the 'possum, provided the meats. Of course taro and +amarylla were the chief vegetables; and of nuts, the well known Brazil +species was found everywhere, and to be seen in all dwellings. + +The outer portion of the shell of the Brazil nut formed bowls and cups, +which the boys early learned to utilize. There were bananas, a species +of fig, and loquats. + +"What surprises me is that they have no fish, or sea food of any kind," +observed Harry. + +John mused for a while, and then said: "It is likely that the people +here have the same aversion to fish as some natives along the Australian +continent, and in the islands near there." + +"What is that?" asked George. + +"The natives of New Guinea, for instance, worship snakes, lizards, +sharks and crocodiles, and there is a strict law among them not to +injure anything, of that kind. As a result, they are afraid to eat +anything that approaches the shape of these animals." + +"Well, if they worship the snakes they must have some kind of religion," +ventured Harry. + +"Yes; and with them go the witch doctors who practice on the people and +charge fees just the same as the physicians do in our country." + +"Do they claim there is a Great Spirit, like some of the people here!" + +"No; they have a God called Baigona, who lives in the mountains, and +instead of being a good God, is a bad one; he has the power to speak +without being heard, to strike without being seen, and he loves and +hates, just like human beings. He gives the witch doctor the power to do +anything, without being wrong, and without being liable to punishment." + +"Well, that is a pretty convenient God to have," said Harry, as he mused +at the idea. + +The peculiar thing about the absence of sea food at the banquet could +not be understood, particularly as the natives on Wonder Island were +great fish eaters, and were also the bitter enemies of snakes. + +"We must consult the Chief about that," said John. + +At the first opportunity the subject was brought up, and it was +discovered that the people were afraid to eat anything that came from +the sea. And then another thing was learned. There were no rivers of any +consequence on the island; only a few streams, that were dry most of the +year. + +"I can understand," said John, "that in such a case you do not have +fresh water fish." + +The Chief was, in many respects, a remarkable character. Most natives +are extremely superstitious, and it is particularly true of those who +have a belief in some form of God. While he would marvel at new things +they did not occur to him as being the result of some new occult force. + +In this respect he differed from the natives of Wonder Island, all of +whom believed, more or less, in the tales of the Medicine Men, and of +the witch doctors. Old Suros, of the Berees tribe, was the only one who +did not believe in the existence of a being who could rule him. + +But the Chief had other qualities which were remarkable in a savage, if +such he was. He governed according to some law, and yet he did not know +what law was. The only thing in that community was the will of that one +man. + +If he said something, in adjusting any matter, it was always remembered +by the people, and that ruling became a guide for them in the future. +Take, for instance, the theft of the articles from George. The three who +participated in it, knew that it was not wrong, according to the light +they had, to take it from George. + +Indeed, the Chief had distinctly said that they could not steal from +each other, but only from him, hence the theft of the articles which +George owned was not a crime. On what ground, then, were they guilty? + +George thought he had solved the problem, when discussing the matter +with John. "The Chief found them guilty of trying to hide what they had +done, and they were caught at it." + +"But the Chief was not covetous. He admitted he did not care for the +things, and one of the men told Muro that the Chief never took things +from his people without paying for them." + +"Well, then, he punished them for trying to deceive him." + +"There, that is one of the crimes which the Chief referred to. I think +he is a wonderful character, and I hope we shall be able to unite him +with us." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +SUTOTO AND THE CHIEF'S DAUGHTER + + +It was plain that Sutoto was not the same being. During the three days +they remained at the port, and formed the exploring expeditions into the +interior, with the co-operation of the Chief, Sutoto did not take a +part. + +He begged to be allowed to remain near the ship. That was a sly +suggestion which John understood. Even though he might have been blind +he would have known the true reason, for the boys were continuously +joking Sutoto all of which he took good-naturedly, and John often burst +out in fits of laughter, as he witnessed Sutoto's discomfiture. + +The Chief's name was Beralsee, and the big-eyed maiden was known as +Cinda, the meaning of which was, as explained by Beralsee, the Beautiful +Star. The Chief had four other children, one a man of twenty-one, and +the others younger than Cinda. + +The eldest, Calmo, was tall and lithe, like Sutoto. Like his father he +was original in his ways, and to him the Chief entrusted the care of the +expeditions which were made at the suggestion of John. The latter +explained that they had seen the wonderful products growing on the +island, coffee, cocoa, spices, and particularly the various fibres. + +The recital of the tales, of how the white man used these things to +make the various needed articles, and how the great ships were employed +to carry the goods to and fro, and how the different things were +exchanged, interested him. + +Many of the subjects were not within his comprehension. Why were all +these things done? What was the object of having so many products? + +John told him that when men had everything they really needed to keep +them alive and in comfort, they still wanted something more, and those +things were called luxuries; then, after they and their children used +these luxuries for a while, they found them to be absolutely essential +and they then became necessaries. In that way men learned the use of so +many, many things, that the whole world was being searched to find +products which would serve to make the needed things. + +"Do you mean," said the Chief, "that your people are trying to find +things they do not need, so they can buy them, and try to make some use +of them?" + +John could not help but smile at the acuteness of the question. "That, +in effect, is just what they do. It is not so considered, however, by +our people. It is difficult to say just where necessity ends and luxury +begins. But each year, yes every month, new things are brought out, and +people begin to buy them, because the traders and the people who sell +are shrewd and know how to cultivate taste and the desire for new and +startling things." + +"But how do the people get the articles to exchange for these things?" + +"The people do not accumulate articles to buy other articles with. +Instead, they work to get money, and with this money they buy the +things." + +"I do not know what you mean by that. What is 'money'?" + +"It is an article which tells what everything else is worth." + +"Then it must be wonderful. I would like to see that remarkable thing +which can tell what everything else is worth." + +John took some of the coins from his pocket. "Here is some of it, which +we use on Wonder Island." + +The Chief smiled. He held them in his hand. He knew the meaning of the +hole in the center. They were intended, as he thought, to be threaded on +a string, and used as an ornament. + +They fascinated him. He had never seen anything so attractive. He looked +at John, while he thought, but did not speak. Then John said: "This is +worth one cent, and this larger one five cents." + +He compared the two. Finally, he said: "What makes this worth so much +more than the other, and why are they worth anything?" + +"Because there is so much metal,--so much copper, in each." + +"But copper is of no use. I cannot eat it, and it will not clothe me." + +"No, but if you have this money then you can get the clothes, and the +size of them will tell just how much clothing you can get." + +"I do not understand it. Where can I go and get clothing with these +round pieces!" + +"You must go where the clothing is, or the goods must be brought to +you." + +"Well, if we are here, at a place where there should be no clothing, or +no food, this _money_, as you call it, would not enable me to clothe or +feed myself?" + +"Assuredly not." + +"Then it has no value?" + +"No; it merely measures the value of something which I can eat or wear, +or use." + +"Then why not use a taro root, or a fowl, or wisps of fibre?" + +"That would be all right, if we could have a common understanding +between us of how much a taro bulb was worth by the side of a bundle of +fibre, and how large the bundle should be to exchange fairly with an +armful of Amarylla tubers." + +On the third day the boys, together with John, a party of the boys, and +three natives under the lead of Calmo, started for the northern end of +the island. John had now learned that the island was entirely unlike the +Wonder Island formation. + +The latter was fairly circular in form, whereas the one they were now +about to explore was narrow and long. That part of the southern portion +which they had carefully examined, in order to learn its agricultural +possibilities, was rolling, and in many places had level plateaus, not +anywhere at a greater altitude than three or four hundred feet above sea +level. + +There was higher ground to the north, where the climate was uninviting, +so Beralsee said, and it was for that reason they made it a convict +colony. + +John was anxious to see the people who were exiled from their homes on +account of their crimes. Furthermore, he was impressed with the idea +that the upper end showed volcanic upheavals, which would be likely to +expose mineral formations. + +Gruesome tales were current of the ferocity of the convicts. It was no +wonder that the poor victims, whom George had prevented from being +expelled several days before, regarded their deliverance as such a great +blessing. + +No one, once condemned, was ever permitted to come back. The +condemnation was for all time. Furthermore, it was part of the Chief's +unwritten code, that no one who transgressed the law could ever make +atonement, or recover his rights. + +To be able to meet people so condemned, and to talk with them and get +their views, was worth an exertion, surely, and Harry and George were +just as enthusiastic at the prospects of the journey. + +"That may be some recompense for not finding any caves," said George. + +Harry laughed, as he looked at George. "To hear you talk people might +think you had caves on the brain." + +"Well the caves are the only thing that we have had in the way of sport. +And then the treasures!" + +"I know that; but I shall not be disappointed if there isn't a cave +within five hundred miles." + +"Nor I; but John is very anxious, for some reason, to find some +particular cave. I'll bet anything that skull we found on the southeast +peak of Wonder Island has something to do with it, judging by the way he +is caring for the skull, and spending hours in examining it." + +"I had forgotten about that," responded Harry. "That brings back my +interest, now. But John does not think there are any caves on this +island, but he believes that there is another island farther south." + +"Is that so!" + +"I am sure of it." + +"How sure?" + +"Well, the chart which John made has this island on it, and a mark which +shows something like it directly to the south. I saw that several days +ago." + +"When did he make the drawing?" + +"Since he has been on this island." + +Harry emitted a low whistle. "I thought John had something in his mind +all along. What do you suppose he expects to find in that particular +cave?" + +"Well, not money; that's sure. It might be a good idea to do some +thinking and searching on our own account." + +"I have often wondered, since we have been on Wonder Island, and more +particularly, since we landed here, whether it would not be possible to +trace some of the unsolved mysteries of Wonder Island to this, or some +other island." + +"Yes, I have often thought of that. We have gone over every part of that +island, and found no trace of the other boat load, that is of the boys +who came ashore on the _Investigator's_ No. 3. None of the tribes ever +knew or heard of that boat, nor was there ever a trace of the members of +that crew. + +"That is the mystery. Some one brought the boat to the island. Some one +took it inland. Some one, a man by the name of Walter, wrote a note +addressed to Wright, who was one of the companions of John when he was +shipwrecked, but Wright knew nothing of Walter. If the solution of this +matter does not lie in some other island, we might as well give it up." + +Before describing the events of the journey it is necessary to make a +digression, so that we may be able to recount some things which had a +bearing on the adventures and experiences of the two boys after they +returned. + +The natives on Wonder Island, as well as on the island where they now +were, wore the most primitive kinds of clothing. The men had the +simplest clothing, merely a breech clout, worn about the loins, and the +Chiefs usually wore some distinguishing clothing about their shoulders, +and usually on their arms. + +The women, however, had short skirts, and like their white sisters, +abounded in ornaments. Some of them had jackets, to which the trinkets +were attached. All delighted in bracelets. These were usually formed +like bands around their arms and limbs, and the wealth and importance of +the dame was judged from the number so employed. + +As a result, when they became great and wealthy, more and more clothing +had to be used, to enable them to attach the ornaments. It might be +said, that clothing was worn, not for the purpose of covering the body, +or for comfort, but in order to serve as a vehicle to attach the much +desired trinkets, and the dangling character of these articles seemed to +be the great attraction. + +For this reason bright and sparkling bits of jewelry were the most +sought. It mattered not what they were made of, but the glistening +surface had its value to them. Singularly enough, the women on the new +island strove to decorate themselves in like manner, and presumably, for +the same purpose. + +When the savages in Wonder Island were brought out of their crude state, +the Professor and George knew that they could not change that +fundamental law of nature, nor did they attempt to work a revolution in +the minds and characters of the people in this respect. + +Within certain limitations such a desire to ornament and render +themselves attractive is most laudable. They knew that among the few +peoples in the world, where that quality is entirely lacking, they are +of the lowest type, and possessed of the least intellect, and that all +such are the hardest to cultivate. + +Here, as on Wonder Island, the natives understood weaving, the fabrics +being of the coarsest character, both in the matter of quality and +appearance. The work was necessarily slow and tedious, and the principal +work of the women was to weave these articles of wear with the simple +tools they had. + +When the boys built the looms, and the natives saw the wonderful goods +produced, and the dyes prepared to give the fabrics the different hues, +the women became most expert weavers, and the natural result was that +they vied with each other to make the best articles, and to form them +into the most fashionable garments. + +When the _Pioneer_, and later their new steamer, _Wonder_, which was now +regularly running to one of the great seaports, began to bring in such +products as they could not make in the islands, a new impetus was given +to the dress designed for women. + +Before the boys left for Wonder Island, that place attracted immigrants +from the north; they brought their families, and began to engage in the +business of exporting the fruits and the fibres, as well as the ores and +the dyes from the island. From the white women the native women learned +the new art of dressing, and of adornment. + +Their coming was not needed to give them the desire, but they were not +slow to recognize that their fair-skinned sisters could teach them the +refining process. + +Muro's wife was the sister of Uraso, the latter a man of naturally +strong intellect, and his sister was not behind him in her particular +domain. She was at all times the leading spirit in the development of +her people, and to her the Professor imparted many of the great secrets, +that might be of service. + +Stut, the brother of Muro, was second in command of the vessel, and +before they left on the mission into the interior, John called in Stut, +and in presence of the boys imparted a scheme that met with hearty +approval. + +It was now an open secret that Sutoto and Cinda were in love. If the +Chief knew of it he did not exhibit any alarm, or offer any objections. +John knew that courtships on the islands were not usually of long +duration. He thought it would be a fine thing to make the wedding a +"state affair." + +"Now, Stut, I want to entrust you with a mission to the Professor and +Muro's wife, to whom you can explain the situation. She must prepare a +suitable outfit for the bride, and tell her I think she and the other +women that she might choose should also come over. They must not forget +to bring the proper costumes for Cinda's mother and for all the +attendants. + +"The Professor will know what is suitable to send over for the Chief. +All this will take some time to arrange, and it must be done without +letting Sutoto know. I will arrange the matter with him so that he will +not suspect your real mission. + +"Our work at the northern part of the island will take about ten days, +and probably less. If you have no trouble, and this time of the year is +not a stormy one, you can easily make the trip there in a day and a +half, and return in the same time, thus giving you a full week to +prepare the articles." + +Stut was in raptures at the announcement. John knew that he was capable, +and trusted him. Shortly afterwards Sutoto was sent for, and John said: +"It is necessary for the _Pioneer_ to return to Wonder Island to get +some things of importance for us. It would please me better to have you +remain, and Stut can take your place for the trip; but if you prefer to +go, it will be satisfactory." + +Sutoto hesitated for a moment. He eyed John for a moment, and the boys +begged him to remain. They knew, as did John, that their entreaties were +not necessary. Finally, with a most suspicious glance, he consented to +stay. Stut was notified, and he came in. + +"Stut, I have some very valuable papers which must be delivered to the +Professor, who will send some things back, and I have arranged with +Sutoto that he shall remain and help us in our investigations here, +while you sail the _Pioneer_ to Unity." + +Stut looked at Sutoto for a moment, as though taken by surprise, and +announced his willingness to go. "Then start at once," remarked John, +"and return as soon as possible." + +Sutoto called Stut aside, after they left John. "Will you get some +things for me?" he asked. + +"Certainly, what can I do for you?" + +Then Sutoto imparted the secret of his coming marriage to Stut, and the +latter with well concealed surprise, promised secrecy, and assured him +that he would get the clothing necessary and the particular presents +that seemed to be of more importance to him than his garments. + +Within two hours the ship was ready, and as they were leaving the vessel +Stut told the boys of the commission which he had undertaken at Sutoto's +request. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE SKELETON BENEATH THE BOAT + + +The present journey reminded the boys of the time when they began their +wanderings in the unknown wilds of their own island. Then they were +inexperienced, lacking the most ordinary knowledge of life in the open, +afraid of slightest noise when in unknown places, and constantly fearing +attack by wild men or beasts. + +What a difference now! They had been successful, and had abundant +treasures at their command. Something told them that they were to find +still greater treasures, and the zest was one beyond expression. + +The course was directed due north. The boys knew that they were to +investigate the mountains, the hills and the streams. They were to learn +what fruits and vegetation might be found in their native state on the +island; the kinds and varieties of animals, and the qualities of the +minerals, if the geological formations offered them for inspection. + +From the first day that they landed, the boys had heard a peculiar +guttural sound, impossible to describe. The sound was almost annoying +after they had heard it for a time. Passing the limb of a tree during +the first hour of the march they heard the same cry. + +"I see what it is," remarked George. "It is a bird. See it on that +limb?" + +John looked, and then turned to George. "Why certainly, that is the +Kagu." + +"Why its bill and feet are red, while the rest of the body is gray. What +a funny feather it has running back from its head!" + +Harry laughed, as he remarked: "I wonder if our women took their hat +fashions from the Kagu?" + +[Illustration: _Fig. 8. The Kagu._] + +"You have made a correct observation. Some species of the hornbill have +feathers which project up into the air like sentinels, and the same +feathers are used in exactly the same fashion by makers of millinery. +Now, I am not an authority on the fashions, but I have often thought +that if the leaders in styles would build those wonderful head +decorations something like the patterns furnished by nature they would +be more beautiful and becoming." + +"I wonder if it has only one leg?" + +John laughed. "I imagine it has two. It is the custom of many birds of +this species to stand for hours on one leg. It is of the same family as +the stork, the heron and the ibis." + +"Why don't we see more animals?" + +"The island is not, probably, large enough. These small islands have +only the smallest kinds. Besides, the larger animals are found where the +nature of the country permits them to conceal themselves." + +George stopped before a large bush which had rows of yellow flowers +growing up all along the stems, and at each flower was a seed. + +"Ah! you have found a most valuable plant," said John, as he broke off +one of the stems. "Feel the crushed leaves." + +"It is just like grease." + +"It is an oil. It is one of the products largely used in the United +States, as a substitute for olive oil, and for soap making." + +"What is it called?" + +"The plant is known as Benne. The product is Sesame oil. The peculiarity +of the plant is that nearly one-half of the leaf is a pure oil, and it +can remain exposed a long time before it turns rancid." + +"I wonder if that is what they use in their cooking!" + +"Yes; it is absolutely inodorous, and is better than lard for table +uses. Look at the seeds. They are classed with the most nutritious in +the world." + +"The Chief had them, and I tried some of them the first night I dined +with him." + +The route led to an upper plateau, well wooded, many of the trees being +of the palm variety, with plenty of silver-leafed families so common +everywhere. + +"Do look at the Coffee trees?" exclaimed Harry. + +The Chief's son was consulted. He had no knowledge of the use of the +berry. "We must take a lot of the berries back with us. This will be a +treat at the celebration." John stopped short, and the boys commenced to +laugh. He had almost given away the scheme for the wedding feast. Sutoto +did not catch the force of the allusion. + +George and Harry were now on the quest for new things in every +direction, and the natives aided them in carrying out their every wish. +After they had reached a small stream flowing to the north it became +evident that they had passed the highest point of the plateau, and were +now descending. + +[Illustration: _Fig. 9. Sesame Oil Plant. The Benne._] + +One of the natives pointed out a peculiarly-shaped tree, tall, with +immense leaves, and at each leaf cluster there was an immense white +flower. + +"Here is a tree with yellow flowers. We must have some of these as +specimens," said Harry. + +The trees were exceedingly tall. "The men are asking if you want some of +the flowers," said Sutoto. + +"By all means," answered George. Without a moment's hesitation a young +athlete made his way to the top, and gathered a dozen branches, which he +dropped to the ground. + +The beauty of these flowers is difficult to describe. The tree body is +perfectly straight, and the limbs grow out uniformly on three sides, the +leaves being very rough. + +"This is a species which belongs to the Indicus family," remarked John, +as he cut off one of the leaves. "It would be a good tree for carpenters +to raise." + +[Illustration: _Fig. 10. Flower of Indica Tree._] + +"Why so?" asked George. + +"You see it is just like sand-paper." + +"Well, that is something to know. But will it really smooth down wood?" + +"It is frequently used for that purpose, and you might take some along +and try it." + +At intervals John was observed taking up bits of soil, which he +carefully wrapped up and deposited in one of the receptacles. + +"I am curious to know what you are taking dirt for?" said Harry. + +"I should have told you that a knowledge of the nature of the soil is +one of the things that is very important to the agriculturist. Many men +have made failures because they planted things which the earth was not +adapted to grow." + +"It has always been a wonder to me why things really do grow up out of +the dirt," said Harry. + +"That is not difficult to understand, if you will consider that the +ground contains food, and that a plant can grow only where it can get +the right kind. Then, there may be plenty of food but not the kind it +can digest." + +"Well, that is news to me. Do plants digest food?" + +"Yes, just the same as what we call living animals. The tree is somewhat +different from animals, in the particular that it digests its food first +and then consumes it afterwards. In this particular certain larvae act +the same as trees, that is digest it before they consume it." + +"What do you mean by larva?" + +"The early form of certain living organisms, before they are fully +developed. Thus, the tadpole is the larva of the frog. A great many +insects are bred from what are called grubs, or caterpillars. All these +are called larva." + +"What kind of food is found in the earth?" + +"Many, many kinds. Carbon, nitrogen, the various salts, such as lime, +magnesia, strontia, and the like, and when the little feelers shoot out +from the roots, they are in search of something to eat." + +At this point they were interrupted by shouting and laughter from one +section of the searching party, and the boys ran out across the open to +learn its cause. Two of the natives were carrying a dark brown object, +about half the size of an ordinary hog. + +It was kicking vigorously, but did not appear to be at all vicious. + +"Why, it looks just like a little bear," said George as he danced about. +"Let us keep it for a pet." + +"It is a bear," said John. "It is the Bruang, or the sun-bear of the +Malayan peninsula." + +"But doesn't it grow any bigger?" + +"No; that is a full size specimen; in fact, it is a pretty large +specimen, I should judge." + +"What beautiful fur, and so soft! Will it bite?" + +"I am of the opinion they can bite, but they are easily tamed and make +great pets. Hasn't it a fine white spot on its breast?" + +The men stood about and allowed it to move about within the circle. It +cast its eyes around, as much as to say: "Well, what are you going to do +about it?" + +George cried out: "Hold it for a minute," and he pounced on one of the +provision bags, and brought out a pot of honey. He forced his way in +among the watchers, and with a stick dipped into the honey held it up +before the animal. + +It smelled the honey, and began to lick the stick, and then it darted +for the pot. "What a tongue," exclaimed Harry. + +"That is what they are noted for. The tongue is made for the very +purpose of going into deep holes, and the greatest use is to rob the +hives of the wild honey bee." + +[Illustration: _Fig. 11. Bruang. The Malayan Bear._] + +The antics of George and the bear were most amusing to the watchers, and +occasioned roars of laughter. When the pot was emptied he wanted more, +and nosed around George until the latter could hardly keep his feet. + +"He is getting to be a mighty close friend," said John, when he could +find time to stop laughing for a moment. + +"Well, don't let him get away," cried George, as he saw the cordon +around the animal broken up, leaving plenty of opening for it to get +away. + +But, of course, the natives didn't understand him, and soon Mr. Bear had +all the opportunity in the world to go home. But he didn't. He walked +alongside of George, and the latter liked to stroke his soft fur, to +which no objection was offered. + +The bear followed and was by his side every minute of the time for the +next hour, and while they sat down to lunch little Sunny, as George +named him, was at the feast. He had samples of everything in sight, and +the menu tasted good, from honey at the beginning of the repast, to +honey at the end of it. + + * * * * * + +The progress was necessarily slow, because there were so many things to +examine and to make notes of. They went out of the way from the direct +route, so as to cover as wide an area as possible. Before camping for +the night they had ascended a slight elevation, and there, to the right +and to the left they saw the wide stretches of the great ocean. + +Directly ahead was a narrow tongue of land, leading to a broadening +area, and off in the dim distance was a high point. The Chief's son +pointed there and said: + +"On the other side of that high place is where the bad people live." + +"That must be a long way off," said John. When this was interpreted he +answered: "Another day's march." + +The gentle breeze from the eastern shore was a great relief. + +They had marched during the day mostly through forests, and everywhere +the atmosphere was close and still, so that the open space was +appreciated. + +All slept soundly that night, and morning came only too soon for the +wearied boys, but they enjoyed the trip too much to delay moving at the +earliest opportunity. While breakfast was being prepared the boys +sauntered over to the sloping shore to the west, which was not more than +a half mile away. + +They enjoyed walking along the pure white sand, and after disrobing had +a jolly time in the mildly moving surf. It was not often that they had +opportunities to take a sea bath. + +The bathing place was a deeply-indented bay, with a long sloping +beach,--an ideal spot, with the camp plainly visible to the east. "Why +not take a stroll to the southern end of the bay?" remarked Harry, after +they were ready to return. "We might be able to see the headland to the +south where we first sighted land." + +"Well, then, here goes it," and George started on a strong sprint to the +south. + +Harry was by far the fleeter, and reached the tufted grass ahead of +George, and then turned to the right, to gain the elevation. It was +while thus moving through the brush and debris, which was far above the +normal level of the sea, that they were attracted by an unusual deposit +of brush, and other accumulations. + +"Stop, Harry; here is something we ought to investigate." + +Harry turned and came back. In the early days of their investigation +such a mass would have meant diligent search. It was more from a +recurrence of the old habit that dictated the idea to George. + +It was well they did so, for not far from the top, and covered over with +seaweed and leaves, was a boxlike structure, evidently some part of a +wreckage. They worked feverishly at the surrounding mass, and uncovered +it. + +Harry started back. "Do you know what this is?" he asked. George stooped +over, and stared. + +"It is part of the boat which was taken from South River." + +When that boat disappeared, only to be found miles away from its +original location, the two boxlike compartments which they had made in +it, and the oars used by them, had been taken away, and instead they +found entirely different oars, and a rope, of which they knew nothing. + +Here was one of the boxes. "Let's open it," said George in the most +intense tone. That was easily done, and there they found, to their +surprise, one of their original shell hatchets, part of a coarsely-woven +cloth, which they recognized as one of their early productions on the +first loom, and a dozen or more gourds, in which food had been placed, +and all exactly as it had been stored away by them. The food had +disappeared, of course, but it had been lost by the action of the sea, +and decomposition, as it was evident that the contents had not been +disturbed by any one. + +"Let us call John," said Harry, and he bounded up the beach, and ran +over the crest, waving his arms as he did so. He had not gone half the +distance before those at the camp saw Harry running, and John, and most +of those in sight started on a run, George meanwhile industriously +dragging away the debris. + +"We have found it," cried Harry, as John came within hailing distance, +and without waiting for them to come up he bolted back. + +"Now what have you discovered?" asked John as he came up breathless. + +"Part of our old boat." + +"We thought George had met with some accident." + +"We got this by accident," answered George. "See, here are some more +things. This is the oar we had. How can you explain that?" + +It was certainly a poser. Why the exchange of oars? John shook his head. +For once he had no theory even to offer. "Come, boys, let us take away +all this stuff." + +All gave a hand, Sutoto wondering why there should be so much ado about +a bit of wreckage. George explained the affair, as well as he could. + +"What is that board?" exclaimed John. "No, not a board; that is part of +a boat," he added as more of the accumulation was torn away. + +"It's a boat; it's a boat!" almost shrieked George. + +"Come to this end and take away this lot of seaweed," called out Harry. + +They soon uncovered a boat with one end embedded in the sand so it was +difficult to turn it over, owing to the rotten condition of the wood. +Only here and there was any paint visible. The action of the elements +had done its work. + +"What kind of a boat was this?" asked Harry. + +John did not answer, but peered down on the sand where the prow had +rested. "Take away the sand carefully here," he said, and when he +pointed the boys saw something white protruding an inch or two. + +As the sand was scraped away they first saw the thigh bone of a +skeleton, and soon the whole frame was laid bare, the interstices filled +with sand. A peculiar rope was around the frame, and John grasped it. + +The boys eagerly looked at it as John intently examined it. "It is the +same," he said. + +"The same as what?" asked Harry. + +"The same as the rope found on the boat when you discovered it on the +beach." + +That was the first time that the boys knew that John had any idea about +the loss of the boat, or of the strange rope. It was possible, however, +that the Professor had told John about it, as they were accustomed to +talk over these strange things. + +"But the boat?" asked George. "What do you think of the boat?" + +"It is the exact counterpart of the _Investigator's_ Life boat No. 3." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +A CONVICT COLONY OF NATIVES + + +The Chief's son was present. "Did you ever know of a boat load of +castaways on the island?" asked John. + +"We never knew of anything like that," was his reply. + +Every scrap in that mass of wreckage was gone over. There was nothing +else visible by which they could gain the slightest clue. The skeleton +was minutely examined. It was that of a strong, well-developed man, but +from all appearances one leg was shorter than the other. + +The bones of the shortened leg were closely investigated. "The bones +show that this man met with an accident in early life, or before he was +fully grown, or, he may have had some disease before he attained full +growth, so that his right leg is shorter because not fully developed," +said John, as he continued the examination. + +"He must have been a soldier or an adventurer, as he has three bullet +marks, one here in the right shoulder, one in the ankle, and the other +on the cheek bone. All of the wounds were healed before he met his +death." + +"But there is one thing which is still more remarkable. This man was a +captive. He was tied in the boat and it was set adrift, and was likely +on the open sea and washed ashore during one of the monsoons." + +"Why do you think so?" asked Harry, as soon as he could recover breath +after this announcement. + +"This rope tells the story." + +"But how does it happen that he and the boat were together. It seems to +me that if the waves were high enough to bring the boat clear up to this +point, he would be freed from the boat long before it reached this +place." + +"He was tied to the boat." + +One mystery was solved, and another more terrible in its aspect came +upon its heels. There was but one thing to do, and that was to bury the +skeleton, and John ordered this done, as soon as he had taken the +complete measurements of the remains. + +"We don't want the box or the things in it now," said Harry. + +"Indeed, I want the hatchet," answered George. + +"Yes, and the rope," added John. + +The boys went back to the camp with thoughtful expressions on their +faces. + +"This seems to be a Wonder Island, too," said George, more to himself +than to any one else. + +They descended the incline, and crossed the narrow neck of land that +joined the two parts of the island. Beyond, as they advanced the ground +grew more uneven and rugged. Occasionally rocks appeared, the first that +they had noticed except around the place where George was captured. + +Nevertheless, vegetation grew in even greater profusion than on the +other branch of the island. There were more berries upon which all the +natives feasted, and the boys were not slow to pick them as they passed. + +In traveling alongside of a hill Harry was the first to call attention +to a peculiar leaf on a plant, which bore rose-shaped flowers. "This is +something new to me. There is nothing like it on Wonder Island. Did you +notice it, John?" + +The latter took a branch, and gazed at it for a long time. "I am +surprised to find this growing here. It is a plant well known in +Palestine, and is called the Rose of Jericho." + +"What a delightful perfume it has," said Harry. + +[Illustration: _Fig. 12. Rose of Jericho._] + +"It is not noted on that account, however. It is the _resurrection_ +plant." + +"How singular; and in what way did it get that name?" + +"It may be dried up entirely, and if placed in water it will again +appear to revive and raise itself up. This is, of course, due to its +power to absorb a vast amount of water. It is found near the shores of +the Dead Sea, and I recall that when I was in Jerusalem it was a common +thing to see the plant in its dried-up state, sold to pilgrims who were +instructed how to resurrect it." + +Here was caught the second and only other animal on the trip. It was +somewhat smaller than Sunny, and the latter danced about the dead +animal, as the "boys" brought it in. + +"And what is this big-eared fellow?" asked George. + +John laughed as he recognized the apt description. "It is a kind of +Australian kangaroo. It inhabits trees, but is very clumsy in appearance +and in action. It is a kind of sloth, or wombat." + +[Illustration: _Fig. 13. The Koala._] + +"Isn't that a dandy fur?" + +"The fur is not so valuable as its skin. There is nothing to compare +with the softness of the hide when tanned. It feels like the finest +velvet, and is very strong and durable." + +They were now ascending a series of hills, each more difficult than the +last, and the ground became extremely rough and broken. There was a lone +path, in many places nearly obliterated. It was the uninviting road to +the land of sorrow. + +The Chief's son tried to be in the company of the boys at all times, and +while he could not understand their chatter, Sutoto was a willing +interpreter. He enjoyed the jolly freedom of the two chums, and their +uniform good nature. + +George and Harry were ever on the alert to make him feel at ease and so +they talked with him, and told of the things which John explained, and +it was plainly seen that he marveled at things which were described. + +Referring to the exiled people, George asked: "Do those people never +return after they are once condemned?" + +"They are never permitted to come back." + +"Do they stay there of their own free will?" + +"No; I am told that they long to be at home again." + +"Well, what would you do if they tried to come back?" + +"We would drive them away. One time they tried to come back, all of +them, and we had to kill some of them," and he said it in a tone of +regret. + +"Don't you believe in killing?" + +He looked at George for a moment, and then looked up into Sutoto's eyes, +as he said: "No; it would do no good. Would that be the right way?" he +asked with a sort of innocence that brought a blush to George's cheeks. + +"No; we do not believe in killing, except when we must to protect +ourselves." + +"But do you have to make such wonderful things as those (pointing to +the guns) to protect yourselves?" + +John threw back his head and tried to prevent a loud laugh, at this +perfectly obvious question, while he looked at the boys to see what sort +of an answer would be given. + +George was non-plussed for a minute. John had no business to disconcert +him in that way. He turned and expected Harry to answer, but it seemed +as though he had imperfectly understood it. There was no way out of it, +and George tried to get his body into a proper position to answer it +with dignity. + +"Well, you see, the guns were not made for the purpose of killing +people, but for sporting purposes." + +"Do you have many wild animals in your country?" he asked naively. + +"Not many now." + +John laughed a little so as not to be too undignified, and George saw +the humor of the situation. He did not want to pursue the subject any +further, and John graciously turned the conversation by announcing the +discovery of the Upas tree. + +"I didn't know the Upas tree was of such immense size," said Harry. "Is +it really true that it kills everything that comes near it?" + +"No, that is greatly exaggerated. The only time when it gives forth any +harmful exudations, is when it is cut down, or when the bark is torn +away, or it is wounded in such a way that the sap comes into contact +with the body." + +The illustration shows a flowering branch of the tree, and gives an idea +of the silk-like leaves. + +[Illustration: _Fig. 14. The Flower of the Upas Tree._] + +They were still going upwardly. On both sides, to the east and to the +west could be seen the rolling sea. Ahead was the mountain, if such it +might be called. Rocks began to appear everywhere. John stopped long at +some of those dark gray walls, and chipped off many specimens. + +There were now fewer birds and animals, except very small species, such +as squirrels, and a variety of weasel, quick in its movements and +reddish in color. + +"This begins to look promising," remarked John, as he crawled around the +ledges. + +"Do you think we shall find any caves here?" asked George. + +"I shall be very much surprised if we do not," he answered. + +"Isn't it singular that the natives never knew about them, if there are +any here?" + +"No; I do not think that is strange; they do not believe in the witch +doctors, and they have no Krishnos here, so that the caves are of no +value to them." + +"But do you find much that is valuable in the way of ores?" + +"The hills here are full of the most valuable minerals. The little +prospecting I have done is sufficient to satisfy me on that point. I am +trying to make a fair estimate so I can give an accurate report when we +return." + +It was late in the afternoon when they reached the summit of the +mountain which they had viewed from the south. It was green to the very +summit, and from the elevation where they stood they could see a long +and narrow stretch to the north, the distance in that direction being +much farther than they had traveled from the little bight of land on the +south. + +"It does look inviting in that part of the island," said Harry. "Were +you ever there, in the bad place?" asked Harry as the Chief's son came +up. + +"No; but I have heard much about it." + +One of the natives who heard the conversation said: "It is a beautiful +place." + +"Have you ever been there?" he was asked. + +"I was a guard on two occasions when we took prisoners there," he +answered. + +"Tell us about it," said George. + +"I have never been in the village, but within an hour's march of it. The +Chief warned us never to go into the place itself." + +Aside from the village the place which interested John and the boys most +was the mountain on which they were now standing. This must be explored. +It was now late in the afternoon, and at John's suggestion they +encamped, and only short excursions were made by the boys in the quest +for something new. + +It was a delightful night. The elevation gave them the advantage of a +beautiful breeze, and the odors wafted to them, from some unknown +source, on the mild trade wind from the north, was almost like a +narcotic, so soothing and restful. + +"Did you ever visit a more delightful spot?" asked Harry, as he inhaled +the beautiful perfume. + +"It does not seem to me that the criminal colony is in a very bad place, +if this is any indication of it. Isn't that way of dealing with crime a +strange thing?" remarked George. + +"Why so?" asked John. "Is it anything peculiar for the wrongdoers to be +banished from a community?" + +"No; but it seems wrong to condemn the innocent women and children. Why +should they be punished along with the guilty?" + +"Probably, in the majority of cases, the women and children would prefer +to accompany their husband and father. That does not seem to be so +cruel, when it is considered that they are left free to live as much so +as in their own community." + +"That is what I cannot understand. What is the use of sending them away, +if they are not locked up?" + +"Do you not know that among the ancients, banishment from a country was +the greatest punishment; greater even than death, in the opinion of +many; and there are many cases where suicide was preferable. The odium +of banishment was so great in those days that only the strongest and the +greatest of men could live it down." + +"It makes me feel, when I smell this delightful perfume, that the home +of the bad people over there must be a beautiful place," said George. + +"To give such an opinion, just because of the fragrance that comes from +the north is proper for a sentimentalist," said John, as he laughed. + +"Well, that is a pretty big name to give, and I suppose it means having +some notion that hasn't any sense in it, but just theory?" + +"That is a fairly close description, but I didn't mean it in that way." + +The boys never felt resentful at anything that John might say, as they +knew and appreciated his noble character and disposition too well not to +understand that his remarks were never born of malice. + +After a restful night preparations were made for a complete survey of +the mountain, if it might be so dignified. Its greatest altitude did not +exceed eight or nine hundred feet, and the width of the island at this +point did not exceed two miles. It was quite rugged toward the east, but +on the western side of the island the descent was sloping, and offered +easy examination. + +The natives were instructed what to do, and were told that they should +particularly hunt for caves, or great holes, or entrances into the +hills. Four search parties were thus organized, John being at the head +of one, and George, Harry and Sutoto, each being a leader in the others. + +Sutoto was most competent for work of this kind, as he had accompanied +the boys on many expeditions, and was anxious to be of service in the +quest. + +John took a direction to the northeast, and Sutoto to the southeast, +thus leaving Harry and George with their parties to explore the region +to the west, and northwest. + +As they were separating George slyly remarked: "John must have had some +particular reason for taking the direction he did." + +Harry smiled. "I hope we shall find the first caves." + +Before separating John told them that he was desirous of finding a +cavern which had certain peculiar markings therein, and the description +showed it to be Cross-shaped. This must not be forgotten. + +They entered into the undertaking with the greatest enthusiasm. + +The boys simply danced, as they went down the hill, so great was the joy +and the freedom of that beautiful spot. What a wonderful sensation is +produced by beautiful odors. It is like a thought which transports you. +On the other hand, when the odors are disagreeable how it depresses and +disgusts. + +A great French physician has said that in his observations, the real +happy people are those who delight in beautiful odors; and while it is +not true that criminals are devoid of the elevating influence of +delightful perfumes, still, they are less influenced thereby. + +In a number of tests made some years ago, a curious fact was observed: +Sweet odors were allowed to Teach sleeping patients, which, when they +did excite dreams, made them feel that they were living in a world of +bliss, and surrounded by all the luxuries of life. On the other hand, +when exposed to evil smelling odors, they dreamed of miseries, and of +trouble and disgrace. + +It was understood that the different expeditions were to report at the +camp at midday, and that in the event of any accident, or other mishap, +the firing of the guns would be sufficient warning to the party at the +camp and to those who were searching. + +George had with him two of his own "boys," and two of the natives, and +Harry was also accompanied by several of his particular favorites. +Harry, with his party, was the energetic one, as he was exceedingly wiry +and a good walker. He did not intend to permit the others to encroach on +any of his territory. + +Not a vestige of anything was found which even so much as pointed to a +cave or to the sign of human occupancy in that section. George, on the +other hand, was more fortunate. In his area the shelving rocks were +more numerous, and he also knew that the rocks were limestone, and that +caves were more likely to exist in limestone formation than in trap +rock, or either in granite or sandstone formations. + +He was, therefore, fully prepared, when, in the early part of his +investigation, to find, what appeared to be entrances, but in all cases +they were blind leads,--that is they led in for short distances only, +many of them being mere cleavages of the rocks. + +The real cave is the one where the limestone is eaten out by the erosive +action of the water attacking the calcium of the rock. Furthermore, he +felt that he must go down nearer sea level to be assured of success, and +he acted on that impulse. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A WHITE PARALYTIC IN THE CONVICT COLONY + + +It would be useless to recount the experiences of all of the parties. +They had four hours of search before them. This would, at least, give +some idea as to the nature of the mountain, and enable John to decide +whether it would be wise to give that project further consideration. + +At midday the parties began to appear, first Harry, then Sutoto, +followed by John, and finally George. The latter was the only one who +was smiling. The three early parties had no news to impart. + +"What have you found?" were the hailing words of George, as he +approached. + +"Nothing! nothing!" were the answers. + +"It takes me to bring home the goods," he remarked, and Harry laughed in +derision. + +"No; but I mean it," he continued. "I have captured a modern, good-sized +cave, and it is now awaiting to be explored." + +John could not believe the tale. "You are to be congratulated. Good +boy!" Needless to add, George was the happiest person in that camp. + +"Let us go down to see it at once," said George in his eagerness. "It +is quite a distance, as it is not more than five hundred feet from the +seashore." + +"Luncheon first," remarked John, and no one interposed an objection, as +the trip had sharpened the appetites of all. + +The meal over little time was lost in making a start, and George led the +way with his boys. Truly enough, there was the open mouth, and it was +cave-like. Now for the mysteries within. "We went in only about a +hundred feet, so as to be sure we weren't fooled," said George, in +reference to his discovery. + +The lamps were then prepared, and all the preparations made, the boys +being veterans in this sort of work, and John was ahead, as was +generally the custom in these expeditions. + +"This is as far as we went," said George. Beyond was still a wall which +glistened from the streaming lights. + +Gradually the walls came closer together; the track was a narrow one; so +they had to march in single file. John called a halt. "I am afraid this +is a blind hole," he said, but George could not believe it, so the side +walls were searched, for indications of some opening. + +"This is the end of the cave. Note the side walls. If they should be +pressed against each other they would fit exactly, showing that it is an +opening caused by a fissure and not by erosion." + +Harry could not help but laugh. All this time lost on a blind lead, and +the laugh was on George. + +Harry could not help jesting him. "If you are a good tribe finder it is +no sign that caves are in your line." + +John enjoyed the laugh on George, but the latter retorted: "I think the +joke is on you, for traveling all this distance to see a hole in the +ground." + +There was not the sign of a cave on the island, aside from the one +discovered (?) by George, so the party remained that night at the +mountain top, and in the morning descended the hill, and slowly marched +to the north. Before noon they entered a beautiful stretch of woodland, +with luxurious grass growing all around in profusion. + +"This is as far as the guards have been permitted to go," said one of +the natives, who had volunteered the information about the place the day +before. + +Thus far not a human being was visible. An hour's march would bring them +to the village of the criminals, and the boys began to examine their +weapons, and to look apprehensive. + +The wild fruits of the tropics were now seen in abundance in every +direction. Bananas, the Bread Fruit, Cocoa, and Date Palm, on every +hand. + +The most astonishing thing, however, was the profusion of flowers, of +every variety, seemingly, and the air was scented as with one vast +bouquet. + +Sutoto stopped and pointed ahead: "They are in the trees gathering +fruit." The party halted, and looked, and then proceeded. + +They were, undoubtedly, the first of the criminals. A half mile beyond, +and in a plain road, were several of the inhabitants. Those in the +trees, two men and a boy, descended, and, together with two women, +walked across the field, to witness the newly-arrived criminals, as they +supposed. + +They were astounded at the appearance of the party. The Chief's son +addressed the men, and told them who they were, and their mission. As +this was the first time that such a visit had ever been made, the man +instructed the boy to run to the village and inform the people, and he +scurried away. + +Meantime the party moved on, and, as they proceeded, more and more of +the inhabitants were seen. To the right were people in the fields, +engaged in some sort of work there. This was singular. Nothing of that +kind was seen in the village where Beralsee was chief. + +"What is the name of this town where the convicts live?" asked Harry. + +"Hutoton," replied Calmo. + +"And what is the name of your town?" + +"Sasite." + +"Rather queer names, I should say," exclaimed Harry. + +John laughed and glanced at Harry, as he said: "I wonder how _Unity_, +and _Pioneer_, and _Mayfield_, and the queer English names sound to +them!" + +"Oh, I suppose they have some good reason for having such names." + +"Yes; for the same reason that we apply names to certain things. See +what a wonderful expression there is in the word 'Harsh,' and how +expressive it is compared with its opposite 'soft.' How the first word +grates, and the second comes out so smoothly. Then, compare 'swift' and +'slow'; or 'sweet' and 'sour.' Ugh! I can almost taste the last word." + +John roared, as he saw the serious aspect of Harry's face. But other +sights now attracted their attention. A group of men and women appeared. +How strange the natives looked. They were well dressed, that is, judged +from the people in Sasite, and they were people of good deportment, if +those of the inhabitants that accompanied them were fair specimens. + +At the head of the villagers was a man of striking appearance, tall, +with white hair, such as you would call distinguished, because he +differed from most around him. The women were well clad, and the +children plump and vigorous in their actions. + +Something must be wrong! These people were not criminals! The old man +came forward, and gave a respectful bow. He looked at John and said a +few words. Calmo responded, his words when translated being: "These are +friends of my father, and they have come to visit you." + +At this the man gave another bow, and John went up and held out his +hand, which the man took in a simple and unaffected manner. + +"We welcome you to our village," was his reply. + +The boys looked at each other and relaxed their hold on the guns. Was +this, after all, the wicked place that had been described to them? As +they marched down to the village they were enchanted at the flowers +which greeted them on all sides. + +Here and there were garden spots, carefully kept, and when the first +huts appeared beyond the grove, the boys simply gasped, and could hardly +believe their senses. Hundreds of Magnolia trees were in bloom; and the +gentle breeze blowing in from the sea, moderated the rays of the sun, +and wafted the odor of the plants many miles inland. + +The homes were not rudely built, and, although they were on the same +general plan of those in Sasite, they had every appearance of comfort. + +The head man of the village led them to a more pretentious home, +probably his own dwelling. This was soon confirmed, as they were invited +to enter and repose themselves on slightly elevated couches, so much +like Chief Beralsee's court. + +Within a short time there was a great commotion in the village. The boys +looked around startled, and the old man noticed it, for he turned to +Calmo, and said: "The villagers are preparing a feast for you. Let them +go out and mingle with the people." + +The boys were happy at this opportunity of satisfying their curiosity. +Sutoto accompanied them, and with Calmo, they placed themselves under +the guidance of a young man named Anasa, who, Calmo said, was the son of +the old man. + +They passed down the main street, for there was some semblance of order +in the location of the huts. Around the huts were flowers, just as they +had seen on the path leading from the mountain, and here and there +patches of growing vegetables. After passing one rather attractive +looking hut, Anasa paused for a moment, and then turned back, motioning +for them to follow. He entered, and the boys saw a villager, and two +women within. + +Anasa pointed to the figure of a man seated in a chair, and upon seeing +it both boys started back in amazement. + +"That is a white man," cried Harry. + +Anasa nodded, his manner indicating that he felt sure that the boys +would recognize him as belonging to their race. George went up to him, +and held out his hand. In response the man gave a listless look, and +slowly raised the left hand, which was grasped by George, who said: "I +am glad to see you. Who are you? We are white, the same as you are." + +The man made no sign, and his arm dropped to his side as George relaxed +his grasp. Harry touched George on the shoulder, as he said: "There is +something the matter with him. Ask Anasa about him." + +Calmo put the question, and this was the reply: "We found the poor +fellow on the beach many moons ago. We brought him here, and tried to +heal him, but he does not speak, and one side of him has no life." + +The man made no show of recognition, and the only motion observable was +a twitching jerk of the left arm, and a slightly swaying motion of the +head. + +"John must know about this," said George. + +"By all means," was the reply. + +Calmo was told about the wonderful man John, and that he should be +called at once, so one of the accompanying natives was instructed to +bring John, and he speeded away on the errand. + +George stood outside of the hut when John came up. "This is a remarkable +thing. Did they tell you about it?" + +"No." + +"There is a white man here." + +"Where?" asked John in astonishment. + +"In the hut, and he is paralyzed and cannot speak." + +John did not wait for more, and as he went the head man followed him in. +Then they told him the story, and John stood there and gazed at the man. +To the boys who were by John's side he remarked: "I do not know him. I +do not think I ever saw him before. How long has he been in this +condition?" The old man responded: "Ever since we picked him up on the +shore, about _tuta romama_ ago." + +"And how long ago was that?" + +George informed him that Calmo received the information that it was over +two years prior to that time, and as John received this information he +passed his hand over his head, and, turning to Harry, said: "We shall, +probably, get at the bottom of another mystery." + +"What is it? Why do you think so?" asked George in astonishment. + +"Not now; not now!" answered John, wishing to defer discussion until +they were out of the stricken man's hearing. + +The latter, however, did not in the least appreciate who were before +him. He was not at all perturbed by his visitors, nor when John quietly +passed his hand along the poor man's arm and body to satisfy himself of +the extent of the paralytic stroke. + +He winced but slightly when the examination of the left side was made, +otherwise there was no sign of comprehension on his part. + +"This is a remarkable thing," said John, as they were returning to the +old man's dwelling. + +"Why, is it a peculiar case?" + +"The ailment itself is not remarkable; but there is something which +passes my comprehension." + +"What is it!" asked the boys in, unison. + +"These people are savages." + +"Yes; answered the boys." + +"And they are criminals," he said as he stopped and looked at the boys, +with an earnestness that surprised them. + +It did not take more words to make them understand what John meant. +These people had taken this shipwrecked man, and tenderly cared for him +during a period of more than two years. This was done without hope of +reward. John learned later on that the natives of the town had made +provision for the shipwrecked man and had compensated the people at +whose home he was then living. + +After the evening meal, John walked around the village, observing the +people, and he found happiness everywhere. Everything seemed to be +arranged according to a system. The old man was not a chief, but was +looked upon as their advisor and guide; but he was a criminal, as were +all the others in that town. + +That evening when all were present John had the first opportunity to +talk with the venerable chief of the town. + +"How long have you been here?" he was asked. + +He was silent for a moment and then answered: "Thirty years." + +It must be understood that the questions and answers had to be +translated and as the natives knew nothing about the division of time in +months or years it was necessary to convert the time which was given by +nature into terms of years and months. + +Thus, they understood what a day meant, and they could calculate time, +as all savages do, by the phases of the moon, and in many cases they +were able to indicate time by the position of the sun, in which they +recognized three phases only, namely, when the sun was directly above +them, and when it reached the extreme northern and southern points. + +"Why were you sent here?" + +"Because I committed a crime." + +John was almost startled at the frankness of the confession, which the +old man made without the least perceptible show of feeling or shame. + +"Would you like to go back again?" + +"Go back where?" + +"To your home." + +He looked bewildered for a moment, and then answered: "This is my home." + +"But I mean your old home at Sasite." + +The old man shook his head vigorously, and answered: "No! no! There is +no place like Hutoton." + +"Do you know what 'Hutoton' means?" + +"Yes; it means 'the place of death.'" + +The boys were startled at the reply. John turned to them, when he saw +their expression, and smiled. The old man, too, smiled. + +"Do any of your people want to go back?" + +He looked surprised at the question. "Do they want to go back?" he +repeated the query. "No; but you should ask them. I do not know of any +one who wishes to return. We love our Chief too much to wish for such a +thing." + +"Do you know what the people in Sasite think of this place?" + +"No; not altogether; I am curious to know." + +"They believe it is a terrible place, and that the people who are sent +here never have another day of peace or happiness." + +"And have they not changed their opinions? I used to think so too, and +we believed it of those who went before us; but we thought they might +have changed their opinions, because we felt that people were growing +better and not worse. It is a long time since they sent us real +criminals, and we thought the Chief's people were growing wiser and +happier." + +"When did the last criminals come here?" + +"Nearly one year ago." + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +SAVAGE MARRIAGE CUSTOMS + + +It was impossible to describe the effect of these revelations on the +boys. It was so different from anything they had been led to expect. It +brought one thing forcibly to their minds; that because these people had +committed some crime, or some wrong against society, they were still +human beings, and were worthy of being treated as men and women. + +John related to them that various governments had tried the plan of +sending convicts to some foreign lands, and placing them in situations +where they might work out their own salvation; that all such efforts +were successful, where real opportunities were bestowed. + +"The idea is," remarked John, "that they are banished from the society +in which they resided, or in which they were raised, for the purpose of +helping them. The reason for inflicting punishment on criminals has been +to protect society but apparently no efforts have been made to cure the +criminals or to help them to better themselves." + +"I heard the Professor say, at one of the trials at Wonder Island, that +some scientists consider crime a disease," said George. + +"Exactly; now suppose we treated people suffering from smallpox, or +scarlet fever, or some other like disease, just like we treat +criminals, it would be regarded as brutal. To lock them up, and deprive +them of the pleasures of living, simply to protect society, is wrong." + +"But the smallpox and scarlet fever patients are taken away so they will +not give the complaints to others," observed Harry. + +"And that is right. I favor that and advocate that same thing with +criminals. But the patients are not deprived of the things they have +been accustomed to, and they are restored, when cured. It is not so with +the poor unfortunate who errs. When he does come back he is hounded and +looked upon as a tainted individual, although he may, in heart, be +better than his accusers." + +During that day and the next, the natives and those who accompanied John +associated with each other, and had many conversations. What interested +them was the presence of the unfortunate paralytic who was unable to +speak for himself. + +The boys did not believe that he was one of the crew of the school ship +_Investigator_. What connection, if any, did he have with the skeleton +they found the day before? was another of their queries. + +On the second day they were taken to the beach where the white man was +found. There, as explained, he was found, with wreckage all about, +during one of the raging monsoons with which the boys were so well +acquainted, but aside from that there was not a vestige to show his name +or where he was from. + +All the clothing worn by him originally, and of that there was scarcely +any when found, had been worn threadbare, and he was now dressed in +native garments. The chair in which he was reclining was undoubtedly +from some wrecked ship, and had been in the possession of the villagers +for years. + +John spoke to the old man concerning the patient, and advised him that +they would soon call to take him away. They would thus relieve them of +the burden, and endeavor to restore him to health, if it were possible +to do so. + +The old man was thankful for the kind words uttered by John, and the +latter assured him that before many moons passed he would return and +show his appreciation for their kindness to a fellow creature. + +"But we do not feel that we have done anything which especially merits +praise. He is one like ourselves, who was in distress, and we helped +him." + +"Yes; you have done that which is right. We intend to reward you not +that you should be paid for doing what is right, but to show that we +appreciate your noble actions," answered John. + +The party, after many wishes and hearty good-byes, filed out of the +village, some of them loath to go. + +Calmo was silent. He was not the same as before they marched through the +village. John noticed it, but he wisely refrained from commenting on the +sights they had witnessed. There was cleanliness and order in Hutoton; +and filth and disorder in Sasite. It was impossible to be unconscious +of the difference between the industry in one place, and the utter +shiftlessness in the other. + +As it required two days to make the return journey, they were absent +from Sasite nearly seven days, and, according to the calculations, the +_Pioneer_ would be in from Unity within the next two days. + +During the intervening time the boys roamed at will through the island, +and on the second day went directly south, so as to scour the sea front +below the village. + +In the afternoon, as they were about to return, they saw a sail, George +being the first to catch a glimpse of it. "The _Pioneer_," he cried, +upon which they danced about in sheer joy and started for the village, +which was distant several miles. + +They were almost out of breath when they rushed through the village, and +cried out the news. Everybody was expectant; all were eager to see the +vessel come in and Sutoto was the first to reach the landing. + +During the visit of the boys on the island, John had a crude dock +constructed, and as the _Pioneer_ was of light draft, this was not a +difficult thing to do, so that the passengers could land from the ship +directly on the solid platform. + +The Chief was among the merry villagers. "Who is that man with the white +hair!" he asked of Uraso. + +The latter was just as much surprised as his questioner, when he +recognized the Professor, and he informed the Chief of the treat he +would experience in meeting him. "He is the Great Wise man," added +Uraso, "whom everybody loves." + +Muro, too, was astounded as the Professor came down. But a still greater +surprise awaited the two chiefs. Muro's wife hailed him, and then +Uraso's wife waved her handkerchief. This was too much for them, and +waving aside all dignity they rushed forward to greet them. + +The whole thing had been so admirably arranged, that no one knew of the +affair which had been planned by John. Sutoto joined in the merriment, +but he was too anxious to see Stut to pay much attention to the +greetings. + +The visitors discreetly refrained from saying a word to Sutoto, +concerning the coming event. Besides the Chief's wives, there were +several other women, of the Tribes in Wonder Island, together with some +white men and their wives, who had been invited at the request of +Blakely. + +The latter greeted John with that hearty expression so characteristic of +the true commercial man, and he was not with John a minute before he was +plying all sorts of questions about the resources of the island, the +kind and number of inhabitants the nature of the soil, and the +possibilities of mineral development. + +The Professor came down and was introduced to the Chief by Uraso. + +The great burly chief was fascinated. He gazed on the Professor and +almost gasped, then turning to Uraso he said: "Ah! I know why he is a +wise man." + +To Uraso this remark was indeed a puzzle; to think that the Chief had +discovered the secret of the wisdom in the Professor! He was quick to +ask why he knew it. + +"Because he has double eyes." + +Uraso laughed, and turned to the Professor, to whom he related the +incident. Instantly the Professor removed the glasses, and courteously +handed them to the Chief, and Uraso adjusted them to the Chief's eyes. + +He glanced around, through the lens, and forced out one expression of +delight after the other. He was oblivious of everything else. He forgot +that there were dozens of the visitors ready in line to be introduced to +him; but all enjoyed the great pleasure he experienced in the new sight. + +But suddenly he stopped in his enthusiasm, and with an apology took off +the glasses and held them up, in the act of handing them back. The +Professor returned them, and took another pair from his pocket which he +put on. + +It was not likely that the Chief could have received a more acceptable +present, as his eyesight was failing, and the glasses seemed like the +opening of a new world to him. Later on the Professor provided a pair of +glasses better adapted to his sight. + +The Chief then became concerned about the comfort of his guests, so +Uraso said: "Do not feel worried about the visitors. They will sleep on +the vessel where they have comfortable rooms." + +The Chief could hardly believe the statements, as he muttered: "This is, +indeed, wonderful." + +It would require pages to record the incidents that came to his +attention about the wonders of these new people. The surprising thing +was, that Uraso, and the natives of Wonder Island were dressed like the +white people and acted like them, and yet he was told that all that +wonderful change had come about in a little over two years' time. + +Muro's wife was quickly made acquainted with the Chief's wife, and the +day following she had a consultation with her. Mida, who was Muro's +wife, said: "I do not know whether or not you know of Sutoto's affection +for Cinda, but we learned about it, and have come over to attend the +ceremony." + +Linnea, the Chief's wife, smiled as Mida spoke to her. "Yes, I know of +it, but the Chief has not yet been told." + +It seems that they had very curious and at the same time different +customs among the various tribes, and Mida's object was to learn what +their etiquette called for as to betrothals. Among some of the Wonder +Island tribes, the Chief was the only one who has the right to consent +to the marriage of the females, although the males could go to other +tribes and secure wives without the consent of the Chief. + +In other tribes the women, the mothers, are the sole judges, and it is +not infrequent for the parents of the bride to demand a payment, +dependent on the rank or the riches of the father. + +Then the question of ceremonies is always an important one. It would be +sacrilegious to perform the rite except in exact accordance with the +prescribed rules. Sometimes those rules are so extremely different to +those of another tribe that intermarriage between members of such tribes +is impossible. + +Thus, a Tuolo could never marry a Saboro, nor could an Illya warrior +take an Osaga for a bride. On all these points the women were adepts. It +is more than likely, however, that Cinda and Sutoto had all that matter +fully understood between them. + +"Did Stut tell you about Sutoto?" asked George. + +Harry laughed. "No; but I have a good one to tell you. What did he say?" + +"Well, you know he hired Stut to get him a wedding outfit, and a +present?" + +"Yes." + +"When the people left the vessel Sutoto sneaked back, and hunted up +Stut. Of course Stut had the package all done up, and he is now taking +it over to his hut." + +"I have something better than that. Sutoto is going to be married +to-night." + +"How do you know?" + +"Cinda told one of her girl friends, and it frightened her so that she +told Uraso." + +"Why that would spoil all the plans." + +"So it would, but Uraso told his sister." + +"Are you sure of that?" + +"Of course I am; I was there." + +"What did she say?" + +"She simply said 'I will take care of that.'" + +"Of course she will; she's a brick." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +SUTOTO AND CINDA'S MARRIAGE; AND THE SURPRISE + + +Mida had learned the situation. Their customs as to marriages closely +resembled that of the Saboros. In that tribe the Chief was the sole +authority. To marry without his consent meant exile for the disobedient +warrior, and for the bride as well. + +Sutoto was a member of the Berees, and there the mother was the +matchmaker. She prescribed all the requirements. The first thing that +Mida did was to insist that the Chief should be informed of the desires +of the young people. + +To the delight of the two women he consented to the match, and he was +then told that the people had come over from Wonder Island to take part +in the ceremony. But when he was told that they intended to marry that +night, by stealth, his brow was clouded. + +His law was that no one should marry without his consent, and he could +not believe that Cinda could thus attempt to take the matter into her +own hand. It was hard to think that his own child should be the first to +break his law. + +The women pleaded with him, and then Mida confided her plan to him. The +tribe's marriage ceremony was a very curious one. First, there must be a +gift of fruit, then of fowl, and next of game. This must be brought to +the door of the bride by the groom blindfolded. + +He must remain blindfolded while she prepares them for the table. Not a +word must be spoken, or they must separate forever. A part of the +ceremony requires that the invited guests are to resort to every sort of +device to make them speak. The slightest sound by either is a sign that +they will quarrel, and means the end of the affair. + +If they pass this test, the second comes when the bridegroom's eyes are +uncovered. They are then to converse with each other, and they must not +for a moment relax the talk. Neither has any knowledge of the time that +this test must continue. There must be no faltering, or hesitancy. + +Mida conferred with John and the boys, as she told of these necessary +requirements, and the boys laughed as they listened. + +"What is the object of all that?" inquired George. + +John was chuckling at the idea, but it stirred up a reminiscence. "That +is a custom, in some of its features, that I learned about some tribes +in central Africa. I can see the object of that rite. The taking of the +gifts blindfolded signifies that he enters the marriage state blindly, +and that he must do so in silence, and without asking any questions." + +"Of course, then, there is not any likelihood of them quarreling," said +Harry. + +"That is what the Chief's wife said," replied Mida. + +"But what does all the talking mean?" + +[Illustration: "_The rites were progressing very satisfactorily_" + [See p. 196]] + +"That is perfectly obvious. To show they can perfectly agree, even +though they do talk." + +"But that is all before the real ceremony itself," said George. "How do +they get married? That is the main thing." + +"Why," said Mida, "that is part of the marrying." + +"But they haven't promised anything. Marrying is promising." + +This occasioned another roar of merriment. "Yes; marriage is a contract +under our law, but not so with these people. The only question with them +is whether they are suited to each other." + +"But suppose they should not want to marry each other, or one of them +should object," interposed Harry. + +"Ah! don't you see there is where the prospective bride or groom, in +that case has a chance. If, in the first test he should speak, or in the +last trial she should fail to keep up the conversation, then it would be +all off." + +Mida confided her plans to the Chief and his wife. They were assured +that Cinda would not think of overriding the well-known laws as to the +gifts, and the two tests, and so it was arranged that Sutoto should be +permitted to bring his offerings, which he would no doubt do, by +stealth, while the Chief and all the visitors were to partake of the +banquet on board of the vessel that evening. + +Sutoto and Cinda knew of the arrangements for the banquet, and that +appeared to be a suitable occasion for them. When Sutoto appeared with +the gifts he and Cinda were to be arrested by the Chief's warriors and +brought aboard the vessel, charged with violating the law of the Chief +in not first obtaining his permission. + +The boys remained ashore, and carefully watched the proceedings. How +Sutoto got the presents the boys did not know, but they had a suspicion +that Cinda had a hand in it. The boys laughed as they saw what a +ridiculously short distance he had to go in a blindfolded state. + +Securely hidden in what was George's chamber, where he passed the first +night of his captivity, they saw Sutoto with the offerings. Cinda took +them, in silence, and disappeared, only to return instantly with the +smoking viands. + +"I call that quick work," said Harry. + +"Yes, that's swift cooking," suggested George. + +They ate in silence. "I wonder where the bridesmaid is who intends to +make them talk?" + +"Why don't you see her standing behind Cinda?" + +"You mean the servant?" + +"Of course." + +This was almost too amusing for the boys. The rites were progressing +very satisfactorily. Then Cinda removed the bandage, and an ineffable +smile stole over Sutoto's features. + +They commenced to talk. The maid said a few words, but the lovers paid +no attention. The ceremony was going along just as-a perfect one should, +when four stalwart warriors rushed in and seized Sutoto. Cinda knew who +they were, and she sprang at them, as two seized her also. + +One of them addressed a word to Sutoto, and then spoke to Cinda, and +without further ceremony they were taken out through the open portal, +and hurried to the ship. + +The boys followed at a respectful distance, and when the pair had +reached the deck the boys scrambled up, and hurriedly made their way to +the large room, or cabin, where the Chief and the visitors were +assembled, and which was brilliantly lighted for the occasion. + +The criminals were brought before the Chief, who arose, and with a +severe countenance began to upbraid Sutoto for his crime. Cinda +meanwhile glanced around at the brilliant sight. She saw nothing to +excite fear. Both were free from the warriors and stood there side by +side, a handsome couple, as every one admitted. + +Sutoto saw the boys. Just like boys are apt to be on such an occasion, +they could not repress their laughter, although it was a silent +exhibition of mirth. Then Sutoto knew, and so did Cinda, for she was not +too much abashed to look up at Sutoto, while she leaned over and rested +her head against him, and laid her hand on his arm. + +Then the boys stopped laughing. There was nothing laughable about it +now. It seemed too beautiful to laugh at, and when the great Chief went +over, and rubbed his nose against Sutoto's every one knew that the +compact was sealed. + +I wish it were possible to describe the delight shown in the eyes of the +bride and groom when they were led to the table containing the wedding +gifts that came to them from Wonder Island. + +"Oh! I am so sorry!" said Harry. + +"Sorry for what? Yes, yes, I know now. We have nothing to give Sutoto, +as our presents." And George said it with genuine grief. + +Most of the articles exhibited were for the use of the bride, and +designed for the home, of the new couple; but there was a fine array of +the little trinkets which so delight the feminine heart. + +The party sat down to the feast, with Sutoto and Cinda at one end of the +table, while Mida presided at the other, the Chief being at her right, +and his wife at her left. + +For the first time in their lives they were to eat their food with +knives and forks. They were adepts with the sharpened stick, which +George had noted, and there was amusement at the many incidents that the +new order brought forth. + +"I remember," said George, "that the Professor told us the Italians, +about the year 1700, were the first to use forks." + +"Yes," replied John. "As late as the year 1800 the English did not use +the fork, but the knife, for conveying food to the mouth; but the +new-fangled idea, when once introduced, became universal, soon after +that time; and it was then the custom for travelers to carry their own +knives and forks when traveling." + +The Professor said, addressing the Chief: "I am surprised that you use a +fork at the table. While we do so universally, it was not originally our +custom." + +"I can remember," replied the Chief, "when it was not the habit to use +any implement, but all were required to take food from the same dish +with the hands. But at that time food was not served hot, but allowed to +cool. But we found that the eating of hot articles became a custom, and +then we had to use the pointed forks." + +"I am curious to know what gives the roast such a beautiful flavor!" +asked the Chief's wife. "I am told that you do not use leaves for +flavoring." + +"No," said Mida. "We now use spices, and the flavor is made more +distinct by adding salt." + +"What kinds of spices are used?" + +"For meats, principally pepper, of which I have no doubt you have plenty +on your island." + +Of course, there was coffee, which grew in abundance in Wonder Island, +and numerous trees of which had been discovered by the boys of the +Chief's island. When this was brought out, and the natives first tasted +it, there was some doubt on their part as to its food value. + +Added interest was given to it when the Chief was induced to try it with +a bountiful supply of cream and sugar. Then these articles attracted +their attention. + +"Is this a fruit?" he asked as a lump of sugar was handed him. + +"No, it is made from cane, or from some vegetables." + +"Made from vegetables? How can it be made from them? There is part of +the flavor of fruit, but I cannot taste any vegetables in it." + +Then the Professor explained that all fruit, as well as vegetables, had +the same taste, and that they took out only that part and left the +other. + +"But what is this white liquid which you use in the new drink?" + +"It is called 'cream,' and the cream is made from milk?" + +"And what is milk made of?" + +"It is taken from cows, a large animal, that people raise for that +purpose." + +As there was nothing on the island that was as large as a cow, or that +resembled it in any manner, the Chief's curiosity was unbounded. + +"I would like to see the animal from which this was obtained." + +"But we have no animal with us." + +"Then it never spoils?" + +"Oh, yes, it will quickly grow sour and unpleasant if allowed to remain +in a warm place." + +He looked around in bewilderment, and the Professor seeing his +embarrassment, continued: "In the ship we have a way to prevent the +cream and the milk, as well, from spoiling. We will show you that." + +Thus one article after the other called for some comment, and +explanation. To the natives from Wonder Island this meal was an object +lesson of only a few of the many things which they had learned from the +white people. + +But Sutoto and his bride could not be forgotten. When the meal was +finished, the Professor arose, and said: "I have some news to impart to +you. When the white people first came to Wonder Island, they found +Uraso, and Muro, and they were the first to come to our aid against +powerful tribes." + +"One of their neighbors had at its head a wise Chief, Suros, known and +respected by friend and foe alike, and he readily adopted the ideas of +the white men, and offered his tribe to save us from destruction at the +hands of those who were unfriendly." + +"Sutoto was the nephew of the wise Chief Suros, and I have come to tell +you that he is dead, and that we have been mourning for him." + +Every one who glanced at Sutoto, saw that it greatly affected him. This +address was translated to the Chief, by Uraso, as the Professor +proceeded, the latter speaking it in such measured sentences, that it +could be quickly grasped by the interpreter. + +"We have all been sad, since his death, and we shall erect a suitable +monument to his memory on our return." + +The Chief looked at the Professor, and the latter instantly divined that +he wanted some enlightenment. + +"What does the white Chief mean by that?" + +"It is the custom of the white man to put up something that all the +people may look at, for years and years afterwards, so as to remind them +that he has lived, and to tell the people what good he has done." + +"And why should the people do that?" + +"So as to teach people the example, and try to make them be good as he +was." + +"Do your people need to have such examples to make them do good?" + +"That may not be necessary," replied the Professor, as he vainly tried +to hide the smile that was trying to manifest itself. + +"But do you not find it necessary to set the people a good example?" +asked the Professor. + +For a moment he looked around at the company in bewilderment, and he +slowly replied: "No, I do not think it would do any good. If the people +are bad, and they want to be bad, it will do them no good to tell them +that I have always tried to do right." + +There was a respectful silence, at this avowal, and the Professor +continued: "There are many who think as you do, and we had one great +teacher, called Confucius, who said: 'Do good not for the hope of +reward, but because it is right.' Then we have also a precept which, +interpreted, means: that happiness is in the heart." + +"I do not know what that means," he replied. + +"It means that the desire and the wish must come from within, and not +from without." And the savage nodded an assent. + +"But," continued the Professor, "I have some news to impart, that makes +us all happy again. It is something that pertains to Sutoto, and I know +you will all join in wishing him all happiness in the good fortune which +Wonder Island brings to him, while this island is vying with us to make +him happy." + +What was this happy thing that the Professor portended? There was +intense eagerness in the eyes of all who had left Wonder Island when the +_Pioneer_ sailed away, three weeks before. + +"I want to present to you Sutoto, the new Chief of the Berees." The +Professor could get no further. George and Harry were wild with +excitement, and they bounded over to him and actually hugged him. Poor +Cinda did not for the moment know what all this excitement meant. + +She supposed that this was the white man's part of the ceremony, and +quietly submitted. But she was quickly informed, and as she glanced at +her father and mother, and the people came by and affectionately greeted +them, she was so happy that tears actually flowed. + +Then John came forward with a large box, which he carefully opened, and +drew forth two packages, one of which he unwrapped, while Mida took the +strings from the other. + +"We want to present you these tokens, the presents of George and Harry. +You are to wear these as an emblem of your authority." And George and +Mida placed the most beautiful crown shaped hats on the heads of the +couple. + +"Is this part of the ceremony too?" asked Cinda, as she slyly glanced at +Sutoto. + +It is impossible to say who were the most surprised people, the boys or +Sutoto, since these presents had been prepared without their knowledge, +and it atoned in a way for their neglect in not thinking of the gifts +before. + +But there were also other agreeable surprises in store for them. The +wives of Uraso and Muro led Cinda to the table on which the presents +were exposed, and also exhibited the many beautiful garments which had +been prepared for her. + +Her bewilderment was still greater when she was directed to turn, and +found herself standing in front of a tall oval mirror which the boys had +brought up, under the Professor's directions. + +Her image in the mirror startled the bride beyond measure, and she +innocently asked Sutoto whether this was also a part of the wedding +ceremony. + +According to the custom of the tribe, the couple had to go through the +ordeal of the tribal dance, and when the boys learned of this they +regretted that provision had not been made for the event. They were now +in for everything which belonged to this unique wedding. The entire +party broke up, and the boys regretted that the affair came to an end so +soon. + +As they filed down the steps and marched along the dock to the shore +they noticed that the entire village was shining brightly with hundreds +of the native candles, and everywhere were the well-known lamps, which +the boys knew came from Wonder Island. + +"What does all that mean?" asked Harry, as John came up. + +"That means the dance, that is the final requirement of the wedding +ceremony." + +"But where are the dancers? Are we to take part?" + +"Oh, no; no one who has partaken of the feast is permitted to take +part." + +"Well, that is certainly queer." + +"Not more so than among many white people, where the dancers are those +who have been specially selected for the purpose, and are professionals. +In Biblical times the Jews had dancing as part of the religious +ceremony, and that which took place in the Temple was participated in +only by special ones set apart for that purpose." + +No one was in sight, however, and the Chief led the entire company to a +large green space, not far from his dwelling, and after a circle had +been formed, they heard a peculiar humming sound, which seemed to be all +about them, and this increased in intensity, and when at its height, two +dozen or more of the native girls rushed in with a gliding, swaying +motion, and circled around with peculiar grace, continuously giving +forth the weird sounds that have been described. + +It was intensely dramatic, and fascinated the boys. They had never seen +anything so remarkable in its character, and for once they were unable +to question its meaning, or ask for information concerning it. + +For an hour this continued, until the boys thought the performers would +certainly drop dead with fatigue; then, one after the other disappeared, +and with each disappearance the sound of the humming grew less until but +one remained. In some way, unknown to the boys she made the last circle +around the green, bearing a wreath of leaves, and as she approached +Sutoto and Cinda, wheeled about, and threw it over them. + +"That is the final act," said John. "See, they are both within the +wreath, and it signifies that they are bound together forever, even as +the wreath, which has no end." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +HUTOTON; THE PLACE OF DEATH + + +But the boys knew that they had some important things to attend to. The +pleasures of life have an important part, but they were now engaged in +serious work. The fact that they had accomplished so much was a great +incentive to go on and investigate other things which were still +mysteries, and which might be of great value to them. + +The coming of the Professor had been a great pleasure to them. The +developments of the past two weeks were ever in their minds and they +could not repress the curiosity to visit the other islands, if such +could be found. + +Now that Sutoto was married they knew he would not be with them for a +time, and they had not talked over the future plans. When, the next day, +they and the Professor and John were together to consider the next step, +it was with joy that the Professor informed them of the purpose of John +to continue the investigations throughout that part of the ocean. + +"It seems that your interpretation of Walter's note was entirely wrong," +said John. "In any event it is certain that we are more than thirty +leagues from Wonder Island, and not in the direction he pointed out." + +"Then it is likely that if there is an island which will fit the place, +it must be to the north," said Harry. + +"That would be a natural conclusion," he answered. "It has occurred to +me that the natural place for an island would be to the north." + +The boys looked at him with surprise. "What makes you think so?" asked +George. + +"I judged so, merely from the conformation of this island." + +"What is there in the island that makes you think so?" + +"You have noticed that the island is very narrow east and west, and very +much longer north and south." + +"Yes; but that still does not make it plain to me." + +"The island may be like the ridge of a mountain cropping out of the +ocean. For instance, the Andes and the Sierras in the United States run +north and south. Now suppose the ocean should cover the land, those +mountains would form islands which would naturally be north and south of +each other, and the islands themselves would be longer north and south +than east and west." + +"I see the idea. But we might find them to the south of this island, as +well." + +"Certainly; but as the northern section brings us nearer the supposed +thirty leagues, we should, I think, make the investigation there first." + +It was necessary that Sutoto should go back to Wonder Island. His +position as Chief of the Berees made this essential. Furthermore, the +age of the Professor made traveling and the hardships of investigating +on foot a hard task, and besides it was necessary to take back the +visitors. + +"I have suggested to the Chief that we shall return, and have invited +him to accompany us, and I am gratified to say that he has accepted. We +shall, therefore, be ready to return within a few days," said the +Professor. + +"Have you said anything to him about the contemplated visit to Hutoton?" +asked John. + +"No; but I shall do so at once." + +"Oh! that will give us an opportunity to take the paralytic back with +us," suggested Harry. + +"Yes; that will be the reason for our stopping there." + +"Wouldn't it be a good idea to sail to the north, and investigate in +that direction, on our way home?" remarked George. + +"That has occurred to me." + +The Chief gave careful instructions to his son, Calmo, in view of his +proposed trip, and informed the Professor that he was anxious to +accompany them at the earliest opportunity. + +Two days thereafter, the entire party boarded the ship, and the course +was set for the northern part of the island. There the Chief had the +first opportunity to see the dreadful place where the criminals of his +community had been sent. + +There was no resentment on the part of the convicts. On the other hand, +there was the most effusive welcome extended, and when the Chief saw the +happiness and prosperity there, which he could not help but contrast +with his own people, he was amazed. + +The unfortunate patient was carefully taken to the ship, and during his +removal did not in the least indicate by any sign that he knew what was +going on about him. + +John took many stores from the ship, and particularly garments, and +articles of food for the people. All participated in the division, and +the old man was delighted when he saw the gifts, the more so when John +told him that they would soon be visited and other stores provided. + +When the rolling motion of the boat was felt by the stricken man, he +showed the first symptoms of consciousness. Sometimes he would look +about him, and try to grasp something. On several occasions the +Professor saw him open his eyes with a sort of questioning look. + +But we cannot dwell too long on the result of the patient's progress, at +this time. John felt, as did the Professor, that from that man they +would be able to learn something, if he could ever regain his faculties. +The boys gathered that much from the conversation, so that, for the +present, he must be left to the tender care of the Professor, until +later events are recorded. + +From Hutoton the ship sailed directly north, it being understood that if +no land was sighted before evening it would be useless to go farther in +that direction. The _Pioneer_ was a good sailer, and could easily, with +a fair wind, make ten miles an hour, so they would have fully seven +hours' run to test out their theory of land in that direction. + +Before five o'clock John, who was constantly on the watch, came to the +Professor and remarked that he believed the haze to the north indicated +the presence of land. This was soon communicated to the boys, and there +was no more idleness from that time on. + +John's theory was correct. Slowly certain fixed objects appeared and +some outlines that looked like mountains, and the boys could not repress +their anxiety at the anticipated shore. + +"Then we were right, after all," said Harry. + +John smiled, as he replied: "I do not know; the calculations have not +yet been made." + +"I would like to know how our position can be found out from an +examination of the sun," remarked George. + +"That will require a long answer to explain fully but I shall try to +answer it in a simple manner. The sailor takes an observation of the sun +in two directions, namely, north and south, and east and west. You know, +of course, that the sun moves north in the summer and south in the +winter, and that the extreme southern point is in midwinter, Dec. 20: +that in the spring, or March 20, it is directly above the equator, and +in midsummer, or, on June 20, it is as far north as it can go." + +"You mean," said George, "that it would be north of the equator." + +"As we have the same calendar over the entire world, it is true +everywhere. The difference is, of course, that summer and winter, and +spring and autumn are reversed, north and south of the equator. All +estimates as to locations are made by measuring angles." + +[Illustration: _Fig. 15. Getting Angle from Position of the Sun._] + +"Then it must be something like surveying?" + +"Yes; the same principles are applied. Here is a sketch, which shows the +earth A, and B is the equatorial line. C is the position of the sun on +September 20, or on June 20." + +"Why are they in the same position on both days?" + +"Yes; the sun crosses the equator September 20, on its way south, and +then it again recrosses the equator coming north six months afterwards. +On either of those days, if a person should stand at D, and look at the +sun, there would be a line E, which projects out from the earth to the +sun, and that is called the equatorial line." + +"It is exactly at right angles to F, which passes through the poles. Now +the drawing shows two other positions, namely G and H. These represent +the extreme points of the travel of the sun north and south, or the +positions that the sun occupy on Dec. 20, and June 20 of each year." + +"I see," said Harry. "The points G and H are just 23 degrees north and +south of the equator." + +"That is correct, and there is another thing which can be learned from +their positions." + +"I know what it is." + +"What?" + +"It gives another line, or angle." + +"So now we have two angles, this, and the equatorial line. Then, we know +the exact distance of the sun from the earth, and this gives the first +measurement, and with the angle formed by the line I, taken in +connection with the line E, it is easy to determine just where, or how +far the sun is to the north or to the south, and if you did not, for +instance, know the time of the year, a man could by such a measurement, +tell, by the angle thus formed, the exact date." + +"I understand that now," remarked George. "The sailor, in getting the +angle, simply measures that, and if he knows where the sun is on that +day he will then have two angles, one that he knows beforehand, and the +other that he finds out by looking at the sun." + +"That is correct. The Nautical Chart gives all that information, so that +it saves a large amount of work in making the calculations." + +"That gives the way to determine positions north and south. But how +about east and west?" + +"In the same manner exactly so far as the angle measurements are +concerned, but in this case, instead of taking the time, in days or in +months, as in reckoning north and south, we must take time in minutes, +and to do that the entire globe is laid off in minutes and degrees, +which the nautical tables give, and the mariner knows when he obtains a +certain angle just how far east or west he is located by the chart." + +"But if he has no chart?" + +"Then he must figure out the position for himself, which he can do if he +has what is called Greenwich, or standard time, and has, also the +correct time of the day where his ship is." + +Land was beyond; there was no question of that. It rose out of the water +higher than the island they had just left, which the boys had named +_Venture_ Island. + +The Chief knew nothing of the land before them. He had told John that +years before he learned that there was a land where there were many bad +people, who killed and ate each other, but he did not know the exact +direction. + +The vessel was sailed along the coast, and the field glasses were used +to scan the land. It had the appearance of the other islands which they +now knew. Vegetation was magnificent, and growing everywhere, but there +was not the sign of a habitation anywhere. + +After an hour's sail they rounded a point, and beyond was the first +cove, or indentation along the coast. To that John directed the course +of the vessel, and they ran in very close, since he knew from the abrupt +sloping beach that it must be a deep bay. + +The men could scarcely man the boat quickly enough. A dozen of them, +together with John, Muro and Uraso, took the first boat, while a second +boat was filled with the warriors who also were accompanied by some of +the natives of Venture island. + +The Professor and the others remained on board, while the party made the +preliminary examinations of the immediate neighborhood. John formed two +parties, one under command of Muro, and the other of Uraso. The boys +were with Uraso, while he was with Muro. The object was to find out as +quickly as possible what they would have to meet, and the result would +enable them to determine the future plans. + +"It is understood, now," remarked John, "that the two exploring parties +shall take the two courses outlined, Muro and his men, to go directly +east, while Uraso will take a course to the northeast, and proceed in +that direction for three hours, and then the two parties are to turn +toward each other, and mutually report. This will give us an +opportunity to find out something, unless the island is a very large +one, and requires subsequent exploration to ascertain whether it is +inhabited." + +John had purposely selected the route to the east, as he saw the high +elevation in that direction, and George laughed, as he said, slyly: +"John is still after the caves," and Harry laughed, as he recalled the +keenness with which John had arranged the trips. + +John did make his way to the highest points, and soon learned, from the +observations, that the island was inhabited, but the trip of the boys +was more exciting, so we shall more particularly detail their +adventures. + +Before they had gone two hours evidences grew thick and fast that tribes +inhabited the island. Muro, and the different men, were continually +finding traces, none of them, however, which indicated that the people +were near at hand, or that the telltale marks had been recently made. + +But now signs began to be apparent to the boys also; the bones of +animals, lying around the spot where a fire had been gave them the first +real sensation. Muro glanced at the boys, and at some bones, and the +action on his part was so peculiar, that George quietly remarked: + +"Muro looked so peculiarly at me when I glanced at the bones, over +there, that I wonder what he meant?" + +"I saw it too," answered Harry. "Let us have another look at them;" and +acting on the suggestion they went over. Muro followed. They did not +appear to pay any attention to him; but he was quick to join them, and +as he did so he slowly nodded his head. + +"Are they human remains?" said Harry, as he turned to Muro, +questioningly. + +"Yes; and this is not the first we have seen," he answered. "We may find +them now at any time. I am now sure that there are several tribes here." + +"What makes you believe so?" + +"Because we have found different kinds of hair, which is usually the +best evidence of the differences in the tribes, as each has its own +peculiarity." + +"Savages, and cannibals!" said George reflectively. + +"But we must go on. We have still an hour in this direction before we +turn to the south and east," said Harry. + +There was more caution now exercised, and the speed was accordingly +reduced, in view of the especial care which they took. In order to +understand what happened the reader should know something of the nature +of the country. + +Some places in Wonder Island had the same sort of timber and +undergrowth, and they went through some dense forests, in which vines +and small brush made traveling difficult. They had to cut their way +through some of this vegetation. + +The land was not low or flat. If it had been there would have been a +dense jungle. Sometimes they passed through half-grown forests, and +these places were the most difficult to scour, because an enemy might +be within fifty feet, and not be discovered. + +It was in just such a place that they received their first surprise; a +shower of arrows, so thick that they instantly knew it could not have +been made by only a dozen or so. Some of the arrows found their marks, +and two of the men sank down, while Muro coolly drew one of the crude +missiles from his arm. + +"Drop down!" cried Muro. + +There was not a savage in sight; still a number of arrows fell around +them. "Remain quiet, and I will find them?" said Muro, as he crept +forward quietly through the dense grass. + +George and Harry followed, although it was evident it was not Muro's +wish. Before they had gone ten feet, Muro turned, and pointed ahead. +"They are there; at least one party. Get ready for a shot." + +The savages, noting the quiet in their front, now cautiously peered +through the bush, and the boys saw the most hideous countenances. "We +might give them a round," said Muro, and after carefully aiming, the +guns spoke. + +The simultaneous explosion of the three guns, raised pandemonium on all +sides. They were now surrounded by at least a hundred of the savages, +but for some reason the little party of twenty awed them, and instead of +making a charge, they rushed toward the place where the three victims of +the gunshots lay. + +[Illustration: "_She ... found herself standing in front of a tall oval +mirror_" [See p. 204]] + +Muro's arm was bleeding profusely, and George quickly bound it up, +while the enemy were hesitating. "Do not shoot, unless they rush at us. +I will talk: to them, and try to get an understanding." + +Then, in a loud voice Muro called to them, saying they were friends, and +not enemies. There was no response. Thinking that they knew nothing of +the dialect, he tried another, and the only response was the evident +determination of the savages to attack again. + +The boys and Muro could plainly hear their chattering, but the latter +said that what they were saying was not intelligible to him, and that +they must now prepare for a fight. + +"Get your guns ready, and be prepared for a charge. If they come so +close that you cannot use the guns, then we must be prepared to meet +them with our knives, and we must all stand together, and not become +separated." + +Instead of attacking, however, there was silence, after the first +excitement. "They are trying to find, out what struck their comrades +when we fired," remarked Muro. + +"Yes; I think it was a big surprise." + +"I recall," continued Muro, "when we had our first brush with you that +we could not find the arrow which we supposed was made by your bullet. +That frightened us more than anything else." + +There was not the slightest movement on the part of an enemy for a full +half hour. This is the most trying sort of tactics. If you can see the +enemy, or note that he is doing something, there is some relief to the +tension, but where he can neither be seen, nor heard, it tries the +nerves of the strongest man. + +Muro knew that this inactivity on the part of the savages had its +purpose. Probably, they intended to remain there until night, and +overwhelm them in the rush. Muro had other plans, however. + +"We cannot remain here. We must make the attack. Remain here, and permit +me to feel out their positions, and also to determine what they are +doing." He glided away from them noiselessly, and how he kept the tall +grass and weeds from swaying, the boys could not determine at that time. + +It did not take Muro long to see the situation. They were surrounded by +a cordon of savages, and while spying, saw a new lot of them coming up. +The plan was plain enough, and it meant a fight now, or a night defense. + +When he returned, he had his plans formed. "They are being reinforced, +and we have, probably, a hundred and fifty, or more, around us. John is, +no doubt, too far away to come to our assistance, and our only hope is +to attack them now, so we might as well take the necessary steps." + +While on his investigations Muro had discovered a fallen tree, which was +not more than fifty feet to their left. "We must reach that tree, and by +digging a shallow trench at one side, can easily defend ourselves, as +well as pick them off at our leisure." + +Slowly they moved, in crawling attitudes, toward the place indicated. +The tree was not a large one, but it made an admirable breastworks, and +with their knives each man dug out a shallow hole, piling up the earth +beyond the hole, so as to shelter them from the arrows, which they knew +would be rained on them. + +This work required a full half hour, and when it was completed, and Muro +had satisfied himself that each one was supplied with sufficient +ammunition, he was ready for the second stage of the game. + +"We must attract them, by some form of action. I will take three with +me, and crawl forward, until we can catch glimpse of some of the +watchers. Those we will attack, and then fall back, and do the same on +the other sides." + +Muro indicated those who were to follow, and after going only a short +distance the boys heard the shots, then four more. This brought the +sounds of voices from every direction. Muro and his men, during the +excitement, crawled to another portion of the line, and repeated the +manoeuver. + +This, for the moment threw them into consternation, but they quickly +rallied, and now it was plain that they were pressing forward to rush +the position occupied by the boys. It was now obvious that the +precaution of making the defensive position, as Muro had suggested, was +their only salvation. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +DISCOVERY OF A NEW ISLAND, AND A SAVAGE TRIBE + + +Nothing could describe the uproar that the second volley created in the +ranks of the besiegers. Yell after yell came from the hundreds of +throats that were about them. It was now war to the end. There could be +no compromise. + +While the boys had been in many difficult and trying experiences before, +this was the first time that they grew pale, and had strong misgivings. +They knew, however, that the object of the shrieks and yells of savages +were for the purpose of driving terror into the hearts of their foes. + +In this respect it might not thus affect them, but when they considered +the overwhelming numbers around them, we cannot blame them for feeling +alarmed. + +They were coming forward, and on all sides. "Remember, what John used to +tell us: it is the shots that hit which count. Fire deliberately, and +keep together. Do not use your revolvers until they are close, and you +cannot use the guns." + +Closer and closer they came, and Muro and the men were silent. "Now, get +ready! Shoot deliberately!" + +The first salvo was fired. It was a staggering blow. They reloaded, +while the enemy was trying to recover, and the second volley belched +forth. + +Then, when the execution was noticed, and they saw their people fall all +about them, they charged forward in one mass, and the boys looked at +each other, for a moment, and George reached over and gave Harry's hand +one pressure, and then turned away and began to fire as fast as he could +aim the weapon. + +They were still coming on. The demons were nearly up to the log. For +some reason the savages did not heed those who fell. It had not struck +terror into their hearts, as the boys hoped. How would this end? The +enemy was now too close to make their guns of any use. The revolvers +were drawn, and the cracks from them became almost a continuous roar. + +They were still coming. Soon the ammunition would be gone. The boys +realized this. They were determined to die fighting, and they began to +feel for their knives which must be the final act in the great tragedy. + +Then they heard something louder than the cracks of their own weapons +and the shrieks of the devils around them. Some one was shooting. They +could see the startled faces of the savages, as they turned and swung +around. The attack ceased, and Muro sprang up on the log, with a yell. + +Could he be mad? The boys were stupefied. "Come on!" cried Muro. "Here +is John!" + +This announcement, coming at an unexpected moment, was such a reaction +to the poor boys, that they could hardly raise themselves. Another +volley; they could hear it now. There was another yell from the savages, +and then they could be seen rushing through the brush. + +The men with John ran up, and John struggled forward through the weeds. +"Are you hurt?" asked John, as he sprang to the side of the boys. + +"No! no!" cried George, and he fell down, overcome with the excitement, +while Harry could not speak for a moment. + +"That was a close call," said John. "We heard the first shots an hour +ago, and we turned to take this direction. Then we heard nothing for a +long time, and as we were coming over the hill beyond the firing +commenced but we could see nothing, so we hurried forward and soon saw +the smoke, and then the savages coming from the bush, and directly to +the east we noticed fifty or more coming this way, but they are not here +yet." + +"I wonder how many attacked us?" asked George. + +"It is difficult to tell, but it is safe to say that there were at least +two hundred in the fight. Oh, no; the boys will not follow them up very +far," said John, as Harry looked apprehensively toward the direction +that John's men were going. + +He blew the whistle, and gradually the men straggled in, reporting that +the savages appeared terror-stricken, as they had had no idea that there +was another force in the neighborhood, and they did not stop to consider +the possible number. + +"I am sorry for these poor people," remarked John. "We must hunt up the +wounded." + +Searchers were set to work, and the wounded, when found, were carried to +an open place beyond, and their hurts examined and bandaged. At first +terror showed itself on their faces, but as John and Muro, together with +the boys, washed their wounds, and wrapped bandages around the limbs, +they lay there and marveled at the actions of their enemies. + +More than two dozen had been killed, and forty-two wounded, nearly all +in the legs or bodies, those having arm wounds being enabled to get +away. + +On Muro's orders a watch was set on the movements of the savages, and +from time to time reports were brought in concerning them. They had +retreated eastwardly, and were now off less than a half mile, where they +were assembled, and evidently debating the situation. + +John and Muro well knew that their present force, now numbering +forty-one, and all well armed, would be more than a match for the savage +force, still, it would not be advisable to prolong the explorations for +the day, as it was desirable to report the situation of affairs to the +Professor. + +After making the sufferers comfortable they started on the march back to +the ship. During the period while caring for the wounded, John and Muro +tried to engage the savages in conversation but all attempts to learn +their language failed, and, as they were about to leave, John said to +Muro: + +"Do you think that man is a chief?" + +"I know he is; I spotted him from the first, and saw from his actions, +and the fact of his being obeyed, that he was a man of some authority." + +"I agree with you," said Uraso, "that he is the one we must take with +us." + +A litter was quickly improvised and the savage gently laid on, and with +this, as their only encumbrance, they started for the return march. Five +of the men had been wounded, all in the arms and body, and none of them +dangerously, so that there was no trouble in the march. + +They filed out to the west, avoiding as much exposure as possible. +Muro's men had been on the observing line, and at Muro's suggestion they +occasionally showed themselves, so as to assure the natives that they +were still holding their ground. + +As the two forces were starting for the ship, Muro prepared a decoy, so +that the savages could see what appeared to be two figures. Then he +hurriedly told John what he had done, and the march began, as rapidly as +possible, at first, and a rear guard was provided to watch the movements +of their enemies. + +Two miles beyond the scene of the fight the party halted, and George was +assisted to climb a tree, from which point they might be seen. + +"I can see them plainly," he called down. "They are now around the +wounded. I cannot see what they are doing, but there is a big crowd." + +He waited for some time, and then cried out: "I believe they are coming +this way. I think it is time for us to be moving." And George slipped +down, as John gave the order to go on. + +The rear guard, with John and Uraso, were now following up behind the +marchers. "Go on, without stopping," he said, as they took up their +positions. + +The boys begged to be permitted to remain with the rear guard, but John +refused to have them exposed. In an hour and a half they ascended an +elevation from which the ship could be seen in the bay to the southwest. + +During that time only once had the runner returned from John to notify +them of the progress of the natives. The last information, therefore, +was about a half hour before, and it was now obvious that the savages +were determined to follow them up, and this would bring them within view +of the vessel. + +Before descending the last declivity that led to the beach, John and the +Chief appeared, and told the boys that all of the tribe was behind them, +and that the cause of the pursuit was, unquestionably, to recover the +Chief who had been taken along. + +At the suggestion of John three shots were fired to attract the +attention of those on the boat, while several of the fleetest runners +speeded down the beach and quickly advised the Professor of the +situation. + +Two boat loads of warriors were quickly sent to shore, and when John and +the party with him came up to the beach, the savages had reached the +crest of the hill, and ranged up in line, but halted to witness the +spectacle before them. + +The wounded chief was taken to the vessel, and the Professor immediately +gave him the best care, but he remarked: "This man is desperately +wounded, and will require the best of attention to enable him to pull +through." + +All the men were finally placed on board, and their experiences related. +An immediate consultation was held. John and the boys insisted on +remaining with a sufficient force to enable them to carry out their +explorations, but the Professor seemed to oppose it. + +"I quite agree with you that, from what John has said, there are reasons +aside from the cannibals over there, why we should explore it from one +end to the other." + +The boys cast a side glance at John. Did John find something that made +him so insistent to remain? They repressed their curiosity, however, for +the time. To their minds they thought the natives were the incentive, +notwithstanding the terrible fight they had just engaged in, although +they were willing to take the risk. + +But it was finally settled. John was to have the force now on board, and +he, with the boys, was to explore, and, if need be, to conquer the +natives on the island. The _Pioneer_ would, in the meantime, sail to +Wonder Island, and return with food and ammunition, and reinforcements. + +There was thus left at their disposal fifty-five men, with a fair supply +of ammunition. Uraso and Muro were to be of the party, as events just +related showed that there was serious work to do before they might be +able to return. + +That night, while making the final arrangements on the vessel, the boys +sought John, and asked him more particularly concerning his trip. + +"We have had no opportunity to speak to you, but the Professor said you +had learned enough about the island to determine you to explore it +fully," said George. + +"That is true. I have found what I believe to be the identical spot +described in the charts, and I have found the solution, I think, of +Walter's note and of the skull." + +This was, indeed, something of importance to them, but John informed +them that for certain reasons it might be better to defer the +explanation until they had made the final explorations. + +The boys knew he must have some pretty good reason for thus explaining +and laying the matter before them, and they forebore further +questionings. + +The next morning, when all the supplies and ammunition had been taken +off, and the final good-byes were said, the party stood on the shore +while the _Pioneer_ slowly moved out, and was soon racing before the +wind on its way to Wonder Island. + +A council was held before they attempted to march into the interior. "I +have every reason to believe that the band which we met yesterday is in +the immediate vicinity, and that they have been watching our movements," +remarked John. + +"In that case," remarked Uraso, "I favor the route to the east, which, +while it may offer us still greater obstacles, in view of our +observations there, still it might enable us the more quickly to +overcome the tribe we have just met." + +The boys looked at each other significantly. "I wonder what Uraso can be +talking about? There must be something very much out of the usual, in +the eastern part of the island." + +"I am interested in knowing what he means by 'the observation' they made +there," responded Harry. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +FIGHT WITH NATIVES AND RETURN TO WONDER ISLAND + + +When the _Pioneer_ sailed for Unity it was with the understanding that +she was to return within a week or ten days. At a cliff in the headland, +which jutted out on the southern side of the bay, a sort of post office +station was established, because if the ship should return while they +were in the interior, it would be well for the commander of the +_Pioneer_ to know where to go in the event that the eastern or the +northern coast should be much more convenient for John and his party. + +It was nearly a hundred miles from the Island to Wonder Island, and +there would be no occasion for the Professor to hurry back a relief, +except to supply additional ammunition, because they did not for an +instant expect to meet a tribe that would give them such a fight. + +There was still enough to provide, probably five rounds per man, so that +it made them a pretty respectable fighting force. The weather was such +that the force on the island did not require tents for shelter, and with +the native fruits the party could well subsist for quite a time without +assistance. + +It was agreed that the party should keep together, and no straggling be +permitted, as it was evident they had a very bitter foe to deal with. +The severely wounded Chief, who was taken along, was under the personal +charge of the Professor, the understanding being that as soon as his +wounds were satisfactorily progressing, an effort would be made to open +up communication with him, and through that channel they could reach the +inhabitants of the island, and thus advise them that they did not mean +to do them an injury. + +"I wonder if that isn't the real reason why John does not want to go for +the fellows who attacked us," asked George. + +"That may be so. It never occurred to me before. It seems to me, +though," answered Harry, "that they will get but little out of that +fellow in a week's time. You know they are very much reserved at times." + +"Or stubborn," suggested George. + +One of the things that John was careful about related to the +organization of the force, so that it would at all times be ready for +action. In order to carry out this idea and make it effectual, he +divided the fighters into two squads of twenty-five men each, under the +commands of Uraso and Muro, the arrangement being such that one squad +should have charge of the patrolling and picketing for a period of two +days, and then the other should take charge for a like time. + +There was always the most perfect accord between the two Chiefs, and +John wisely allowed them to arrange those matters in such a way as would +be most satisfactory to them. + +Before noon the following day the force marched out from Security +Harbor, as they had named the bay, and took up the trail made by John +and his party two days before. + +"We have names for the two islands, and for about all the principal +points, but we have no name for this place," said Harry, as they were +marching along. + +"Quite true," answered George, reflectively. Then, with a laugh, he +said: "As they have cannibals here, according to the evidence so far +gathered, I think _Maneta_ would be a name that would tell the story +about as well as anything." And George laughed as he made the +suggestion. + +He was an adept in applying names, being generally the first to make +suggestions in that direction, and he was rarely at a loss for an apt +designation. + +The route was over a country which was rich in vegetation. During the +first ten miles the ascent was gradual, and the fruit and nuts were +abundant, while new species of trees and flowers attracted the boys. + +"Harry and I have found a plant that has flies and other insects all +over the leaves, and I believe it actually catches and holds. Here is a +sample," said George, as he presented a branch to John. + +John examined it carefully. Then he said: "This is a plant of which we +have several in the United States, but none which are as active. This is +called Venus' Fly Trap." + +"That is curious," remarked Harry. "I wouldn't have paid any attention +to it but I saw a fly alight on it, and these little feelers seemed to +close around it, and hold it." + +"It works on that plan exactly. It is in that way it gets its food." + +"But why should the feelers be able to grasp the fly the moment it +touches the leaf?" + +[Illustration: _Fig. 16. Venus' Fly-Trap._] + +"Do you recall about what the Professor told you of the peculiar power +of plants to absorb food of particular kinds by a faculty called +_irritability_?" + +"Yes; I remember." + +"By means of that, plants are enabled to select just the kinds of +substances that they want, and can digest. If you will carefully notice +the leaf, after it has seized a fly it will be observed that the leaf +exudes a watery substance, and that has the property of digesting the +fly, or of converting the liquid part of the insect into a form of food +which is taken through the leaf, and from the leaf it goes into the +plant itself." + +"I thought plants got their food from the roots only?" + +"Leaves are just the same as roots. They are terminals, and moisture as +well as foods, such, for instance, as nitrogen, is absorbed and fed to +the plant through the leaves." + +As they progressed they could see evidences of human occupation, and in +many places the remains of fire. It was while making a detour from the +regular route taken by John that they saw the first startling thing. + +It was found at a place where a rude hut was discovered in a dilapidated +condition. Directly behind the hut was a raised sort of dais, supported +on two posts, and this was filled with human skulls, all in an advanced +stage of decay. + +It was noticed only by accident, as the area around the hut was thickly +grown up by the vegetation. The boys were naturally startled at the +sight. + +"What does that mean?" asked Harry. + +John replied: "This is evidence that the people here are head hunters." + +"What do you mean by _head hunters_?" + +"Certain savages have the belief that their importance depends on the +number of heads they can capture." + +"Where do they get them?" + +"It is necessary for them to kill their enemies, and impale the heads, +or nail them up to their huts." + +"Is it a religious ceremony?" + +"In some cases that is so. In some tribes the object is merely to show +bravery and manliness. The more heads a man possesses the braver he is." + +The vicinity of the hut was carefully examined, and Uraso brought to +John a very curiously arranged shell, with a handle to it. It was, in +fact, a rattle. John took the article, and after examining it for some +time, remarked: + +"These people will be difficult to deal with; very difficult." + +"Why do you form that conclusion from the examination of the rattle?" + +"This is a vele." + +"A _vele_; and what in the world is that?" + +"A vele is a sort of hoodoo; it is something that many natives believe +in with such tenacity that if any one having this rattle points to him +and declares him veleed, and announces that the veleed one will die the +next day, he will lay down and actually expire as predicted." + +"Do you believe such tales?" asked Harry. + +"Of course those stories are hard to understand, but the missionaries on +the Melanesian Islands vouch for many things similar to that. In 1871, +Bishop Patterson, one of the missionaries, was murdered by the natives +of those islands, and many of the facts in regard to their customs were +then established." + +"But how do they work the vele?" + +"The place where the vele is worked to the most unlimited extent is in +the Island of Guadalcaner, one of the Solomon Islands, although it has +its counterpart in many other places. The vele rattler is carefully kept +in a bamboo box, and when the owner wishes to destroy an enemy he takes +the vele, and searches for him. + +"In doing so he must not be seen by any one. If he is seen the vele will +not be effective. When he finds his enemy the vele is pointed to the +man, and the rattles shaken, and while doing so the one exorcising the +spell must turn his face away and utter curses. As soon as his enemy +hears this, he turns to see who has veleed him, and he then glances +around to see if any one has seen the vele." + +"Are you sure that the rattle is for that purpose?" + +"There is no question of it, and it is an evidence that the natives are +intensely superstitious, and such people are very difficult to deal +with." + +"I suppose we shall have witch doctors to deal with here?" asked George. + +"That is a very natural supposition." + +"Did you see some of these things when you came over here yesterday?" + +"Yes." + +It was evident to both boys that they were going direct to the +mountains, and the general character of the surroundings reminded them +so much of the mountains on Wonder Island, that they felt assured John +would be able to find the cave for which he was searching. + +That night they encamped on a small stream which was, no doubt, formed +by a spring, as its waters were deliciously cool, and refreshing. + +During that night, shortly after twelve o'clock, the boys heard the most +peculiar noises, like a doleful, continuous cry, echoed and reechoed +from hill to mountain,--something indescribable, but they refrained +from saying anything to John about it. + +Some of the boys who were present and heard it were singularly affected, +and it must be said that the boys themselves, notwithstanding the +experiences they had passed through, were not altogether composed in +their minds. + +When Uraso and Muro appeared next morning, after a night of scouting, +they were startled by the accounts which were furnished, as to the +number and warlike character of the inhabitants, and a council was held +to decide whether it would be advisable to proceed with their limited +force. + +If they knew, beyond question, that the island was occupied by another +tribe, it might enable them to make peace with one of them, and thus +pave the way for approaching these people. + +It was unfortunate that the first contact with the natives brought them +into open hostilities, much as they desired to avoid it, but it was too +late now. + +"From your investigations," said John, addressing the two chiefs, "can +you give any idea of the number of natives in this tribe?" + +"We were unable to get near the village, but during the night we touched +three different parties, one over by the high ridge, one a mile to the +front, and the other over in the open ground not far from the place we +had the fight. If I can judge anything by that I should say they have a +number of warriors," answered Uraso. + +"That does, indeed, look as though they are ready to meet us from +whatever direction we may attack them," remarked John. + +"The thing which is the most singular to me," remarked Muro, "is the way +they are coming at us after the fight over there. If they were a weak +lot they would draw off, and keep away from us, and that makes me think +they have a lot of warriors, and are simply waiting until they can +collect all of them." + +"We must do one of two things," ventured John, on reflection. "Either to +go on with the men we have, or to wait until the _Pioneer_ returns, and +then go back with her and fit out a force of ample size to meet them. It +is our wish to win over the people by peaceful means, but our weakness +may be the worst possible way of accomplishing that purpose." + +Uraso and Muro were both in favor of returning and waiting for the +_Pioneer_, as they knew it would be likely to show up within the next +three days, and their views decided the matter. + +"Under the circumstances we must leave this place before it is too late +in the day, or we may have trouble in reaching the landing, although we +can easily hold them off with our rifles, but we must avoid bloodshed," +and on this point John was insistent. + +The camp was astir and all the equipment in hand within fifteen minutes, +although they had not yet partaken of breakfast. Uraso took the first +turn, as commander of the rear guard, while the main body hurried on to +cross the valley, before the savages could get the first notice of the +retirement. + +Notwithstanding the great caution displayed, several shots were heard +before the slope on the other side was reached, and they knew that Uraso +was engaged. + +It is difficult, sometimes, to know just how information travels among +savage people, but in this case, the peculiar beatings of the drums +which could be heard in the dim distance, was sufficient to satisfy Muro +that they had watchers, and a signaling means from treetops and from the +crests of the great hills all around them. + +An hour afterwards Uraso's men were seen in the distance, and, although +they had fired no more shots, it was evident that the natives were now +in force and pressing against him with all their might. Only the +consummate skill of Uraso prevented them from rushing the men under his +command. + +But the top of the hill was reached; the landing was not much more than +a mile beyond that, and John hurriedly took a half dozen men, and George +and Harry with him, in order to select the final line of defense within +reach of the landing place, while Uraso and Muro held them in check. + +The boys were ahead of the little party, swinging along and trying to +get to the elevated point which John indicated as the most available +place, when two powerful natives sprang across their path, and before +either could draw a weapon, they were pounced upon and seized by two +more who approached from the rear. + +With great presence of mind Harry cocked and fired the gun which his +captors were struggling for. The shot went through the arm of the native +who had seized George, and the latter, now free, raised his rifle and +brought it down with all force on the nearest one. + +John and the men with him needed no further information as to the +situation. They were practically surrounded. That was his first thought; +but, as no more natives appeared, and the two remaining savages started +on a run it began to be evident that they were only scouts who expected +an easy capture of the two boys. + +There was no more straggling or running ahead after that. Uraso and the +rear guard came up with a rush on hearing the shots, but were reassured +when they saw the party intact. + +The heights were gained, and before they could arrange for the defense +the natives appeared from three quarters, and held off a quarter of a +mile beyond. + +During the following day John tried to establish communications with the +natives, but they rebuffed all efforts, and the arrival of the _Pioneer_ +was anxiously awaited. + +On the third day the natives were observed closer at various points, and +they began to grow bolder, but at noon of the fourth day the sharp eyes +of Muro discovered the glimpse of a sail to the west. + +Within two hours the form of the ship could be seen. The _Pioneer_ was +making for the landing, and a cheer went up from the men at the welcome +sight. + +There was not much difficulty in descending the cliffs and establishing +communications with the vessel, and within an hour they were aboard and +the natives could plainly be seen coming down the opposite slope waving +defiance to the ship. + +The next day the _Pioneer_ sailed up Enterprise River. The people in +Unity were anxious to learn of the new island, and to hear of the +exploits with the savage tribe which the boys had encountered. + +"The Treasures of the Islands," the next book in this series, relates +the further experiences of the boys upon their return to Rescue Island. + +THE END + + + + +THE BOY GLOBE TROTTERS + +By ELBERT FISHER + +_12mo. Cloth. Many Illustrations. 60c. per Volume_ + + +This is a series of four books relating the adventures of two boys, who +make a trip around the world, working their way as they go. They meet +with various peoples having strange habits and customs, and their +adventures form a medium for the introduction of much instructive matter +relative to the character and industries of the cities and countries +through which they pass. A description is given of the native sports of +boys in each of the foreign countries through which they travel. The +books are illustrated by decorative head and end pieces for each +chapter, there being 36 original drawings in each book, all by the +author, and four striking halftones. + +1. FROM NEW YORK TO THE GOLDEN GATE, takes in many of the principal +points between New York and California, and contains a highly +entertaining narrative of the boys' experiences overland and not a +little useful information. + +2. FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO JAPAN, relates the experiences of the two boys +at the Panama Exposition, and subsequently their journeyings to Hawaii, +Samoa and Japan. The greater portion of their time is spent at sea, and +a large amount of interesting information appears throughout the text. + +3. FROM TOKIO TO BOMBAY. This book covers their interesting experiences +in Japan, followed by sea voyages to the Philippines, Hongkong and +finally to India. Their experiences with the natives cover a field +seldom touched upon in juvenile publications, as it relates to the great +Hyderabad region of South India. + +4. FROM INDIA TO THE WAR ZONE, describes their trip toward the Persian +Gulf. They go by way of the River Euphrates and pass the supposed site +of the Garden of Eden, and manage to connect themselves with a caravan +through the Great Syrian Desert. After traversing the Holy Land, where +they visit the Dead Sea, they arrive at the Mediterranean port of Joppa, +and their experiences thereafter within the war zone are fully +described. + + THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY + 147 FOURTH AVENUE NEW YORK + + + + +THE "HOW-TO-DO-IT" BOOKS + +BY J. S. ZERBE + + +CARPENTRY FOR BOYS + +A book which treats, in a most practical and fascinating manner all +subjects pertaining to the "King of Trades"; showing the care and use of +tools; drawing; designing, and the laying out of work; the principles +involved in the building of various kinds of structures, and the +rudiments of architecture. It contains over two hundred and fifty +illustrations made especially for this work, and includes also a +complete glossary of the technical terms used in the art. The most +comprehensive volume on this subject ever published for boys. + + +ELECTRICITY FOR BOYS + +The author has adopted the unique plan of setting forth the fundamental +principles in each phase of the science, and practically applying the +work in the successive stages. It shows how the knowledge has been +developed, and the reasons for the various phenomena, without using +technical words so as to bring it within the compass of every boy. It +has a complete glossary of terms, and is illustrated with two hundred +original drawings. + + +PRACTICAL MECHANICS FOR BOYS + +This book takes the beginner through a comprehensive series of practical +shop work, in which the uses of tools, and the structure and handling of +shop machinery are set forth; how they are utilized to perform the work, +and the manner in which all dimensional work is carried out. Every +subject is illustrated, and model building explained. It contains a +glossary which comprises a new system of cross references, a feature +that will prove a welcome departure in explaining subjects. Fully +illustrated. + +_12mo, cloth. Price 60 cents per volume_ + + THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY + 147 FOURTH AVENUE NEW YORK + + + + +The Ethel Morton Books + +By MABELL S. C. SMITH + + +This series strikes a new note in the publication of books for girls. +Fascinating descriptions of the travels and amusing experiences of our +young friends are combined with a fund of information relating their +accomplishment of things every girl wishes to know. + +In reading the books a girl becomes acquainted with many of the +entertaining features of handcraft, elements of cooking, also of +swimming, boating and similar pastimes. This information is so imparted +as to hold the interest throughout. Many of the subjects treated are +illustrated by halftones and line engravings throughout the text. + +LIST OF TITLES + + ETHEL MORTON AT CHAUTAUQUA + ETHEL MORTON AND THE CHRISTMAS SHIP + ETHEL MORTON'S HOLIDAYS + ETHEL MORTON AT ROSE HOUSE + ETHEL MORTON'S ENTERPRISE + ETHEL MORTON AT SWEET BRIER LODGE + +_Price 60 cents per volume; postpaid_ + + PUBLISHED BY + The New York Book Company + 147 FOURTH AVENUE NEW YORK, N.Y. + + + + +The Mountain Boys Series + + + 1. PHIL BRADLEY'S MOUNTAIN BOYS + 2. PHIL BRADLEY AT THE WHEEL + 3. PHIL BRADLEY'S SHOOTING BOX + 4. PHIL BRADLEY'S SNOW-SHOE TRAIL + +These books describe with interesting detail the experiences of a party +of boys among the mountain pines. + +They teach the young reader how to protect himself against the elements, +what to do and what to avoid, and above all to become self-reliant and +manly. + +_12mo .'. .'. .'. 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