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THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS: EXPLORING THE ISLAND
by
ROGER T. FINLAY
Illustrated
The New York Book Company
New York
Copyright 1914
[Illustration: _"Before they had gone 20 feet, a large leopard-like
animal sprang transversely across their path"_]
CONTENTS
I. THE FOURTH VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY
The journey into the forest. Restlessness of the yaks. The alarm.
Wild animals. George Mayfield and Harry Crandall. Their companion,
an aged Professor. Their history. How they were shipwrecked. Thrown
on an island without weapons, tools, food, or any of the
requirements of life. What they had accomplished previous to the
opening of this chapter. Making tools. Capturing yaks and training
them. The three previous expeditions, and what they discovered. The
mysterious occurrences. The fourth voyage of discovery. Losing
sight of the strange animals. The forest. Discovering orang-outans.
Capturing a young orang. Christening the "Baby." Its strange and
restless actions. A shot. A wild animal. The wildcat. Enemy of the
orang-outan. Distances deceptive, and why. Peculiar sensations at
altitudes. Tableland. The fifth day. Discovery of a broad river.
Progress barred.
II. THE MYSTERIOUS LIGHTS
A mountain chain beyond the river. Adventures along the river.
Decide to follow the river to the north. Camping at the shore of a
small stream. Prospecting tour on the stream. The flint arrow. The
arrow in the skull of an animal. Different kinds of arrows.
Home-sick. The light across the river. The test of firing a gun.
Disappearance of the light. Seeking explanation. The night watch.
The early breakfast and start. Scouting in advance. Qualifications
in scouting.
III. THE BEAR FIGHT
A coast line of steep hills. Shooting an animal. The answering
shot. The wonderful echo. Calculating distance of the bluff by the
sound. The bear. The attack of the bear. The Professor's shot. The
frightened yaks. Recovery of the wagon. Death of the bear. Rugged
traveling. Changing their course. Deciding to return to their home.
Stormy weather. The traveling chart. Methods used to determine
course in traveling. An adjustable square. Obtaining angles from
the shadows.
IV. THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE YAKS
Breezes from the north. Indications of proximity of the sea. Warm
winds. What wind temperatures tell. The missing yak herd. Mystery
of the turning water wheel. The mill and workshop. Their home.
"Baby" learning civilized ways. The noise in the night. The return
of the yaks. The need for keeping correct time. Shoe leather
necessary. Threshing out barley. The flail. The grindstone. Making
flour. Baking bread. How the bread was raised. What yeast does in
bread. Temperature required. The "Baby" and the honey pot. The
bread with large holes in it. George's trip to the cliffs. A
peculiar sounding noise and spray from the cliffs. An air pocket.
Compressed air. Non-compressible water.
V. AN EXCITING HUNT
Earthquake indications. The seismograph. The theory about the
interior of the earth. How geologists know the composition of the
interior of the earth for miles down. The earth's "crust." The
weekly hunting trip. Determine to cross South River and explore.
The lost hatchet found. Making a raft to cross the river. Going
into the interior. The sound of moving animals. Caution in
approaching. Discovering the beast. Two shots. The disappearing
animal. Indications that the animal was hit. Trail lost. Returning
to the river. The animal again sighted. Firing at the animal. The
shots take effect. The animal too heavy to carry. Return to the
Cataract home. Finding the camphor tree. Its wonders as a medicine.
Calisaya. Algoraba, a species of bean, or locust. Sarsaparilla. The
trip to South River with the team. Finding the shot animal. The
ocelot. Two bullet holes instead of one. The animal not at the
place where it was shot the night before. Mystery explained by the
finding of second animal which they had shot. Skinning the animals.
VI. HUNTING VEGETABLES AND PLANTS
The accomplishments of George and Harry. Theory and practice.
Fermentation. How heat develops germs. Bacteria. Harmless germs.
Tribes of germs. Septic system of sewage. The war between germs.
Setting germs to work. Indications from the vegetable world as to
the climate. Prospecting in the hills. Tanning leather. Bark, and
what it does in tanning. Different materials used. The gall nut and
how it is formed. Different kinds of leaves. The edges of leaves.
The most important part of every vegetation. Trip to the cliffs.
Hunting for the air pocket. Discovery of a cave. Exploring the
cave. The water in the cave. Indication of marine animal in the
water. Return to the mouth of the cave. Discovering the air pocket.
The peculiar light in the cave. Calcium coating.
VII. INVESTIGATING THE PROSPECTOR'S HOLE
Speculation as to the animal in the cave. Determined to explore the
mystery of the "hole" in the hill. Trip to the hills. Difficulty in
finding the "hole." Accidental discovery of a rock. The "hole"
found. Indication that it was made by man. Why plants flourish
around holes and stones. Moisture and heat. Object of cultivating
plants. Lead and silver ore. Zinc. Working with their ore furnace.
Putting metals to work. Labor-saving tools, what they are and what
they do. Roasting ore. Melting roasted ore in crucible. Recovering
zinc. Light from zinc and copper. Harry bitten by a "cat." The
zibet.
VIII. THE BULL FIGHT
Different fruit, flowers and vegetables. The thistle. Its
nutritious qualities. Why animals can eat it. The sorrel and the
shamrock. Significance of the latter. Vanilla. Smell is vibration.
Harmony and discord in odors. What essences are composed of.
Preserving seeds for planting. Food elements in vegetables.
Surprising increase in their herd of yaks. Investigation. The wild
bull. Apollo, the bull of their herd. His absence. The wild bull
charging George. Stampede of the herd. George carried with them.
Appearance of Apollo. Engaging in combat. Apollo the stronger.
Reappearance of George. Return of the cows. Apollo the victor.
Finding a brand mark on the wild bull. Inventory of their stock.
Work in tanning vats. The flash of Harry's gun in the distance.
Explanation of the difference in time between the flash and report.
"Sound" or "noise." Vibrations. Light. The locomotive whistle
explained.
IX. EXCITING EXPERIENCES WITH THE BOATS
Health on the island. Illness of Harry. Fever. Determining
temperature. Making a thermometer. Substitutes for glass and
mercury. How Fahrenheit scale is determined. Centigrade scale.
Testing the thermometer. Determining fever. Danger point. Why a
coiled pipe tries to straighten out under pressure. Medicine for
fever. Rains and rising Cataract River. Decision to explore sea
coast to the east. Yoking up the yaks. Gathering samples of plants
and flowers. The beach. Following the shore line. Discovering the
boat which had disappeared from the Falls in South River.
Surprising find of strange oars and unfamiliar rope in the boat.
Harry and George decide to sail the boat around the cliff point to
the Cataract River. The Professor takes the team home. Sighting an
object on the cliffs. Going ashore at the foot of the cliffs for an
examination. Ascending the cliffs. Discovering the wrecked remains
of their life-boat. Consternation when their boat is washed away
from the shore. Getting the wreck of the life-boat down to the
water. The watching and waiting Professor. The boys launch the
life-boat and float to the mainland. Meeting the Professor.
Explanations.
X. THE BIRTHDAY PARTY AND THE SURPRISE
Theory that their island is near some other inhabited island. The
mysterious occurrences of the fire in the forest; the lights across
the river. The disappearance of their boat. The removal of the
flagpole and flag; the arrows; the hole in the hillside; the
finding of the boat with unfamiliar oars and rope on it. Conclude
to make another boat. Unsanitary arrangement of their kitchen.
Purifying means employed. Different purifying agents. Primary
electric battery. The cell; how made. The electrodes. Clay. The
positive and the negative elements. How connected up. The battery.
Making wire. How electricity flows. Rate of flow. Volts and
amperes. Pressure and quantity. Drawing out the wire. Tools for
drawing the wire. Friction. Molecules and atoms. Accomplishments of
"Baby." Climbing trees and finding nuts. George as cook. Making
puddings. "Baby's" aid. Finding eggs of prairie chicken. Planning a
surprise for the Professor. The birthday party. George's cakes to
celebrate the event. Harry's gong. The missing cakes. "Baby" the
thief. The feast. Why laughter is infectious. Odors. Beautiful
perfumes wafted to long distances. Bad odors destroyed. Why. Oxygen
as a purifying agent.
XI. THE GRUESOME SKELETON
The Cataract water. Common oak chips as purifiers. Tannic acid.
Bitter almonds. Universal purification of water. The Bible method.
Albumen impurities in water. Electric battery. The electrode. How
the cells were made. Object of plurality of cells. Volts, amperes
and watts, and their definitions. A new boat determined on.
Determining size of the boat. Recovering their life-boat. Visit to
Observation Hill. Hunting for the lost flagpole and flag. Wreckage
of a ship's boat discovered. The Professor sent for. Ascertain it
is not part of their wrecked boat. Gathering up portions of the
boat. Amazing discovery of skull and skeleton. Methods of
determining age. Condition of the skull and teeth. Carrying the
remains to the Cataract. The funeral. The seven ages in the growth
of man. Sadness. The skeleton at the feast. Why is death necessary.
One of the many reasons.
XII. THE DISTANT SHIP AND ITS DISAPPEARANCE
The endive. Chicory. The principle in the plant. The root. Curious
manner of preparing it. A surprise for Harry. Making clay crocks.
How to glaze or vitrify them. The use of salt in the process. A
potter's wheel. Uses of the wheel. Its antiquity. Inspecting the
electric battery. How it is connected up. Peculiarities in
designating parts of the battery. Making the first spark. Necessary
requirements for making a lighting plant. The arc light. What arc
is and means. The incandescent light. Why the filament in bulb does
not readily burn out. Oxygen as a supporter of combustion. Carbon,
how made. Essential of the invention of the arc light. Determine
again to explore cave. The lamps, spears and other equipment.
Exciting discovery of a sail. Signaling the ship. The ship
disappears. Discouragement. Determine to make a large flag and
erect a new flagpole. Visiting the cave. Exploring it. Mounting one
of the lamps on ledge for safety. Water not found where it was on
previous visit. Discovery of a large domed chamber. Bringing
forward the light on the ledge. Entering the chamber. Disappearance
of the light from the ledge. The outlet of the chamber. Searching
for the lost light. Determine to chart the cave. Steps taken.
Surveying methods. Substitutes for paper and pencil. Soot. The
base, the angle, and the projecting lines. How the side walls were
charted.
XIII. THE EXCITING HUNT INT HE FOREST
An eventful day. Accounting for the disappearance of the water in
the cave. The animal in the cave. Subterranean connection with the
sea. Starting to make the large flag. Regulation flag determined
on. The stripes and their colors, and how arranged. Their
significance. The blue field and how studded. Its proportional
size. How the yellow ramie cloth was made white. The bleaching
process. Chloride of lime. The red color. The madder plant. Its
powerful dyeing qualities. Coffee. The surprise party for Harry.
Chicory leaves as a salad. Exhilarative substances and beverages.
The cocoa leaf. Betel-nut. Pepper plants. Thorn apples. The ledum
and hop. Narcotic fungus. "Baby's" experiment with the red dye test
sample. Test samples in dyeing. Color-metric tests in analyzing
chemicals. Reagents. The meaning and their use. Bitter-sweet. Blue
dye. Copper and lime as coloring substance. The completed flag. A
hunting trip for the pole. Making a trailer. A pole fifty feet long
determined on. Tethering the yaks at the river. Searching for pole.
The shell-bark hickory. The giant ant-killer. His peculiarities.
Weight of hickory. Weight of the pole. Problem to convey it to the
river. Determine to get the yaks. Swimming them across the river.
The Professor absent on their return. Searching for the Professor.
A shot heard. Going in the direction of the shot. Another shot from
vicinity of the team. Returning in the direction of last shot. Find
the Professor with team on way to river. How they made a circle
without knowing it. A lesson in judgment.
XIV. THE RAISING OF THE FLAG, AND ANGEL'S PART IN IT
Absence of Red Angel. The search. Sorrow at his flight. The morning
breakfast. Reappearance of Red Angel with nuts. The honey pot and
Red Angel. The voluntary exchange of nut for honey. How the orang
reasoned. Preparation for pole-raising day. The capstans. The ropes
and forked poles. The Angel invited to attend. How the pole was
raised. Preparation to hoist the flag. The interference of Red
Angel. How he mounted the pole. How honey was no temptation.
George's discovery that Angel had eaten all the honey. The ceremony
of raising the flag. Trying to sing the Star-Spangled Banner. The
failure. Taking possession of the island in the name of the United
States. Significance of the act of taking possession. Heraldry and
the bending of the flag on the halliards. The banner and flag in
ancient times. Leaving the flag at half-mast. The banner in the
Bible. The necessity for making glass. Its early origin. The
crystal of the ancients. What it is made of. The blowing process.
An acid and an alkali. Sand as an acid. Lime, soda, and potash as
alkalis. The result when united. Transparent and translucent.
Opaqueness. Making sheet glass. Why the eye cannot see through
rough glass. How sheets are prevented from being cracked.
XV. MYSTERIOUS HAPPENINGS ON THE ISLAND
Heating the crucibles for fusing glass. Eliminating impurities.
Result of too much alkali. A test sample of glass. Speculation as
to the inhabitants of the island. Their knowledge of the presence
of savages. Mysterious occurrences while on the island. Determining
to make further explorations for their own safety. The guns they
had made. The hesitation about the trip inland. The hope for
another ship. Discussing the probability of meeting the savages.
Questions to be decided in building their boat. Possibilities of an
island near them. Reasons for that view. A year from the time they
sailed from New York. The spring. Planting a garden. Preparing the
ground. The buckwheat. Propagation. Wild oats. How cultivated.
Budding, grafting and inarching. Seedless fruit. Conclude to
utilize the wrecked part of the life-boat as part of the new boat.
Size of the new vessel. Its size and weight What is a ship. A brig,
a sloop. Single masters. The sails. Different parts of the masts.
The bowsprit and boom. The triangular sail.
XVI. DISCOVERY OF THE SAVAGES' HUTS
The hunting expedition. The forest below South River. Suggestions
of the Professor concerning the importance of that section. The
trail through the dense woods. Wild animals. Different varieties of
game. Directing course by the sun. Character of the country.
Discovery of native huts. A vegetable garden. The surprising
contents of the huts. Accidentally finding paper containing
writing. Other articles of interest among the rubbish. A mineral
spring. A monogrammed silver cup. The return journey. Discussing
the articles found.
XVII. THE GRIM EVIDENCE IN THE HILLS
Trying to decipher the writing traces on the paper. Conclusions.
The Professor's journey. Prospecting in the hills. Discovery of
numerous fissures in the rocks. A skeleton in one of them. The
telltale arrows. Mute evidence of the character of the inhabitants
of the island.
XVIII. STRANGE DISCOVERY OF A COMPANION LIFEBOAT
Work on the new boat. Variety of their work. The regular hunting
day. The joke on the Professor. Old age. How old age becomes a
habit. The discussion on hunting. Deciding where to go. Conclude to
visit the forests to the west. Provisioning for the journey.
Reaching the edge of the main forest, accompanied by Red Angel. In
the proximity of the Falls. Decided to go in that direction. Reach
the river. Searching for the spot where the boat was left and from
which place it had been taken. No traces of the mooring place.
Examining driftwood and debris along river bank. Amazing discovery
of one of _Investigator's_ boats. Speculation as to the mystery.
Evidence that it came over the Falls. Disappearance of the lockers
of the boat, similar to those on their own. Discussion as to the
fate of their companions. Decide to seclude the boat. Sudden
appearance of Red Angel in excitement. Following him back to the
location of the wagon. Disappearance of the yaks and wagon.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
"Before they had gone 20 feet, a large leopard-like animal sprang
transversely across their path"
"George saw his peril and now realized that he could not possibly reach
a place of safety"
"'What is this? a party?' said the Professor. 'Yes; a birthday party,'
said Harry"
"Red Angel saw George's design, and without saying a word he slowly
descended"
LIST OF FIGURES
1. The Orang-outan
2. Types of Arrow-head
3. The Bear
4. Diagram of Their Trip
5. Bevel Square
6. Sighting the Direction
7. Threshing Flail
8. Samples of Bread
9. Air Pocket
10. Normal Crust of the Earth
11. Mountain Upheaval
12. Branch of the Camphor Tree
13. Tanning Vat
14. Serrate Leaf
15. Bi-serrate Leaf
16. Dentate Leaf
17. Crenate Leaf
18. Cave Entrance
19. Vegetation Around Stone
20. Vegetation Around Hole
21. Vanilla Plant
22. The Mysterious Brand on the Yak
23. Measuring Sound Pitch
24. Thermometer
25. Primary Battery
26. Template for Drawing Wire
27. Complete Battery with Connections
28. Human Skull
29. Potter's Wheel
30. Forming Blade
31. The Electric Arc
32. The Chart of the Cave
33. Betel-nut
34. The Giant Ant-eater
35. Chart Showing How the Boys Were Lost
36. Pole Raising
37. Making Sheet Glass
38. Grafting
39. Budding
40. Inarching
EXPLORING THE ISLAND
CHAPTER I
THE FOURTH VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY
"I wonder why the yaks are so wild and difficult to handle this
morning?" said George, as he stopped the wagon and tried to calm them by
soothing words.
At that moment Harry, who was in the lead, sprang back with a cry of
alarm, and quietly, but with-evident excitement, whispered: "There are
some big animals over to the right!"
The Professor was out of the wagon in an instant and moved forward with
Harry. "You would better remain with the team, George," was the
Professor's suggestion.
George Mayfield and Harry Crandall, two American boys, attached to a
ship training school, had been shipwrecked, in company with an aged
professor, on an unknown island, somewhere in the Pacific, over four
months prior to the opening of this chapter; and, after a series of
adventures, had been able, by ingenious means, to devise many of the
necessaries of life from the crude materials which nature furnished
them; and they were now on their third voyage of discovery into the
unknown land.
For your information, a brief outline is given of a few of the things
they had discovered, of some of their adventures, and of what they had
made, and why they were now far out in the wilderness.
When they landed they had absolutely nothing, in the way of tools or
implements. Neither possessed even a knife, so they had to get food and
clothing and prepare shelter with the crudest sort of appliances.
By degrees they began to make various articles, found copper, iron and
various ores, as well as lime-rock and grindstone formations. With
these, and the knowledge of the Professor, they finally succeeded in
making iron and copper tools and implements, built a water wheel,
erected a sawmill, and eventually turned out a primitive pistol or gun.
During this time, however, they were interested in discovering what the
island contained. The first voyage was on foot through a forest, where
they saw an exciting combat between bears for the possession of a honey
tree, and witnessed the death of one of them. By the accidental
discovery of the honey tree they were supplied with an excellent
substitute for sugar.
In the next voyage a large river was discovered to the south, which they
named the South River. The second voyage was along that stream, until
they reached a falls, where they were compelled to leave the crude boat
which was made before starting on this voyage, and they proceeded on
foot.
After a week's adventure in the forest they found a fire plot, which was
the first indication that the island was inhabited. As up to this time
they had no weapons but bows and arrows, which they had made, they
returned home hurriedly. On the journey they had the fortune to capture
a yak and her calf, and subsequently became possessors of a small herd,
two of which they trained. A wagon was built and a store of provisions
gathered in. A crude machine was constructed to weave the ramie fiber,
the plant of which they found growing on the banks; in addition they had
success in making felt cloth from the hair of the yak.
After providing many of the things which were necessaries, and several
samples of firearms, as stated, they determined to go on their third
voyage of discovery. During the various trips several mysterious and
inexplainable things occurred. First, the fire on the banks of the
Cataract River, about fifty miles from their home. Second, the
disappearance of their boat, which had been left below the falls in
South River; and, third, the removal of their flag and pole at
Observation Hill, a half mile from their home, during the time they were
absent on the third voyage.
They were now on their fourth voyage, and the incident mentioned on the
opening page of this chapter related to the first large animal they had
discovered.
In a short time Harry and the Professor returned from the search. "We
have lost them, but shall undoubtedly find them later on," was all he
said.
The forest was still to the south of them, and to the north the sea was
now distant fully three or four miles, as the coast seemed to trend to
the northwest, after passing the wild barley fields. The ground appeared
to be more open and level, so a more southerly course was taken in that
direction. Before night they emerged from the dense forest, which still
continued to the right.
No stirring incidents occurred during the day, until night was
approaching, when, on entering a straggling forest of detached trees and
thick underbrush, George, who was in the lead, and acting the part of
the scout, rushed back and held up a warning hand. The team stopped
while Harry and the Professor quickly moved toward George.
"I have seen some orang-outans; come quickly."
Moving forwardly they could hear a plaintive cry, not unlike the wail of
an infant. All stopped in surprise. The Professor was the first to
speak: "That is a young orang. See if you can locate him."
As they moved still nearer the sound, there was a scampering of several
orangs, and not fifty feet away was a pair of babies, struggling to
reach the most convenient tree.
Harry pounced on the pair and caught one of them, which set up a
vigorous shriek. The other, in the excitement, got too far beyond the
reach of George, who, in his eagerness, was too busy watching Harry's
captive to notice the other animal, and before he could reach the tree
one of the grown orangs had reached the ground, gathered up the infant
and again sprang up the tree.
"Give it some honey," said the Professor, laughing.
"What are the things good for, anyway?" asked Harry.
[Illustration: _Fig 1. THE ORANG-OUTAN_]
"Of course, you are not compelled to keep it, but while you have it feed
and treat it well."
"What does it eat?"
"Principally nuts and fruit, as well as vegetables. If properly prepared
they will eat almost everything man eats, except meats."
At first, as a matter of curiosity, they restrained him, and as it was
near camping time for the night, the Professor suggested that it would
be well to make camp close to the tree which had harbored the orang
family.
After a good supper the Baby nestled up in the mattress, and was sound
asleep in fifteen minutes. When the boys arranged the mattresses for the
night, Baby did not seem at all disturbed, and he slept peacefully until
morning.
After breakfast no effort was made to deprive the Baby of its liberty,
but no attempt was made on his part to leave the wagon. He relished the
honey and the other delicacies, all of which were undoubtedly, a
surprise to him.
The parent orangs were in sight on the trees beyond, but made no
demonstrations, although they saw the young one crawling and swinging on
and around the wagon.
You may be sure that the petting Baby got was enough to spoil any
infant. Probably, the parents saw the affection lavished on it, or knew
that it was not curtailed of its liberty.
When they again set out on the march Baby kept a firm hold on the
mattress, or lazily swung from the cross bars of the wagon top. It was
having the time of its life.
Before noon of the next day, Baby began to act strangely. It would jump
first to one side, then to the other. Harry, who was in the lead, was
called up, and the wagon stopped. The antics of Baby looked like fear.
Before Harry reached the wagon the Professor and George heard a shot,
and the next moment something struck the canvas top and rolled to the
ground. It was up in an instant and sprang to the back of one of the
yaks, before the Professor, who was driving, could realize what was
happening.
George was off the wagon in an instant, and seeing the strange animal on
the back of the yak, drew his gun, and two shots rang out almost at the
same instant.
When Harry turned back, at the call of the Professor, he saw the animal
in the tree, which was then alongside of the wagon, and without waiting
to give a warning, had shot at it, the bullet going through its
forelegs. The result was it fell, striking the wagon, rolled over, and
then sprang to the back of the yak. George's nimbleness in jumping from
the wagon, and running around, enabled him to get in a shot at the same
time the Professor fired. Both of their shots took effect, and it rolled
to the ground.
"What is it?" asked George.
"A wildcat; no wonder the poor Baby was frightened!"
"How did Baby, inside of the wagon, know of the cat?"
"The wildcat is the mortal enemy of the orang-outan. While they fear to
encounter the grown animals, they will attack the young, and the orangs
seem to have the instinct of danger from that source born in them."
The Baby's nerves were unstrung with the din of the guns, and it was an
hour before he could be calmed down. The wildcat was skinned, and it was
days before the orang could be reconciled to the sight of the pelt or
the smell of the animal.
"That is an instinct in certain animals. Nature has provided them with
warnings of danger when their enemies are near."
"What a short tail the cat has," remarked George; "so unlike the tame
cat."
"That, and the head, which is much larger and flatter than the common
cat, as well as the shorter legs, show the distinguishing differences.
Its color, as this one is, uniformly grayish-brown, with stripes running
around the body, is a peculiarity found in the tame species, known as
the 'tiger-cat,' to which they are the most closely allied."
Before nightfall fairly level ground was reached, and this being the
third day, they judged their location was fully sixty miles due west of
the Cataract. Far to the south and southeast the mountains could be
distinctly seen, but the Professor did not think the ranges were very
high.
In the far west the cloudy aspect of the sky prevented them from judging
of the character of the land, but it had the appearance of mountains, as
well.
"How far away are the mountains in the south, do you think?" asked the
Professor.
"I estimate them at about five miles," was George's response.
"What is your idea, Harry?"
"I don't think George is far out of the way."
"Would you be surprised if I should put it at twenty-five miles, or
more?"
"What makes you think so?"
"Appearances are always deceptive when you have nothing intervening to
measure by."
"Is that the reason distances on water are always so deceptive?"
"Yes; have you ever noticed that you can judge distances better if the
intervening landscape is rolling?"
"I think that is true in my case. But there is another thing I have
noticed: When I am standing on the ground and looking up at an object,
it never seems as far as when I am up there looking down: Why is that
so?"
"That is simply the effect of habit, or familiarity. You are accustomed
to look up at objects. The perspective, the altitude, and the appearance
of the heights are natural things to you; but, when you are above,
things below you have an entirely different perspective outline. Their
arrangement is unfamiliar. Probably that is one of the reasons why we
should always look upwardly in life, and not downwardly."
"But," inquired Harry, "is that the reason why some people, when at an
elevation, like a tall building, or on a high precipice, say they feel
like jumping down?"
"That is a species of paralysis, growing out of a sense of insecurity.
It is purely an unnatural sensation, that temporarily disorganizes the
nervous system. I knew a man who, whenever placed in such a position,
could not speak."
They were now on what might be called the table land of the island. A
broad plateau, with frequent groves, and any quantity of young trees
scattered about everywhere, gave a most pleasing view. During the fourth
day of the journey occasional little streams, flowing to the north, were
crossed, and in the forenoon they had to halt for two hours and camp
during the heaviest rainstorm which had fallen since they came to the
island.
On the fifth day a broad river was sighted, flowing to the north, and
before noon the banks were reached. Its width barred their further
progress, unless a raft could be made large enough to take the team
across. This was considered a hazardous task, and the distance from home
was too great to take the risk. It was a larger stream than South River.