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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. Larvæ. 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 archæologist, 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."