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 naïvely.
"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.