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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
* * * * *
TREASURES OF THE ISLANDS
[Illustration: "_The scout from the rear now came in with a leap_"
[See p. 27]]
THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS
TREASURES OF THE ISLANDS
by
ROGER T. FINLAY
Illustrated
[Illustration]
The New York Book Company
New York
Copyright, 1915, by
The New York Book Company
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I. THE PECULIAR SIGNALS Page 15
The doleful sound. The Alma Perdita. "Cry of the Lost
Soul." John, Uraso and Muro listening to the signals of
the enemies. The night watch. Stalking. The answering
cry. The Konotos. Sacrificial feasts. The dark of the
moon. Its significance. The language of birds and
animals. Their meaning. Discovery of cannibals. The
telltale bone. Evidence of more than one tribe. Strange
customs. Sacrifices of ancient times. Mexican rites.
Superstitions. Previous history of the boys. Varney,
Uraso and Muro. The Professor. The wreck and adventures.
John's search for records, and inscriptions. Mysterious
happenings. Waiting for morning. The plan outlined. The
days of the sacrifices. Determine to prevent the killing
of captives. Discovery of the natives in vicinity.
Investigating the hills.
II. THE SAVAGES ON THE HILL Page 26
John's instructions. John and Muro scouting. The natives
intercepting Uraso. Preparing to resist the attack. The
signaling instrument. A shot. A hurried report from the
scout. Sending a messenger to Muro. The puzzled natives.
Muro attacked. Marching east. Muro in danger. Making a
demonstration. The weird drums. The ambush. The approach
of the natives. The attempt to be friendly. The Chief's
refusal. The appearance of Uraso. Uraso's ruse. The
savages confounded. Muro surrounded. His escape. The
savages retreating. Muro's story. Muro's efforts to make
friends of the natives. Driving them from the woods. The
sea of the east. The runner to the landing. The peculiar
drums. The Marimba. The mountain deer.
III. CAPTURE OF THE VILLAGE Page 38
The trying time at night. No selfishness in education.
The evening talks. Astronomy and early humanity. Savage
rites determined and carried out by the signs of the
stars. The Zodiac. Its origin. The universal
superstitions. A common origin. The continents. The
theory of a mid-Atlantean continent. The theory of the
joined continents. Language as a criterion of the unity
of the races. The pyramids. The tales of the Egyptian
priests. The deep sea soundings by the ship _Challenger_.
The beating of the weird drums in the night. Evidence of
the natives' belief in witch doctors. The plan of advance
outlined by John. The boys, accompanied by John and
portion of the force advancing. Nearing the village.
Hearing the shouting and the drums. Causes of the
demonstrations. A captive. At the edge of the village. A
curious proceeding. A huge Chief. The witch doctors.
Their fantastic garb. The Chief's defiance. Demands
return of the captured Chief. Asks John to surrender.
Commands the Korinos to destroy captive. They bring
forward Tarra, their own messenger. The warning. The
shot.
IV. RESCUING A WHITE CAPTIVE Page 53
Tarra freed. When captured. The fallen witch doctor. The
surprise. The warning from Uraso. Exorcising the bad
spirits. The influence of noise on savage minds. The gun
silencers. The savages insist on aiding their fallen
witch doctor. The shot with the silencer. The awe
produced. John the white Korino. The terror among the
natives. The Chief retreats. Entering the village. The
Chief and people flee. The reserves come up. The sick and
wounded in the village. A prison stockade. Rescuing
prisoners. Their terrible plight. A white captive. The
stockade burned. Learning about the tribes on the island.
The messenger to the Chief. The latter's message. John's
bold march to see the Chief. Astounded at John's bravery.
John's peace pact with the Chief. The return to the
village. The Chief assured of the friendship of John and
his people. Learning about the other tribe. One sun to
the north. The Chief told why the white Chief was so
powerful. Wisdom. John's practical example to the Chief.
V. RETURN OF THE NATIVES Page 66
Trinkets. Adornments for the natives. Gifts. The day
appointed for the sacrifices. John and party invited by
the Chief. John sends for the gifts. The _Pioneer_ at the
landing. Sails to the native village. The Korinos called
before the Chief. He demands that they produce the
captives for sacrifice. The Korinos learn of the
destruction of the stockade, and the release of the
captives. The Chief condemns the Korinos to take their
places. John secures delay. At the beach. The natives
gathering clams for the feast. The Korinos and their
caves. A sail. The boys spread the news. The signal. The
natives wonder at the sight of the vessel. The _Pioneer_.
The feast that night. Spitting meat. The natives'
customs. Vegetables. The drink. Arialad. The value of the
root. Ginseng.
VI. THE SAVAGE CEREMONIALS Page 78
The day for the ceremonies. The native cloth weaving.
Dyeing. Black and red. The grotesque figures. The spears.
The colored streamers. The covered points. The flag idea.
A brilliant scheme by the boys. The band for the
ceremonies. A procession. The ship's band. The leader.
The enthusiasm in the village. The dancing natives.
Arranging the order of the procession. The tall man and
huge spear. The Korinos. The band and the flag at the
procession. The leader. The magnolia trees. The march to
the forest. The great tree on the hill. The ceremony.
Striking the tree. The flower at the top. How it was
brought down. The rite of the flower. Incineration. The
powder. The dance. Return of the procession.
VII. SIGNIFICANCE OF NATIVE RITES Page 88
Fasting before the feast. Great success of the ceremony.
The significance of the flower rites. Ancient origin of
rites. Explaining customs which followed the practice of
scalping. Head hunters. The hair token. The flower before
the fruit. The Druids. The ceremonia of the mistletoe.
The antidote. The oak as a sacred tree. The great feast
after the ceremony. Table implements. The Korinos. Where
they were imprisoned. Prepared for the sacrifice. Their
attempted escape. Gluttony. Habits of savages in this
respect. The siesta. The boys discover the escape of the
Korinos. The Marmozets. The tall native with the knotted
club. His remarkable garb. The Chief's crown. The
club-bearer reports the escape of the Korinos. The
Chief's anger. Arrests the guards. Condemns them to
suffer instead of the Korinos. The procession to the
place of sacrifice. The sacrificial altar.
VIII. HYPNOTISM ON SAVAGES Page 100
John's suggestion to the Chief. Asks that he be made the
executioner. Uraso's address to the culprits. Their
terror. Mysticism. Hypnotic influences. Mesmerism.
Constant repetitions. Mystic numbers. The spell on all
the natives. The effect of the mesmeric influence on the
Chief. The rigid subjects. John the peerless Korino. The
threats against the witch doctors. Bringing the victims
to life. Amazement of the people. The Chief's address to
his people. The return to the village. The feast. The
mystic third. The dance at the end of the festival. To
settle the fate of the Korinos. The recovery of the
faculties of the white captive. His story. The identity
of the skeleton found on Venture Island. Identified with
Walter. The story which was doubted by John. The rescued
natives. The Maloses. Ta Babeda. The tribe to the north.
Distributing the gifts. The delight of the Chief. Telling
him about the wonders of Wonder Island. The invitation to
the Chief.
IX. THE REMARKABLE CAVE EXPLORATIONS Page 113
The Umbolos, to the north. The supposed cannibals.
Determine to visit them. Preparing for the expedition.
Chief Ta Babeda cautions John against the cannibal Chief
Rumisses. John requests permission to take the Korinos
with him. He consents provided John will enter the cave
and take them. The trip to the cave. The Chief
accompanies John to the cave. Superstitions about the
caves. Why no one but the Korinos dare enter the caves.
The hill near the ocean. The cove near the entrance of
the cave. The flashlights. Lighting the caverns.
Evidences of habitations. The escape of the Korinos.
Following the trail. The outlet to the south. Tracked to
the north. Uraso and Muro follow the fugitives. Their
flight to the cannibal tribe. John and the boys return to
explore the cave. A new series of caverns. A succession
of four chambers. A large round chamber at the end of the
lead. A mound in the center of the chamber. Removing the
material in the mound. Discovery of the copper box.
Peculiar character of the box.
X. THE TRIBE TO THE NORTH Page 125
The copper box taken to the ship. News from Uraso and
Muro. Explaining mesmerism and hypnotism. Concentration.
The effect on susceptible minds. The Korinos safe with
the cannibal tribe. John advises Stut to sail, north for
twenty miles, and await their coming. The march. The
cinnamon tree. Cinnamon suet. Minerals. Sulphates. Copper
ores. Omens. All peoples believe in signs and omens. The
shelter for the night. How signals were made. Sighting
the cannibal village. Earthenware cooking utensils. Meet
the first natives. The dreaded Chief. A curious figure.
The hunchback. A smile on his face. The American
greeting. The surprise. A white man. Finding the Korinos.
The welcome to his village. The Chief told about their
ship. On the island fifty years. Telling John about the
strange things which have floated ashore from wrecked
ships. The Korinos assured of safety.
XI. THE HUNCHBACK CHIEF Page 138
The Chief's house. The relics from the sea. The hunchback
Chief's story. His trip as a whaler. Ill treatment. Runs
away. Ships to China. His rudimentary education.
Shipwrecked on the return from China. Rescued by native
cannibals. Regard him with veneration. Misinterprets
their motives. In desperation. Asserts himself. Becomes
Chief of the tribe. Stops cannibal practices. His great
influence over the people. The _Pioneer_ arrives. Ephraim
Wilmar, the hunchback. His surprise at the many changes
during fifty years. His amazement at the telephone, the
cable lines, the phonograph.
XII. THE CHIEF'S FAMILY Page 148
Ephraim's wife. The family. The gifts to Ephraim's
family. Delight at the cooking utensils. John tells
Ephraim about the treasures on the islands. Hidden
treasures. Learning the secrets of early humanity.
Archeology. The trip to the cave. The long journey. The
cave which had the entrances sealed by Ephraim. The
peculiar kinds of masonry. Entering the cave. Dogs with
the party. Mysterious death of the dogs. The alarm of the
natives. Carbonic gas. Its nature, and how tested.
Methods for removing it. The Humphrey Davy lamp. The
principle on which it is made. Designed to indicate the
presence of deadly gases. Explosive mixtures. How a
primitive safety lamp was made. Reëntering the cave. A
large chamber. The cross-shaped cave. A parchment. The
object of John's search.
XIII. THE CHART AND THE CAVES Page 164
The map accompanying the parchment. One of the Treasure
caves. Remarkable carvings, and hieroglyphics. The
quarrel of the buccaneers. The story of the Spaniard who
wrote the chart. The expeditions searching for the
treasure. Death of all who participated. Great
archeological wealth. No material treasures found. How
Ephraim's story affected the boys. John explains why the
cannibals feared him. Due to their superstitions.
Demented people regarded by some as saints. Genius and
insanity. Further explorations of the island. The
proposed trip to Wonder Island. Ephraim invited. He and
his family accept. Telling Ephraim about Hutoton. The
curious tales that were told them about the convict
colony. The wonderful character of the people at Hutoton.
The _Pioneer_ sails. The first time on the deck of a
vessel for fifty-two years. Ephraim and the library. His
conversation with the head of the convict colony. The
identity of the paralyzed man not established.
XIV. RESCUE ISLAND Page 175
The visitors at Hutoton received with rejoicing. John
invites the leader to accompany them to Wonder Island.
Retlaw, the captive, rescued, brought ashore. Caramo
thought he recognized him. Sailing of the _Pioneer_ for
Wonder Island. Calling at the Malolo village. Ta Babeda
agrees to accompany them to Wonder Island. Naming the
island Rescue. The latitude and longitude noted.
Introducing Ta Babeda to the cannibal Chief Ephraim. He
explains how the Korinos misrepresented him and his
people. The new world to Babeda when he stepped on board
the _Pioneer_. The trip to Wonder Island. The mysteries
on board the ship to the Chief. His inquisitive nature.
How he characterized electricity. Ephraim's concern for
his children. Approaching Enterprise River. The steamship
_Wonder_ in sight. The greeting. Going up the river. The
excitement in Unity. The crowded dock. Sutoto and his
bride. The flag on the _Wonder_. The curiosity of
Beralsea at the sight of the Banners.
XV. THE RETURN TO WONDER ISLAND Page 187
Sutoto and the great wide world. Their trip to
Valparaiso. Cinda, and the latest fashions. Blakely, the
man of business. The boys tell him of the wonderful
islands. His eagerness. He tells them of the great
enterprises, and of the prospective new ship. The growth
of Unity. The tribesmen coming in. Introducing Blakely to
the Chiefs. They marvel at his energy. The Professor.
John tells him about the copper box. The new hotel. The
wonderful work in Unity. Agricultural pursuits. What they
shipped to the north. The plans for surveying the
islands. How the lands were apportioned. Building homes
on the island. Energy of the natives. Emigration pouring
in. Farm implements. Coffee tree planting. Raising cocoa.
The schools. The Korinos as teachers. Explaining the
trade problems to the Chief. Ephraim's desire to have his
children remain and attend school. The Chief also permits
his children to remain. Information that the paralyzed
man is getting well. What paralysis is. The triangle. The
visit of the boys to Sutoto's home. The new automobile.
The surprise for the boys.
XVI. THE SAVAGES AT UNITY Page 199
Their new machines. Blakely's treat for the boys. The
Professor's car. John in his runabout. The automobile
procession. The Chief and the automobile. The cottage for
the Chief's family. The boys and the Professor review
their work. The great pleasure in their enterprises.
George and Harry selected to manage affairs on Venture
and Rescue Islands. The copper box. The skull in the
package. The Professor announces the return of the reason
of the paralytic. The word "triangle" announced by the
paralytic. The remarkable coincidence. Opening the copper
box. The triangle on the Walter letter. The skull within
the copper box. The cryptic signs in the box. The
counterpart of the skull they had found. The identical
inscription. The agitation of the paralytic at the sight.
He mentions the name of Walter. Retlaw enters and starts
at the sight of the skulls. Tries to escape on seeing the
paralytic. The latter announces his name as Clifford.
Harry rightly judges that _Retlaw_ is _Walter_ reversed.
Ephraim recognizes Clifford. Walter arrested.
XVII. UNRAVELING THE MYSTERIES Page 214
Speculations concerning Walter. Sutoto informed. The
mystery of their missing boat. Clifford's story. The
paper with the markings on the skull identified by Ta
Babeda. The secret in possession of Walter. The boys'
suggestion as to proper names for the natives. Surnames,
and how originated. The method adopted by the Romans. The
Greek names. English surnames. Clifford's condition
improving. Trying to identify the skeleton found on
Venture Island. Clifford recognizes Ephraim. Walter's
letter. The three islands. The triangle. The three
southern stars. The southern cross. The three crosses.
Thirty leagues. The charts of the islands.
XVIII. THE STORY OF THE LETTERED SKULL Page 224
Clifford awakes. The escape of Walter and his recapture.
Clifford continues his story. His effort to find the
treasure island. His meeting with Walter. Capture by the
savages. The _Juan Ferde_. Blakely and Clifford. His
knowledge of the skull. The finding of the boys' boat.
Sailing down the river. Loss of the boat. Finding his
companions. Sailing to Venture Island. His illness.
Meeting with Walter on Rescue Island. His belief that
Walter had hidden the chart. Walter brought in. Clifford
apologizes to Walter. The Sign of the Plus and V. The
chambers in the cave. What the inscriptions meant.
Surprise when Walter learns of the finding of the copper
box. Explains the meaning of the charts. Why there were
three skulls. The mysterious letter. The remarkable
happenings explained.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
The scout from the rear now came in with a leap Frontispiece
PAGE
'Stop!' cried John, 'It will be death for any one to touch him' 59
'It is copper,' said John 138
The old man pointed to the rocky wall 154
Fig. 1. The Marimba. 36
Fig. 2. The Atlantean Plateau. 42
Fig. 3. The Severed Hemispheres. 45
Fig. 4. Silencer: Convolute Blades. 54
Fig. 5. Spitting the Roast. 75
Fig. 6. Arialad Fruit. Sarsaparilla. 76
Fig. 7. The Mistletoe. 90
Fig. 8. The Jacchus. 95
Fig. 9. The Cave on Rescue Island. 119
Fig. 10. Cinnamon. 129
Fig. 11. Phonograph Disk. 146
Fig. 12. Types of Masonry. 154
Fig. 13. Types of Safety Lamps. 159
Fig. 14. How John made the Lamp. 160
TREASURES OF THE ISLANDS
CHAPTER I
THE PECULIAR SIGNALS
"Do you remember, Harry, after discovering the treasure and the
skeletons of the pirates in the cave near the Cataract, that we heard
the doleful sound of some bird while going down the hill?"
"Yes; that cry was something like it. Do you recall the name of the
bird, George?"
"It was the Alma Perdita."
"I remember, now; it means the 'Cry of the Lost Soul.'"
"Yes; but I don't think that came from a bird. It is more like an animal
of some kind. Don't you hear a sound that seems to be answering it?"
"It does seem so; I think John would know what animal it is; but it is
too late to speak to him about it to-night, George."
As Harry ceased speaking, the boys heard a noise, and George arose
holding up his hand as a warning. "I think I see something, so we ought
to call John."
The boys quietly moved forward, and noted two figures moving about a
short distance beyond. The boys crawled over to the place where John was
sleeping, and found that the place he occupied, as well as that of
Uraso's vacant.
"That must be John and Uraso over there," remarked Harry in a whisper.
They were confirmed in this on approaching the moving figures, and saw
that both were armed, and also that they were watching another moving
figure beyond.
"Is that a bird or an animal?" asked George.
"An animal," replied John, in an undertone.
"That was my opinion from the first," remarked George, who turned to
Harry with a sort of 'I told you so,' expression.
"But it is a two-legged animal," responded John.
"How long have you been up?" asked Harry.
"More than an hour," said Uraso. "Muro is now coming back, and we shall
know something more definite."
"Then that is Muro?" asked George, in surprise.
"Yes; he has been stalking the ones making that noise, and was the one
who called our attention to it."
Muro disappeared, and the peculiar cries were repeated, then, most
startlingly, a sound, similar in character, appeared to come from a
point very close to where they were now crouching.
John turned to Uraso in astonishment. The latter did not seem at all
perturbed, but after the second cry Uraso imitated the sound, and John
smiled.
"Muro has the exact tone now," said John.
"Yes," replied Uraso, "and the cry I gave was an answer, which Uraso
understands."
In a few minutes Muro appeared, but he was not smiling. His face was
grave, as he said: "We have come upon the terrible Konotos. I feared
that when I heard the first cry several hours ago."
"Have you been near them?" asked John.
"Near enough to know that there are quite a number, and what is more,
they are now engaged in their regular feast, and if they have any
captives, this is the time that they will be sacrificed," said Muro.
"Why do you think this is the time for that?" asked Harry.
"Because it was now nearing the _dark of the moon_, as you call it, and
that time is chosen because the Great Spirit, out of anger, is hiding
the light."
The boys now understood that this was a rite practiced by some of the
tribes on Wonder Island, during that season of the Moon's phase.
"Did you talk with them in that strange language?" asked Harry.
"No; but I tried to find out the key to the language they used."
"Is that their regular language?"
"Oh, no! That is simply the special language which they use on certain
occasions," answered Muro.
"The savages here, as everywhere, have a sort of code language, or a
species of wireless telegraphy, used by them only when in the presence
of enemies," commented John.
"Harry and I thought it might be the Alma Perdita, that we heard at the
cave near Cataract."
"No; but it shows the ingenuity of the savages, when I explain that
their most favored method is to assume the cry of some bird or animal,
and in so doing make it difficult for the enemy to distinguish the
assumed from the real."
"But on Wonder Island we had several methods of talking to each other,"
remarked Uraso. "For instance, we would perfectly imitate the cries of a
number of birds, and also of certain animals, and of the wood insects.
Thus, a nightingale would mean _watchfulness_; the chirrup of a cricket
would be the signal that the enemy was not dangerous, or that there were
not many of them; the cry of the Lost Soul bird would indicate that
there was great danger, and so on with the birds and animals that make
noises."
"But I have discovered another thing," remarked Muro.
"And what is that?" said John.
"The natives here are cannibals."
"That merely confirms my knowledge of the matter," said John.
The boys looked at John in amazement. How did John know there were
cannibals on the island?
"When did you learn that?" asked Harry.
"Yesterday," was his reply.
"What did you find that makes you believe that?"
"I discovered a bone which was once part of a human body."
"But how would that be any indication that the people here are
cannibals?"
"When you see a bone that has on it the unmistakable markings of human
teeth, it is pretty safe to infer that the animal which scratched the
bone was a cannibal."
From the report of Muro it was evident that there was a large number of
people on the island, and, if Muro's observations were correct, they now
had some captives, or, at least, were preparing to celebrate a feast in
which human beings were to be the victims.
"That satisfies me of one thing," said Harry.
"And what is that?" asked John.
"Why, that there must be other tribes on the island," he answered.
"Why do you infer that?"
"Well, where would they get the victims?"
"From their own people," answered John.
"What! eat their own people?" asked George.
"That is not at all strange. Many people are known to sacrifice their
own, and among the most degraded, they are known to kill and eat their
own."
"That is the first time I have heard of such a thing."
"Don't you remember that the Bible tells about Abraham about to offer up
his own son as a sacrifice?"
"Yes; but not to eat him."
"Of course not; but it is not an uncommon thing for tribes in Africa to
sell their own children for this purpose. One of the greatest
sacrificial rites of the ancient Mexicans, was to offer up the most
handsome youth each year, as a propitiation to the gods."
"So they do not always depend on their enemies to furnish the feast?"
"By no means. Many of the tribes have a superstition that if they eat a
brave enemy it will impart to them his spirit of valor, and the fact
that they are to have sacrifices here does not mean that there are
various tribes on the island; but that is something we shall have to
investigate. It is my opinion that we shall find other tribes, but that,
I am inclined to think, depends upon the size of the island."
* * * * *
The preceding volume, "Adventures Among Strange Islands," states the
conditions under which the two boys, Harry and George, found themselves
on a strange island, in the southern Pacific. Accompanying them were
John L. Varney, and about sixty natives from Wonder Island, together
with the two Chiefs Uraso and Muro.
Nearly three years previously the boys, George Mayfield and Harry
Crandall, who were members of the crew of a school-ship, the
_Investigator_ sailed from New York, and while on board, met a
professor, who, when the ship was blown up at sea, became their
companion in the life boat in which they sought refuge. Together they
finally were stranded upon an unknown island, less than a hundred miles
from the island which was the scene of the adventures with which we are
now concerned.
On this island they discovered five or six savage tribes, from some of
which they rescued seven of their former boy companions. Here also they
met Mr. Varney, who had escaped from the savages. The Professor
succeeded in reconciling all the warring tribes, and the natives were
now engaged in agriculture, and in various other pursuits, and the boys
had the great pleasure and satisfaction of being able to build their own
vessel and return home. The trip to the Wonderful island, with which
this volume deals, was for a double purpose, as will presently be
shown.
John, as Mr. Varney was familiarly known to them, was not only a well
educated man, but a great adventurer, and had traveled all over the
world in pursuit of scientific knowledge. He was particularly interested
in the history of the men who first went to the western world, and
scattered civilization to the benighted countries.
Like many men of his character, he did not consider the question of
money. He tried to acquire knowledge and information for the love of the
quest, and in order to be of service to his fellow man, so it was purely
by accident that he became a member of a crew that sailed for the
southern seas at the same time that the boys left New York on their
trip.
While his companions undertook the mission solely for the sake of the
money which might be acquired, John engaged thinking it might offer the
means of laying bare many of the early legends and vague historical
accounts with which that region of the South Seas abounds, and he knew
that if any records were in existence, they could be preserved only in
such secure places as caverns, which the Spanish buccaneers invariably
selected as the safest places to conceal their treasures.
While the boys, together with the Professor and John, had found a vast
amount of treasure, as stated in the first six volumes containing the
history of Wonder Island, they found not a single scrap of historical
value, excepting a few traces, which have been referred to, and certain
inscriptions which all pointed to the same depositary, somewhere in the
South Seas.
The last inscription was found by John, shortly before they left Wonder
Island, and which, though its full meaning was wrapt in mystery,
pointed, as did the others, to another island than the one on which it
was found. What made the matter still more interesting, was the
knowledge that some one, by the name of Walters, either had prepared the
inscription, or had some knowledge of what it meant.
This man was not known to any of the party, and what made it the more
remarkable was the information, lately obtained, that while Walters,
apparently, knew one of the companions who accompanied John on his
wrecked vessel, that man did not know Walters, at least not by that
name.
These circumstances, together with numerous other incidents, which the
boys could not understand, or unravel, made such an impression on them,
that they were determined to devote their energies to ferret out the
inexplicable things, and the earnestness of John was a great incentive
in the undertaking.
Up to this time the boys did not know the real motive in the mind of
John. To them this quest on his part was to find out where the Treasure
islands were for the material value that might be obtained.
His long silence about the real design had been purposely concealed by
him, as he felt that merely to delve into the hidden recesses of the
islands would not be understood by them in its real sense, because as
boys they could not appreciate that real knowledge always must be
disassociated from the idea of material or commercial gain.
It was with a great deal of anxiety that the boys waited for the morning
sun. They had but a comparatively small force to deal with the
situation. True, they were equipped with fire-arms, and they knew that
the _Pioneer_, their vessel, would return within a week, still, within
that time the large number of natives might be able to surround them,
and unless they could get some word to the ship, and by that means
enable their friends to send reinforcements, they would be starved out.
As soon as the camp was astir there was a consultation. John had fully
matured a plan in his mind, but it was always a pleasure, as it had been
with the Professor, to present any complications to the boys, so that
they could take a hand in the developments which might follow.
"Harry and I have been considering the matter," said George. "We think
it would be well to leave this place, and go back to the landing and
wait for the _Pioneer_. We will then be ready, with reinforcements to
meet them with more than an even chance."
"But," remarked John; "are you willing to go back, and permit the devils
here to destroy the captives they may have, or, to prevent them from
sacrificing their own people?"
The boys had not thought of this. "I know the feast days, during which
these events will take place, will occur within the next four days,"
added Muro.
"If that is so," said Harry, "I am willing to do my share in keeping
them from it. What do you suggest?"
"We must try to get into communication with them, and if we fail then I
am in favor of taking some stringent measures to divert them from their
purpose," answered John.
"Then you may be assured we are with you to the end," said George.
"After talking with Uraso and Muro, we have agreed on a plan that may be
successful, and it will at any rate, for the time, prevent them from
carrying out their festival scheme." As John said this Muro appeared,
and stated that he had discovered the arrival of at least a hundred
natives on the hill beyond the second ravine, and that he saw smoke on
the third hill beyond that, and was of the opinion that the village must
not be far away.
This intelligence added interest to the situation. As nearly as could be
estimated they were at least fifteen miles from the landing place
selected when the _Pioneer_ sailed.
"Unless I am very much mistaken the ridge on which we now are is the
backbone of the island, and I also believe that it is narrow and we
should be able to find the sea much nearer by going east from this
place," remarked John.
"But if we do that it will be necessary for some one to go to the place
selected for the landing of the _Pioneer_, and tell them of our plans,
and what we have learned," said Harry.
"That is what I have in mind. But before doing that we must investigate
this portion of the island more carefully. My plan is as follows: Along
this ridge, further to the east, is a sheltered spot, or a place where
the rocks form a sort of cove, and which can be easily defended. If the
natives have not reached that quarter it will make an ideal retreat for
us, and where we can defend ourselves for an indefinite time."
"But why should we take up time to find a place like that if you intend
to take steps toward meeting the natives?"
"It will be used to fall back upon."
"Oh, then you intend to take measures against them at once?"
"Not for the first day, at least. As soon as we are established there we
will investigate the region to the east, and if we find the shore line
closer on the eastern shore, we can then send a runner with a message to
the landing place, giving them the information."
The boys now understood. It was evident that it would have been bad
policy to retreat in face of the enemy, if such he should prove to be.
Something must be done to divert the natives for the time being. This
would give them time to communicate with their vessel.
"There is one thing that must be remembered. The savages know of our
presence here. They are now on the alert, and we are being watched with
the greatest vigilance. If they think there is an opportunity for fresh
victims it will stimulate them to the greatest exertions."
"I agree with you in that view," said Uraso, as John finished speaking.