THE REMARKABLE DISCOVERY AT BLAKELY'S MOUNTAIN HOME
It was the custom of the Professor to take the boys each week for an
outing in some direction from Unity. The most attractive part was toward
the great forest, west of the large river. Several boats had been made,
which were used principally for fishing, and one of these was usually
taken. They would then sail down the little branch stream, on which the
town was located, and cross the large river.
During the entire time they were at the village Blakely had not gone
across the river, although he frequently indicated a desire to do so,
particularly to look up the location of the home on the hill at the
forest's edge, where he found seclusion from the savages for nearly nine
months.
The Professor and the boys insisted on his accompanying them on this
occasion, and having given instructions to the men, they manned the
large boat and were soon on the western shore of the river.
The large quantity of driftwood, which was in evidence here, as
elsewhere, attracted the attention of Jim, as he turned to the
Professor.
"I have often wondered why it is that there is so much driftwood on the
western shore of this stream, and hardly any on the eastern shore."
Blakely, his attention having been drawn to it, remarked that he had
found this to be the case in a number of streams, not only on the
island, but elsewhere.
"That is a singular thing," replied the Professor. "It is accounted for
by the rotation of the earth, which is from west to east. The rotation
of the earth in that direction also accounts for the prevailing trade
winds which are from the east to the west."
"In what way should the rotation of the earth cause the drift to move
westwardly?"
"There are two forces which act on a free object on the surface of the
earth, namely, centrifugal and centripetal. The first named is that
action which tends to throw an object outwardly, like dirt flying out
from a rapidly moving wheel; and the latter action is that which draws
inwardly. Thus the spokes might be likened to centripetal force. The
attraction of gravitation in the earth is the centripetal force, and its
rotation produces the centrifugal force. When an object, like a plumb
bob, or an article floating on the water is free to move, it is found to
lag behind the movement of the earth surface, this retarding movement
being sufficient to cause it to creep to the west, with the result you
have noticed."
The hill pointed out by Blakely was fully three miles west of the river.
The four boys, Ralph, Tom, Jim and Will, with Blakely and the Professor,
all armed with guns, made a party strong enough to enable them to
successfully withstand the attack of any animal, and it was proposed to
make a trip through a portion of the forest, so as to get some idea of
its character.
To carry out this plan, their course was directed to the west, and
within an hour and a half were well in the thick of the wood. The first
thing that attracted the attention of all were the magnificent trees,
among them a species of pitch pine, together with immense redwood trees,
and numerous oak species abounded.
Before they had penetrated a mile the first animals were seen. They had
never been hunted, as the natives kept away from the forest fastnesses,
and it was singular to see the familiarity of the animals. An immense
panther, or tree leopard, fascinated the boys, and they maneuvered to
get close enough for a shot. He was very wary, however, and Blakely and
the Professor kept in the background while the boys stalked him from
tree to tree, and finally Ralph had him in range and fired.
He crashed down but alighted on his feet, and without waiting for any
explanations bounded over to the spot where Ralph and Will were crouched
behind a fallen tree. Will saw the movement and called to Jim and Tom,
and the latter, taking careful aim, fired, without, apparently, checking
the animal.
With a powerful spring he landed on the tree, not five feet from the
boys, and Jim shot the moment he landed, the shot taking effect in the
left eye, and he dropped his head and lay still, hanging over the fallen
tree.
This was exciting, while it lasted, and gave them something to talk
about for the rest of the day. Blakely dragged the animal down, and
Ralph and Will, trembling as they were, had their knives out when
Blakely commenced to skin the panther. It was a fine trophy, made doubly
valuable, as it had been their first attempt to secure big game.
[Illustration: FIG. 16. THE MARMOSET]
The boys regretted that Angel had not accompanied them, as they saw
numerous orang-outan; and here for the first time they came across whole
tribes of monkeys, particularly the marmoset, an interesting little
creature. The most striking ones were the proboscis monkey, the face
being not unlike that of an old man with an extremely long nose, with
whiskers around the neck.
Blakely and the Professor made many notes of the trees, and discussed
the uses to which they might be put, and the boys had their eyes open
for the wonderful display of animal life on all sides.
It was fully two o'clock before their steps were turned toward the
north, so that the hill could be reached, and when they emerged from the
forest, Blakely pointed out the spot and the best way to reach it. The
boys went forward with a rush, and mounted the hill, but while they
searched in every direction could not locate the rocky recess occupied
by Blakely.
[Illustration: FIG. 17. PROBOSCIS MONKEY]
The latter came up smiling. "I told the Professor you would have some
trouble in finding it. Look directly above you."
About twenty feet from where they stood was a projecting rock, and to
the left of it another, extending out at right angles.
"But how are we going to reach it?" asked Ralph.
"Go around farther to the right, and you will find a vine. I used that
as a ladder."
Around to the right the boys scampered, each trying to get there first.
There was no vine in sight. Blakely was coming up, as the boys turned
back, disappointed.
"Not there?" he inquired. "It ran up this tree. What is this? Some one
has cut it off and dragged it up to the shelf above; do you see it
there?" and Blakely pointed to the vine stump, hidden by the grass and
weeds.
The boys saw the plain evidence of the cuts.
"This is decidedly interesting," exclaimed Blakely, as he turned to the
Professor. "This was done since I was here."
The only way to reach the ledge was to climb the tree and try to drag
the vine from the ledge, and Ralph volunteered to do this.
It was not much of a task, and when the vine had been drawn down he
moved out on the limb and easily stepped on the ledge of the nearest
rock, and then drew over the vine so the boys could readily reach the
main ledge.
Blakely was the last to gain the top, and he led the way around the
first projecting rock. The view from this point was a charming one.
"Look to the east," cried Ralph; "see Unity beyond; isn't this fine?"
The boys now understood why this was a desirable place for Blakely. It
appeared to be absolutely safe from either animals or man.
"How did you ever happen to find this place?" asked Tom.
"Simply by accident--the fact is, I stumbled on it. I mean that
literally. You see there is only one point higher than this. That is
directly above this ledge. I went up the hill from the forest side, and
came out to the point, and, missing my footing, fell down to this ledge,
and discovered that the only way I could get out was by the vine
ladder."
"What is that?" exclaimed Will, springing back, and pointing to an
object in front.
Blakely started forward like a shot, and moved around the main point
from which Will came. The boys followed. Directly ahead, and on the
ledge in front of the recess were two skeletons. The boys were shocked
at the sight, and the Professor stopped and intently examined them.
"Some one made this his home after I left it, that is sure. Here are
things I never saw."
"Was this your gun?" asked Jim, as he picked up a rusty weapon.
"Yes," replied Blakely, in great excitement. "But how did it get here? I
had it with me when I was captured the first time."
He looked at the Professor in amazement, and then began a minute search
of the articles scattered about, and lying in the little coves within
the main recess. Here were found a sextant, several knives, some coins,
a bunch of keys, a package of letters, written in German, a revolver,
but no ammunition, various articles of clothing, all in the last stages
of decay and eaten with holes by insects.
But the condition of the skeletons caused the greatest speculation. They
were lying near together, and there was no indication of a struggle
between them. One was lying with the head resting on a mass of molding
leaves, and this was drawn aside and examined.
[Illustration: _Fig. 18. The Mysterious Message._]
Here was the first real clue. A bit of paper, evidently a page from a
scrap book, which showed faint traces of writing. Parts were entirely
eaten away, and after a time the following words were deciphered:
"Escaped during the night miles wes
tains lyas have Rogers right
faithful
(Signed) roman"
The German letters contained no information, excepting the name "Johan,"
to which they were addressed, and were signed, "Matilda," all dated
during the year 1911.
"One of these men was a white or Caucasian, and the other was,
undoubtedly, an aborigine, as the skull formation clearly indicates. I
am satisfied that this one was a native," remarked the Professor, after
he had made an extended examination.
"This letter may be an interesting one to decipher," said Blakely, as he
went over the contents again and again. "It seems to me that the part of
the word 'lyas' has reference to the 'Illyas,' and 'tains' is part of
the word 'mountains.' Probably, it would read, if properly
reconstructed, 'west of the mountains.'"
"Yes, and the space between 'night' and 'miles' refers to the number of
miles," added Ralph.
"It is remarkable that we should find evidences, of the work of the
Illyas at the extreme western part of the island, when they are living
near the eastern border," remarked the Professor.
"I take it," answered Blakely, "that this letter was transmitted to the
man here, and was written by some one, and conveyed, in all probability,
by this native."
"That is a reasonable supposition. The word 'faithful' may have
reference to him," responded the Professor, after some reflection.
"Well, we can do no more than give them a decent burial," said Blakely.
"It will be a difficult task to do that, as we have no tools, and it
would be necessary to carry the bones a distance in order to inter them.
If the boys will gather up a quantity of stones we can make a covering
for them against the wall, within one of the coves."
This suggestion was carried out, and the bones deposited beneath a
mound, and after gathering up the various articles they descended the
vine ladder and made a hurried trip to the river.
Unity was reached as it was growing dark to learn that two messengers
from John had reached them during their absence, detailing the sighting
of the Illyas' village, which was estimated to be five miles west of the
mountains.
It was singular how this information seemed to supply the missing word
in the mysterious message found with the skeleton on the hill. The
Professor at once made a copy of the letter, and forwarded it by
messenger to John. In the letter he detailed the information of the
finding of the message, and he had hopes that they might be able to find
some traces of the people mentioned in the letter.
While awaiting the return of Muro, John made a complete examination of
the Illyas' village, encircling it to get its full position, and thus
enable him to devise the best mode to attack, if it should be found
necessary to do so.
He was astounded to note the character of the buildings. They had been
the work of white men, it was evident.
Muro, with the boys, and the wagons came in sight before ten o'clock, to
the intense relief of John. He suspected the cause of the delay.
"We had a lively brush with them, for a while," said Harry, "but we had
no fear at any time."
"Harry is right about that, but I want to tell you we have a different
class of fighters to deal with than anything we have experienced so
far," added George. "Why our fire didn't seem to frighten them a bit,
and they adopted the regular Indian plan of getting behind trees and
brush."
"What kind of a town is that!" asked Harry, as he took the first glimpse
of the place through the trees.
"Something different in that line, too, as well as in the fighting,"
answered John, as he smiled at the question.
"How big a town is it?" asked George.
"I judge, from its size, that there must be fully a thousand natives
there, but they are keeping pretty close. Do you see the line of
breastworks all around the place!"
The boys were astonished at what they saw. No wonder the other tribes
hesitated to attack them.
The two warriors captured by Muro were brought before John, after he had
made a survey of the place, and by the aid of Uraso one of them was
instructed to carry information as to their intention to the Illyas.
This was to the effect that in the event no reply was received before
noon no other effort would be made to open communications. It was
distinctly impressed on the warrior that the Illyas must give up all the
captives, and that an agreement must be entered into by them not to
leave their own boundaries in the future, and John also offered
protection and a safe return of any messenger who might be sent back
with the answer.
The captive was released, and, bounding forward, was soon within the
line of earthworks which surrounded the village. The message gave a full
two hours for them to decide. There was not a sign of an Illyas until
near the time limit, when the same one which conveyed their message was
noticed approaching the line of the allies.
He came directly to John, and conveyed this information:
"The chiefs do not intend to do as the White Chief says. They are
entitled to the captives, and intend to keep them. If the village is
attacked the white chiefs and the tribes will be destroyed. We do not
fear him and his fire weapons."
John motioned to the warrior to depart. For a moment he looked at John
in amazement. Judging the actions of the white man by the ethics of the
savage, such a message would have meant his death. He glanced around
stealthily.
Uraso saw why he hesitated, and remarked to him: "You are free to go. No
one will injure you, because the White Chief has given his word to
protect you. He is not like the Illyas. He does not lie."