MUSIC AND ANIMALS
During the evening George suggested that as the trip was to be overland
it might be wise to can some of the fish, or to use some of the
receptacles found in the cave for this purpose.
"We might do that," said the Professor, "or they might be salted down,
and that would not necessitate the receptacles, if we dried them."
The salted fish did not appeal to either of the boys, and it was
accordingly agreed to put up several packages for food.
"Will it be much trouble to preserve them by putting them in cans?"
"If proper precautions are taken they can be preserved. The difficulty
is that the air is not excluded, and the mischief is caused by the gases
which form, in that case, and when the pressure becomes too great the
receptacle bursts."
"Why are the fish, or other substances, so canned heated and put into
the cans while in that state?"
"When a can is filled with the material in a heated state it has been
expanded to its highest point, and after the package is sealed properly,
no air can enter it, so that it is prevented from changing its condition
by any chemical action. Our difficulty will be to get a proper metal for
the cans."
"What is the best to use?"
"Tin, for the reason that tin is not affected by any of the acids which
are formed by fish or by fruit, which may be put in them."
It has been stated that the boys were both musically inclined, and
George had taken several courses of lessons on the violin before he
joined the training ship. If there was anything more than another that
was missed, particularly in the evenings, it was the lack of musical
instruments, to which all had been accustomed. As a result, the boys had
for some time worked on a violin, which was now nearing completion, and
they hoped it could be finished before the start was made.
The Professor discovered the partly constructed violin, and at once
showed his appreciation of their enterprise. "Now that you have the
body, what are you going to do for strings?" and he laughed at the
bewildered look. They had forgotten the one essential thing.
Without a word, he left them, and when he returned, held in his hand a
dozen or more hard, bony-like and dried-up reeds. "Possibly these will
do for your purpose."
"What are they?"
"These are the intestines of the wildcat we shot about ten months ago."
"Well, aren't they as good as the intestines of the common cat?"
"Undoubtedly; but violin strings are not produced from that source."
"Aren't they known as catgut?"
"That is true; but it is a mistake. The strings of commerce are made
principally from the intestines of sheep, and, singularly, have been
always designated as 'catgut.' Other articles from the same source are
hatters' bowstrings, clockmakers' cords, and thongs for whips and laces
for boots."
"What are the best kinds of strings for musical instruments?"
"Those obtained from Milan, Italy, are considered the best, on account
of their transparency and exceeding strength. Most frequently each
string is made up of two or three separate strands, twisted together
with the utmost care. But there is another use of the greatest value,
and that is as a thread for sewing up wounds in internal surgery,
because, being of animal matter, the thread will, in course of time, be
absorbed into the system, and thus remove itself, without requiring a
second operation to remove it from the wound."
"How is it prepared to make it suitable for our purpose!"
"The ones here I thoroughly cleaned at the time, as I knew they would
come in handy for particular purposes, but I had no idea of this kind in
view at the time. We must soak them and remove the inner and outer
lining. Potash, in solution, is best for the purpose. We must then draw
them through small holes, to give them uniformity, and keep them in a
receptacle which is filled with sulphur fumes. That is for the purpose
of fumigating them. They are then ready for the instrument. I think the
different sizes will give you a variety."
The directions were carried out, and during the following week the
violin was prepared for its initial test. The Professor was pleased with
the knowledge that the instrument was ready. It was plain that he
expected important results from that source with John. It is well known
that music possesses a wonderful power in the treatment of demented
people, and he was very anxious to try it in the case of one who had
lost all memory.
On the evening appointed the violin was brought in, and the boys had
arranged a program. Harry had a fine baritone voice, while George could
take a high note and sustain it as well as most sopranos. When all the
preliminaries had been arranged, the instrument was produced, and after
a little preliminary tuning, George played "America."
At the first strains of the violin, Angel, who was in the loft, came
down. He didn't stop to notice anyone but George. This was something so
unheard of that he appeared to be hypnotized, as he shuffled over to
George, and looked up at the instrument. He appeared to be entranced,
and when the music stopped he laid his hand on George's knee, and looked
up appealingly. There was not a single motion in his features which
showed appreciation or pleasure or excitement; but aside from that every
action of his body indicated exhilaration and undue animation.
The boys had eyes for the animal only; but the Professor watched John to
the exclusion of everything else. When the first strains vibrated he
glanced around, and saw the musician. From that moment until George
dropped the violin his eyes never ceased the stare. As the music
continued he appeared to be enraptured, if such a thing could be said of
a mute expression.
The Professor drew closer to him, and intently watched his eyes, and
before the first verse had ended the situation was so intense that the
Professor's hand involuntarily beat time, and it was evident that the
tremulous motion, which John now and then exhibited, was the inward
struggle for light.
Without turning from John, when the music ceased, he cried out to
George, in a suppressed tone: "Keep on; keep on!" This brought the boys
to the knowledge of the other drama which was being enacted. "Slower,
George, slower," was the request of the Professor; and while "America"
requires the jubilant strain of action and liberty, he obeyed the
injunction.
"Keep it up; can you play 'Home, Sweet Home'?" George could, and did,
and as the familiar strains floated through the air, John moved forward,
his head drooped down, both hands grasped the chair and he listened with
an intentness that was painful to witness.
When George stopped at the whispered suggestion, John raised his eyes
and looked around. The look was a different one than they had ever
noticed before. When he glanced at the Professor, Harry said: "Did you
notice the difference in his eyes?"
He rubbed his hands over his eyes, and stroked his head, and they
thought a glimmer of a smile crossed his features. When they were about
to retire that night, the Professor could not help but express his
gratification at the results achieved through the aid of the violin.
"I could not help thinking how nearly allied Angel and John were in the
manner of acting during the course of the music. I have no doubt but in
course of time the animal will, just like John, show the facial
expressions which characterize either pleasure or pain."
"But I have seen Angel actually laugh."
This was true; it had been noticed on several occasions. But so far John
had not laughed, and he had not changed his facial expression in such a
manner as to make it noticeable, and the evening's entertainment had
done more to affect him than anything which had occurred, and it was
their earnest hope that this might be a means to his delivery.
Harry was the only one to notice a field mouse which had appeared soon
after George began to play, and the little animal was joined by others,
but the subsequent events of the evening attracted his attention, so
that no notice was taken of them until they were about to retire, when
they scampered away and Harry then related how they had acted.
"That is an interesting thing. Some time ago the keeper of the Central
Park Zoölogical Gardens, in New York, employed a violinist to play for
the animals, and the results were very interesting. The first animals
approached were a lioness and five cubs. The tune played was 'America.'
She listened with mute and dignified appreciation, and her five little
cubs ranged up alongside in a row, and in the same attitude, all with a
wondering expression, and sometimes would act just as you often have
seen dogs do, turn their heads aside obliquely, as though the sound
could be better understood. The old lion in the adjoining cage also
stopped his restless movement, and peered at the player attentively. The
next animal was a tigress. When the playing commenced she first looked
startled. Her mate entered the cage and escorted her out into the yard
while he took up his position and listened, and refused to allow her to
return. The hippopotamus, on the other hand, got mad, and sought the
water for seclusion. The elephant appeared to be the most
discriminating, for while he deliberately turned his back when a
plaintive tune was played, was so delighted when a rattling dancing jig
was executed, he actually danced about in ecstacies of joy. The wolves,
foxes and hyenas could not be made to appreciate any of the tunes, but
the monkeys enjoyed all the tunes, if being sad when doleful tunes are
played give happiness, and they partook of the exhilaration when lively
sounds came from the instrument."
[Illustration: _Fig. 29. THE LION AND CUBS_]
The warm summer days were now at hand, and all realized that this was
the proper time to carry out the long-delayed project of fully exploring
the western shore of their little continent. This had been deferred
before John came, in order that more complete preparations could be
made, and to await settled weather, and now that he was here further
delay had been urged in the hope that memory would be restored and thus
give them an addition that could be depended on. One puzzling feature of
his malady was that he understood, in a measure, what was told him, but
it was noticed that whatever was spoken had to be accompanied by some
manual action. If told to get a pail of water, he would remain inactive
until a pail was taken up or pointed out. So in yoking up the yaks,
merely pointing at the yokes would be sufficient to start the lagging
memory. He quickly learned to manipulate the guns, and spent hours in
practicing by shooting at the target.
Singular as it may seem, he showed some intelligence at the good shots,
but all these flashes were momentary only, and it was further noticed
that he would remember an act performed the day before and repeat it in
precisely the same way. It was like an imitative process, and the
Professor suggested that he was now in the condition of a child,
learning all things anew, to which was added some glimpses of things he
had learned before.
A new wagon was necessary, as the one which had been used for the past
eight months was clumsy and badly worn. All took a part in this
important work, and it was here that the workmanlike qualities of John
showed themselves. He was a treasure in this respect. The lathe was a
pleasure to him, and so with bench work, and within ten days a new and
larger wagon was turned out.
"I only wish," said Harry, "that we could paint it up, and thus make a
real finished article out of it."
"Your idea is a good one, but in order to make a lead paint will take
too long a time to provide a carbonate which will answer the purpose."
"Why does it take so long?"
"We have plenty of lead, but to get the base for the paint it will be
necessary to cast a lot of thin gratings, and use earthen pots, partly
filled with vinegar. A layer of the lead gratings must then be put down
and the earthen pot stood on them and partly filled with acetic acid, or
vinegar. A board should cover each pot and spent tannin bark placed
around them. This must be built up in the form of a stack. Fermentation
soon sets in, and the result will be the formation of carbonic acid, and
in five or six weeks the metallic lead converted into what is called the
carbonate which may be washed and ground up with oil, and sold as the
white lead of commerce."
"Instead of that what should we use?"
"We have plenty of flax, as you know. From that we can make linseed oil,
and with a proper coloring matter, which is not necessary, however, we
can provide a paint that will be very serviceable."
"Then why not use the madder dye which we made for dyeing the flag?"
"Just the thing. In addition we must have a dryer of some kind. I
suggest that we distil some of the rosin, or the sap from the pitch pine
trees, for that purpose."
"What kind of product shall we obtain from that?"
"Turpentine."
Thus day after day passed in preparation, each hour, almost, suggesting
some new addition to their stock, which would contribute to protection,
comfort, or necessity. Among other things suggested, in order to relieve
them as much as possible from carrying such a large burden in the way of
provisions, was the making of synthetic foods.
George had this in mind for some days before he broached the subject to
the Professor. "I understood you to say that if we had synthetic foods
we could carry several weeks' rations about our persons, and the load
would not be a heavy or perceptible one at that? If such is the case,
why can't we prepare some of the food in that way as a matter of
precaution? What is the meaning of the word 'synthetic,' and how is such
food made?"
"The word is the direct opposite of 'analyses.' In analyzing, the
elements composing any substance are separated from each other. In
synthesis the different elements are put together to form the substance.
Thus, take water as an illustration: Its component parts are two parts
of hydrogen and one of oxygen. Knowing this to be the case, the chemist
takes that many parts of oxygen and hydrogen, and by uniting them water
is formed which is just as much a true water as though it fell from the
heavens or was taken from a well or spring."
We should not go far out of the way in stating that the Professor was
putting in some time in this direction, while the other work was going
on, and this was confirmed later on when he requested Harry to furnish a
number of small tubes like those used for the powder, and it was noticed
that a quantity of bamboo was taken to the laboratory and cut up into
short sections.
The guns and ammunition were now ready, a supply of food had been
prepared, and George insisted on baking a quantity of barley bread,
which was carefully wrapped up, so that it would not be dried out or be
liable to get wet. The wagon was admirably adapted for the purpose. The
wheels were not extraordinarily large, but they had wide treads, and the
body was high at the sides so as to serve as a fortress in case of
trouble. An extra yoke was taken, a supply of sugar and also of honey
put in the vessels which the cave supplied, and only a small store of
vegetables, as they depended on finding these en route.
The start was agreed upon for the following morning. Observation Hill
was visited, and a new inscription affixed to the pole, so that any
passing ship might know their plight, and be able to direct its course
to the west. The value of the chart made by the Professor was now
appreciated, as that was also tacked up in its proper place.
Jack and Jill were the yaks selected for the journey, as they were tried
and true, and had now grown to be strong and well domesticated. Freedom
was given to the cattle, and all the buildings closed up. This was done
to secure the interiors from intrusion on the part of animals. An
inscription was also placed on the door of the house.
Promptly at nine o'clock the company, consisting of the Professor,
Harry, George, John and Angel, started on the journey across Wonder
Island. This was their sixth trip, only one of them by sea.
Would this be any more successful than the preceding ones?