The Wonder Island Boys: The Tribesmen
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Roger Finlay >> The Wonder Island Boys: The Tribesmen
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[Illustration: _Fig. 20. Stevedore knot._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 21. Bowline knot._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 22. Double knot._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 23. Weaver's knot._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 24. Carrick bend._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 25. Reef bend._]
He then proceeded to make the knots, and continued: "The seven knots
(Figs. 16 to 22, inclusive) are made at the ends of the rope, as you
will notice, and are the forms used to attach the rope to an object. In
the next three forms two ropes are attached to each other, and are
usually called 'bends' (Figs. 23, 24, 25).
"Then, in addition to that, the sailor has several ways of attaching the
rope by a hitch around a standard, or other object. Look at these two
forms (Figs. 26, 27). Look at the boat knot, where the hitch is made in
the rope itself; and the sheet bend toggle, where the ends of two ropes
are attached together to a standard or cleat. And now I am making what
are called hitches, and the three forms (Figs. 28, 29, 30) are the best
examples."
[Illustration: _Fig. 26. Boat Knot._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 27. Sheet bend and Toggle._]
[Illustration: _Clove Hitch Fig. 28._]
[Illustration: _Half Hitch Fig. 29._]
[Illustration: _Timber Hitch Fig. 30._]
Thus the conversation drifted from one subject to another, covering a
variety of interesting topics. George reminded the Professor that he had
not yet explained to them what the spectroscope was, and its uses. He
laughingly responded:
"That instrument is one of the most wonderful in all the ranges of human
discoveries. By its means the elements of substances are determined, and
the composition of the heavenly bodies are ascertained."
"In what way is it done?"
"Simply by using light as the agency."
"Is it like a telescope?"
[Illustration: _Fig. 31. The color Spectrum._]
"No; entirely different. It depends wholly on one thing, and that is the
breaking up or dividing the light that comes from an object. Let me make
this a little plainer. If a ray of sunlight is allowed to pass through
an orifice into a darkened room, and in the transit through the opening
it goes through a prism, or three-sided piece of glass, the light
produced on the opposite wall will show the seven colors of which
sunlight is composed. The drawing (Fig. 31) shows how this is arranged.
Now iron shows these colors differently arranged, aluminum in another
way, and so on with all different substances, and the light projected
from each is called its spectrum, its particular analysis."
John's recital during the day had produced a powerful impression on
all, as well it might. It shows what wonderful trials men can endure.
Ralph and Tom were frequently affected by it, and at times could not
prevent tears from coming. They recalled their own sufferings.
The Professor thanked John that evening for his story, and said: "We
must not tax the patient with any more talk to-night. We have learned a
lesson of perseverance and trials. The history of man is always
profitable, and we are thankful for the news it gives us of the people
here but you must be patient and wait a more opportune time to hear our
story, and then we can advise with each other as to our future course."
The boys were early in conference with each other after they left John,
because there were some interesting things to them in John's story,
which needed clearing up.
"Did you hear what he said about that cave?" was Ralph's first question.
"Yes; and I think I know where that cave is?" answered Harry.
"Where?" asked Tom and George in a breath.
"Right at the camp where we found you."
"Oh, you mean that cave we found at the hillside after we started for
the river?"
"Don't you recall that John took me around to the mouth of the cave, and
when we said that we might use that to hide in, he shook his head, and
moved away?"
"I thought the Professor acted queerly about it, too, because he urged
us away from the place."
All remembered the circumstance, and they also recalled that the
Professor gave a vague reply when they asked him the reason why.
George cast a scrutinizing glance at Harry, who waited for him to speak.
"Harry, do you think he found any treasure in that cave?"
Ralph and Tom now opened their eyes in wonder. Was that what he meant
when he said there was something wonderful there? Harry looked at the
boys for a moment, in the intensity of the situation, and said: "And we
have also found a cave." But the eyes of George caught Harry, who
suddenly stopped, because he recalled their agreement not to divulge it
to the boys until the matter was mentioned to him.
"Where is it?" exclaimed Tom, eagerly.
"Not far from here."
"Will it be much trouble to visit it?"
"No; and we shall probably do so some day."
An island full of bitter and vindictive savages, and a handful of men to
meet them. It looked, indeed, like a hopeless task. John's story left
many things unsaid; many things that they longed to know. Who were
Wright and Walters, whose names were in the note found in the
_Investigator's_ lifeboat, and who was Will, the writer of the note?
The Professor was just as anxious as the boys to have those matters
cleared up, but he knew it would be unwise to tax his strength with a
further recital, and the inevitable questions which would be propounded,
and it was well that his injunctions were followed, because he was not
yet well by any means, and the further news which they awaited was
postponed.
In the evening Ralph had the flute, but the bass viol was not yet ready,
so that the two instruments gave a little diversion to the day of
excitement and wonder.
John's illness did not now interfere with the work on the house. It was
pushed forward with the greatest energy, the roof and sides enclosed,
and they were now nearly ready for occupying it, by the time John was
again able to be about.
Shortly after they had made the first samples of glass, some months
before, the trip to the west had postponed the work in that direction,
and the Professor, with the aid of George, turned out the first samples
of glass, which they intended to use in the new building.
"Why can't we have a looking-glass? It would be such fun to set up
several of them."
"I think we have sufficient mercury for the purpose," answered the
Professor; so calling in Ralph they set to work, under the Professor's
direction, to make some mirrors.
"The principal thing in mirrors is to get a white reflecting surface.
Silver and mercury are metals which lend themselves to that use. If you
polish anything bright enough it will serve as a mirror, but the whiter
the surface is the better."
"Then why wouldn't white paper be the best?"
"It would if you could get a fine polish on its surface, but the finest
surface on the densest paper is not as smooth as the polished surface of
the metals."
"What is the best way to make the mirror?"
"The most available plan for us to follow is to make an amalgam of tin
and mercury."
"But what do you mean by an amalgam?"
"It means the combination of mercury, or quicksilver, with any other
metal."
"Will it be difficult to combine tin and mercury, so as to make an
amalgam?"
"That is one of the simplest things in the arts. Tin and mercury unite
by merely rubbing them together; see how easily they combine to form
just such a surface as you want."
"Isn't that fine? But as that shines so nicely, what is the need of
putting a glass over it?"
"Simply to protect the amalgamated surface."
The largest piece of glass thus far made was sixteen by twenty-four
inches, and the boys selected the most perfect pane, and in a short time
a very good mirror had been turned out.
"It has occurred to me that it would be good policy to make a number of
small mirrors, say six inches square. They would be a valuable asset to
us in our next expedition."
This opened the eyes of the boys to the commercial utility of the work
they were engaged in for the first time. George rushed over and brought
Tom and Harry to the laboratory, and exhibited the mirrors, and
explained that they intended to make a number of small ones to take with
them.
"That is a capital idea. Won't the natives go wild over them?"
They were at work at once, first cutting up some of the glass the
requisite size, and before the afternoon closed they had several small
ones in addition to the large one.
The large one was carried over to the living room, and when it was
brought in and hung against the wall John's face lighted up, when they
told him of the work required to turn out the glass, and to make the
amalgam.
"What a glorious opportunity you boys are having. How anxious I am to
get up and help you. What a splendid mirror that is. You surprise me
with the character of your work."
"We are going to have real windows in the new house."
At this instant Chief appeared at the door, and as he moved forward in
front of the glass he started back in fright as his own image appeared
to him. All of them laughed, and as he was now at one side of the mirror
he could not see himself. But Harry mischievously turned it, and then it
dawned on the Chief that it was simply a perfect representation of
himself.
All savages know of the glistening qualities of surfaces, but few of
them, as was the case with Chief, had ever seen any made with the white
amalgam, which, of course, made a perfect counterfeit resemblance.
But Harry delighted him beyond measure when he presented one of the
small mirrors, and George took a piece of the ramie cloth and folded it
around the mirror, a proceeding Chief could not understand until John
showed him it was for the purpose of preserving it.
[Illustration: "_He started back in fright as his own image appeared to
him_" [See p. 194]]
He kept it in the cover religiously from that day forward, except at
such times as he was employed in examining it.
[Illustration: _Fig. 32. Amarylla. Chief's Poison Vegetable._]
When Chief appeared it was not noticed that he carried a curious looking
bulb, and when he sat down to experiment the mirror several of them fell
from the pouch or pocket which was put in the garment which had been
provided for him.
The Professor saw the bulbs and picked up one of them and glanced about
the room, and then looked at John in a questioning way. The boys noted
this. Nothing was said at the time, but as the Professor passed out
George followed him.
"What was that bulb you picked up?"
"It is the root of the plant called Amarylla, and it is in the juice of
this plant that certain savages dip their arrow-heads for poisoning
them."
This information was not a little startling and disquieting to George,
who rushed back and quietly called out the boys. "Do you know what Chief
has been doing? Did you see the peculiar bulbs he had? The Professor
picked up one of them, and what do you suppose it is? It is the root
from which they make the poisons for arrow-heads."
Harry could not believe that the savage had any designs on them. "I
suppose he will bear watching, so let us see what he intends to do with
them!"
When Chief had admired himself sufficiently he took the bulbs to the
kitchen and placed them in the oven, as the boys called it, and when
George came in he was smiling, as he thought, in a very peculiar way.
George did not disturb the bulbs, and when the meal was brought in Chief
was on hand and went to the kitchen. He soon returned with the roasted
bulbs and deposited them at the table.
The boys looked at the Professor, and he and John exchanged smiling
glances, and both of them took the bulbs and began the meal with them in
the most nonchalant manner. The boys could not understand the
Professor's defiant manner in eating a poisonous bulb, and George cried
out: "Didn't you say that the bulb was poisonous?"
"Yes, it is, for some things."
"Well, how can it be poisonous for some things and not for others. Don't
the savages use the poisons of the arrows to kill people with?"
"Certainly; but it is used in that case as a blood poison. A blood
poison is not necessarily a stomach poison. In truth, there are few
poisons that are fatal to both the blood and stomach."
Chief had been slyly preparing this treat for them, as savages like the
root, and all regarded it a welcome change, and it was that peculiar
look which George wrongly interpreted. How often the motives of people
are misjudged in the same manner, and without a more pronounced reason
than Chief had!
When the meal was announced Angel, as usual, was the first to appear,
and when he caught sight of his reflection in the mirror he thought one
of his friends had come to visit him. It did not seem to startle him in
the least, but like all children tried to look behind it.
The wall prevented that, so when George handed him one of the small
ones, and he put his hand behind the mirror, the vacancy there is what
alarmed him. When he did finally comprehend what it was, it so attracted
him that he could not partake of the meal, but sat entranced before it.
After the meal he took the mirror to the rafters, and found a hiding
place for it, and they would often notice him with it, but from that
time forward he never brought it down into the room.
CHAPTER XVI
A SURPRISING TRIP TO THE CAVE
The house was completed and partly furnished. New bedding was prepared
for the bedrooms, the Chief installed in one, and the other two reserved
for John and the Professor. The new living room, which was commodious,
served as a dining room, and a door was cut through from the old kitchen
to the new dining parlor.
The other rooms in the original building were reserved for the boys.
John was now fully recovered, and felt like beginning his task anew,
although he did not recall any of the previous work which he was engaged
in. Chief was progressing well in his education, and the constant source
of wonder to all was that he did not take the advantage his liberty gave
him to leave them.
One day John had a long conversation with him on the subject, and
afterwards the boys were curious to know the result of the interview;
but the result of the talk was not, apparently, satisfactory to John,
and the subject was not pressed. He was entirely well, and took a keen
interest in everything around him, and participated in the work. Each
new phase had some special attraction, and as the days passed less
anxiety was felt on this score.
In one of the evening conferences it was finally decided to make the
preparations for a trip to the portion of the island where the savages
had their homes. This meant a good supply of weapons and ammunition.
The following circumstances determined them on this course:
The Professor, addressing John, on this occasion, said: "We were
intensely interested in the review of your experiences on the island;
but there are several things which we are anxious to know about, and in
some particulars you may be able to supply the missing links. We have
not yet shown you the message which we found in the _Investigator's_
lifeboat, so that if you will get it, Harry, you may be able to tell us
something about it."
This was the little slip of paper which had on it the following
inscription: "We cannot hold out much longer. Wright and Walters were
captured yesterday. Will."
Harry handed it to him, and he looked at it for some time. "I do not
know who Wright and Will are, but Walters was one of the crew of the
sailing vessel that we took from San Francisco."
"Had you any knowledge of any of the boats of the _Investigator_ being
on the west side of the mountains during the time you were in that
neighborhood?"
"No; during my stay with the tribe to which Chief belonged I tried in
every way to ascertain something about the fate of my companions. Only
once during that time did I get any sort of knowledge on that point.
When I tried to describe the men, all denied any knowledge of them; but
pointed to the youths of the village, and I could not understand what
they meant. That is now made plain to me, as, undoubtedly, they meant
the ones referred to were boys."
"And, now, there is another thing I want to know from Ralph and Tom. Did
either of you have a photograph of some of the boys on the ship?"
George found the photograph which they had taken from one of the
warriors in the second day's fight.
Ralph and Tom both declared that it was the first time they had ever
seen the photograph, and on closer examination it was seen that while
Harry and George were shown on the picture, neither of the other boys'
features were there.
"Did either of you boys know of any of those mentioned in the message?"
"I knew a Will, but I do not remember his last name. I do not think
Wright was the name of anyone on shipboard. I am sure he was not one of
the boys," was Ralph's answer.
This information pointed to two things clearly: That there were other
boys, belonging to their ship, castaway on the island, and that at least
one of the crew of John's vessel might be found. It also assured them of
the certain knowledge that there were others, either wandering about, or
sharing the captivity mentioned in the message.
"I should state here," continued John, "I was informed by one of the
chiefs that their disposition to the shipwrecked mariners had been, in
the past, a friendly one, but that some time previously, how far back I
do not know, a crew had been saved, and instead of rewarding them for
the service, had murdered one of the chiefs and committed such excesses,
that in self-protection they slaughtered them, and, thereafter, took
prisoners only in order to use them for their sacrifices."
The plans for the forthcoming expedition were now fully discussed in
every detail. The first proposal was to build a vessel of sufficient
size to accommodate the party, but to this John offered the same
objection which they had theretofore found so potent when the last trip
was undertaken. It would take too long, and when they reached the
savages it would be necessary to make a trip or trips inland.
The situation now was entirely different. There was no longer a question
in their minds as to the existence of savages, and, furthermore, they
knew the location, and the knowledge of John was positive on another
point: They were not located near the sea, and the most powerful tribes
were far inland.
All these facts compelled them to undertake the journey overland. The
wagon was the only means to transport their supplies, and as all except
the Professor, were vigorous, they would be far better able to cope with
the savages in that way than by the sea route.
Now let us see what was necessary for the purposes of defense. They had
a force of six men, as Chief was not considered one of the force,
notwithstanding his friendly attitude. They had ten guns, and Ralph and
Tom had been engaged for weeks in turning out additional gun barrels,
for which the stocks had not yet been prepared.
John suggested that twenty-five of the guns would be ample for almost
any force that might be brought against them, and that provision should
be made so that while in defense, each could carry two guns, by having
one of them strapped on the back.
Ammunition was of more importance, really, than guns. They had learned
this at the last encounter, and it was lack of this that eventually
forced them to retreat.
On that basis, namely, of twenty-five guns, ten rounds would mean two
hundred and fifty shells, and it was then considered that the most
important thing would be to utilize the time of two for the purpose of
making the shells. This was the most laborious process, as every step
had to be done by hand, the dies being in the form of separate punches,
held and driven by hand, as they had no such thing as a press for
manipulating the dies.
One morning Harry said: "I know it isn't the proper thing to suggest it
while we are all so busy making the preparations for the expedition, but
I think we ought to make a trip to the cave before we start."
Neither of them objected to the proposal, and George went to the
Professor, and told him that he and Harry had conferred on the subject
of the cave, and with his permission they would take the boys there.
The Professor's assent was given with a smile of pleasure, and several
lamps were put into condition for the event. All was excitement now with
the young spirits, and the Professor assisted them in the preparations.
It did not take long to reach the mouth of the cavern, and lighting the
lamps, descended slowly. Neither George nor Harry had informed the boys
of the treasure within the cave, nor of the skeletons which were
discovered, although, when the boys had asked the source of the
skeletons in the laboratory enough of an evasive answer was given to
make them suspect the source, and this was confirmed when Harry told
them, days before, that they had also discovered a cave.
They descended the steps, and made their way along the passage leading
to the first recess. As the chamber came into view the boys were
entranced at the sight. It was a novelty to them. It was the first time
they had ever witnessed such a thing.
To Harry and George it was no longer a thing to marvel at. They were
veterans in the exploring field.
"This makes a fellow feel queer in here," exclaimed Tom, as he glanced
around at the magnificent stalactites.
"Did we tell you," replied George, "about the mysterious thing that
happened to us the second time we came in?"
"No; what was it?"
"We entered from the other opening by the sea."
"Another opening? Do you mean that this cave has two openings just like
the one John spoke about?"
"Yes; but this is a mighty long one, and it had a lot of water in it
twice when we visited it, but I don't think we shall find any here now."
"Why not?"
"Because we have not had much rain for the past month."
"But you forgot about the mystery."
"That's so; we went in from the other end and had gone up nearly to
where the water began, when we put one of the lights on a ledge, and
went forward with the other, and when we had gone about a hundred feet,
it disappeared, and we have never found it to this day."
"That does seem odd. Do you think it was taken by some one?"
"Well, we could not possibly account for it in any other way but that it
fell off the ledge by some accident. How that could be possible I don't
know, as George declared he had placed it in a secure position."
By this time they had reached the recess, and George suggested that the
entire cave should be examined, and Ralph was somewhat in the lead.
Everywhere was the universal whiteness of the calcareous deposit. As
they reached the vicinity of the chests, where the copper vessels were,
they formed a striking contrast to the whiteness all around.
"What are those things there?" asked Tom, stepping back in surprise,
pointing to the vessels.
Ralph peered forward, to get a better view. "It looks like kettles of
some kind."
Harry passed the boys and walking up to one of the kettles, overturned
it, and as a shower of the coins slid out, and rolled about, they were
amazed beyond all description.
Ralph was the first to recover, and he picked up some of the coins:
"Didn't you know about these? I believe they are gold; look, Tom. Did
you ever see anything like this?"
Tom was stupefied. "I don't wonder that men will risk their lives to get
treasure like this. Here we didn't hunt for it and we found it."
"Yes, but Harry and George knew all about it; didn't you?"
And the boys laughed an assent.
"Why don't you take it out of here?"
"Well, it seems to be pretty safe in this place; and if we should have
been attacked by the natives, we should have a place of retreat and have
our treasure with us."
After putting the coins carefully back, Harry said: "Probably we may be
able to discover something else." And he moved forwardly to the right,
with Tom following close, and the boys pressing up to see what else
might be found. There, at the place where the Professor had deposited
them in a row were the five skeletons, and they presented such a ghastly
sight that they shrank back in horror.
"We found these in a little different position when we first arrived."
"In what way?"
"They were in all sorts of positions in front of the recess, and some of
them had the knives still sticking in their ribs, and one or two, one of
which the Professor has, had a big bullet in the skull, which we took
out and can show you."
"Where did you find these?"
"Right in front of the place where the treasure was found."
"Well, did they have a fight, do you think, for the possession of the
treasure?"
"Undoubtedly."
"Now, let us go around to the other side of the cave."
It will be remembered that in the other portion of the cave the
skeletons and the treasure, as well as the weapons, were left just as
they were found by the boys, because they had never informed the
Professor of their secret visit to the cave, when they discovered the
chained captives and the skeletons about them.
The party passed around the first projecting wall which separated the
two large chambers, and as they were moving along something sounded in
the second chamber ahead. The boys stopped suddenly. In a moment more
the same peculiar dull and ominous sound was continued, and it seemed to
be very near.
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