The Wonder Island Boys: Exploring the Island

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The Professor's shot had entered his left eye, but the vitality of the
animal was such that he ran nearly a hundred feet before it took effect.

The yaks were soon rounded up. It is a wonder that more damage was not
done. Aside from the displacement of their bedding, and the ditching of
some of the cooking utensils, everything was found intact.

"That was a rather ill-advised adventure on our part. We should have
guarded our supplies; but I was as much to blame as you were. We must be
more careful in the future."

On every side the rough character of the land was more apparent, and it
was becoming more and more difficult to find tracks which were suitable
for the team.

"This matter of going further with our wagon is now getting to be a
serious problem. I think we should turn to the right and move in the
direction of home, or direct our course southeast toward the mountains
on the other side of South River."

"I think we have discovered enough on this trip," was Harry's
conclusion.

George assented, so that on the twelfth day of their journey the yaks
were directed towards home. For two days the travel was southeasterly,
through the most broken and tortuous paths, crossing innumerable small
streams and rivulets on their course. During this troublesome part of
their journey the weather was stormy, with numerous rains, some of them
so prolonged as to prevent traveling for hours, so that they made less
than twenty miles during that time.

[Illustration: _Fig. 4. DIAGRAM OF THEIR TRIP_]

On the third day, however, the ground became more level and less broken,
the sun appeared, and they felt happy at the thought of getting back
again.

Thus far in their wanderings they had kept their reckonings, as well as
they could without instruments, and that evening the chart was again
consulted, as usual. The drawing (Figure 4) shows how it looked with the
course of their journey.

When they started from the Cataract home at nine o'clock in the morning,
they made an observation of the sun, using a vertical pole so as to get
the exact direction of the falling shadow. A distant object was then
selected, a prominent tree, as far off as possible. The Professor had
prepared an adjustable bevel square, which was simply two legs hinged
together at one end, by means of a set screw, like a compass.

[Illustration: _Fig. 5. BEVEL SQUARE_]

"Now, boys, I want to show you how we can make a fairly good chart
simply by the use of this adjustable square, and this will also be of
service to us in measuring heights of objects, as well as directing our
course. It is now nine o'clock, and you will see that our pole (A)
throws a shadow to the southwest. Supposing now, we direct the first leg
of our journey to that large tree (C), to the west of us. If, now, we
put one leg (D) of our rule along the shadow line, and the other leg (E)
along the sight of the line (F), which goes to the tree, we shall find
that the distance across between the ends of the bevel square is just
two feet. It happens in this case that the tree (C) is due west from our
observation point; so we have at nine o'clock each morning a means
whereby we can always determine the true east and west."

"But supposing we lose our reckoning during the day, on account of
cloudy weather, or by going through the forest, where we cannot make
observations?"

[Illustration: _Fig. 6. SIGHTING THE DIRECTION_]

"We could, probably, travel an entire day in one general direction,
without being more than a few miles out of our course, north or south,
and our direction immediately made out the next day."

"Wouldn't it be a good idea to prepare angles at different times of the
day, in the forenoon and in the afternoon?"

"That is the proper thing to do, so as to enable you to make
observations from the angles at all times. A chart could then be made
from that which would show at a glance what the value of each angle is."

"We shall certainly have to do that; but what interests me as much is,
to know how far we have traveled. Can we also tell that by the sun?"

"Yes; but to do so will depend on the accuracy of the observation. For
the present, with only a single instrument, the bevel square, we must be
content to make our calculations exactly at midday, when the shadow
points due south. Or, in the northern hemisphere, when the shadow points
due north. I want you, in the meantime, to think over that problem, as
it is a very interesting one, and we will take it up when we are not so
tired."

CHAPTER IV

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE YAKS

It was a relief to get on fairly even ground again, where it would not
be necessary to make turns and twists around all sorts of obstructions,
to say nothing of ravines and water courses. On the evening of the
fifteenth day, calculations showed that they were halfway back from the
point farthest west, but they still had no knowledge of their distance
from the sea, which undoubtedly was to the east, or, possibly,
northeast. West River flowed to the north, and all the streams crossed
flowed north or northeasterly, how far, it was impossible to say.

Two days afterward the scene changed somewhat. There had been little
wind during the journey thus far; but now breezes sprang up for two
successive days, at about four in the afternoon, which came from the
north.

"I think the sea is not far away."

"Why do you think so, Professor?"

"Did you notice the warm breezes this evening, and also last night at
about the same time?"

"Why should the breezes from the ocean blow warm winds to us at this
time of the year when it ought to be cold?"

"It is not at all likely that the breezes are any warmer than at other
times of the year. Heat is merely a relative matter. We feel the
difference of the wind temperatures principally for the reason that when
the vast body of water in moving ocean streams is giving off its heat,
it imparts it to the atmosphere and modifies it, so that as it sweeps
over the land it is warmer than the natural temperature."

The following day, late in the afternoon, they caught the first glimpse
of the sea, and it was welcomed. A camp was made for the night in the
open, and with an early start next morning the explorers reached the
last hill to the west of the cataract.

When they arrived home, which was not without considerable misgiving,
owing to their long absence, they were overjoyed at finding everything
at the house in perfect order, but their yaks were missing.

This was, at first, a sore grief to them, especially to George, who
considered it to be a personal loss. Milk was a luxury, as well as a
necessity, to him. The team was now all that remained of their herd.

"It is strange we did not see any of them on our journey."

It was a surprising thing to see their water wheel in motion, although
they had taken considerable pains to push the wheel back so the blades
would not be in contact with the water. It was found that the Cataract
River was much swollen with the rains, so that the water had come into
contact with the wheel.

As the team was now the sole reliance, so far as the herd was concerned,
the Professor suggested that they should thereafter keep the team within
the enclosure, so as to prevent their straying, as they might, in the
absence of their fellows, try to escape.

The present house, which had been built since coming to the Cataract,
had originally only one room, and two of the sides were formed, as
stated, by the walls of the right-angled rocks, the room being about ten
feet square.

After the water wheel was built and put in and the sawmill erected, they
were enabled to get lumber, and an extension twelve by fifteen feet was
put up, to be used as a sleeping and living room.

A small addition was also added, which was converted into a kitchen, so
that the original enclosure could be used as a storeroom.

A sort of roadway passed the new addition, and beyond was the Cataract,
not fifty feet away. Directly below the Cataract another building was
put up, in one end of which was the sawmill, and at the other end was a
sort of shed in which they had put up a furnace, blacksmith shop, and a
kind of primitive foundry.

Within the workshop work was done during the rainy weather, and it was
made as comfortable as possible.

They were now back, ready to take up active life again. Not that the
past nineteen days were inactive ones. By no means; but they loved the
work which every day had brought to them in the past, and were happy in
the thought that they were accomplishing things of the greatest value to
themselves. They were really tired, and for a few days did little active
work.

"Do you think we have accomplished very much on our trip?" was George's
inquiry the evening of their arrival.

"We saw a light, didn't we?"

The boys laughed, when they saw that the Professor said it with a broad
smile. They had no doubt, but he wished to convey the impression that
they had seen a light, just as many others had, without being able to
understand it. George saw the point at once. "I hope we may be able to
profit by it. But, really, how much more do we know than we knew a month
ago?"

"The West River, the bear, the wildcat, the Baby; why, you had entirely
forgotten him and his cute ways. We learned that there are, without
doubt, savage tribes on the island. I am inclined to think the trip has
taught us something."

The Baby was an interesting little chap. He would sit up at the table
with innocent blinking eyes, and gravely imitate the motions of eating,
especially if there was something sweet in sight.

That night a startling noise was heard, made by the unmistakable tramp
of animals passing their home. Harry was the first to open the small
port, which served as a window.

"Hurrah for our yaks!" There they were, back again, with two additional
calves. The next morning they were contentedly lying down outside of the
enclosure which held their team.

Didn't "Baby" enjoy the milk! So did the boys. The cattle had not
strayed away far, but merely found a better feeding ground. The barley
field had been exhausted.

"If there is anything I missed on the journey, it was the clock. I don't
like guessing at time," was George's comment, after they had fully gone
over their experiences on the trip.

"I suppose," said Harry, "we can make watches, but they will be rather
cumbersome, because our tools are not very delicate. What do you think,
Professor?"

"That is for you to decide. I am of the opinion that as we have a pretty
good clock, and as it is susceptible of being nicely regulated, we could
put in our time more profitably in doing some other much needed work."

"What is that? I am willing to do anything?"

"We have some hides that need tanning, and the fresh bear pelt must be
cured. As our herd of cattle has increased we might slaughter several of
them, so that we can dehair the pelts and tan them all at the same time;
then we need some contrivances to enable us to determine the location of
our island; and also to afford a means to measure distances in
traveling, because, I presume, you are just as anxious as ever to know
what we have on the island."

There was a hearty assent to this view of the situation.

"I want to do everything we can to learn about our surroundings," was
George's response; "and I would like to have the fire, and the mystery
of the boat, and the flagpole cleared up."

The thing which most interested Harry after their return, was the
disposition of the barley which they had harvested before the last
journey was undertaken. This was welcomed by the Professor as a
necessity. Accordingly a level floor was provided, on which was spread a
thick layer of barley stalks, and this was beaten with flails. A flail
is simply a piece of wood about the thickness and length of a broom
handle. To this was attached, by means of leather strips, a club, not
unlike a baseball bat, so the bat portion swung on the end of the
handle, and in this manner the barley was threshed out.

[Illustration: _Fig. 7. Threshing Flail._]

Before the invention of the threshing machine this was the universal
method of threshing, although it was also customary to tramp it out with
horses, which were driven over a thick layer of the straw hour after
hour.

In one day they threshed out five bushels; beautiful golden grain. The
boys who had often seen wheat and oats threshed out, never appreciated
grain as they did their own, acquired in the manner this was.

The grinding-stones, which they had previously made, were then set to
work, making the meal, or flour, as they preferred to call it.
Heretofore flour had been a luxury, and there was a longing for it, so
it was decided to make up the first batch of bread.

You may be sure that the Professor did not object to activities in this
direction; and they had long ago learned his peculiarities, particularly
not to venture any information voluntarily, so the boys concluded to
make bread on their own knowledge. They had often seen bread made.

"All you have to do is to mix up the flour with a little water, put some
rising in it and let it stand until it raises and then bake it."

"That's all well enough, Harry, I suppose we can do all that, but where
shall we get the yeast?"

"That's so; yeast is necessary; I suppose we shall have to see the
Professor, after all; but hold on; I have seen sour milk used, George."

"So have I; but I think mother used something else with it."

"Well, there we are; who would think we could have trouble with such a
simple thing as making bread?"

The Professor came smiling. "You want to make bread, and the only thing
that troubles you is to raise it so it will be light?"

"Wouldn't it be bread if you didn't raise it? You know the Jews used
unleavened, or unraised, bread."

"But we want regular bread, of course, and we want to know what to use
to raise it with."

"I don't see that you particularly need anything."

"Why not?"

"If you let the dough stand in a temperature of between 90 and 120
degrees for a certain time, fermentation will take place, and it can
then be baked."

"But why should it ferment?"

"Bread raising is merely fermentation. All flour is largely composed of
starch. The high temperature, of 100 degrees or over, causes the starch
to turn first into sugar, then into alcohol and carbonic acid, and the
gases thus formed force their way up through the dough, causing it to
swell, as you have often noticed."

[Illustration: _Fig. 8. Imperfectly leavened. Perfectly Leavened.
SAMPLES OF BREAD_]

Without further instructions the boys began the making of bread. Shortly
afterwards the Professor appeared laughing immoderately.

"Come and see the Baby."

The boys were out in an instant. The Baby was in the storeroom
adjoining, and discovered the honey pot. It was a "sight." He sat there,
both hands and arms covered with honey, blinking innocently, and licking
his fingers and arms with the greatest joy imaginable.

"You little rascal, you are getting too fat now," was George's greeting;
but Baby didn't mind. He knew George by this time.

The bread raised, but it, too, was a "sight." It was full of holes and
at some places the bread had no appearance of having "come up," which is
kitchen parlance for unraised bread.

"What is the matter with it, Harry?"

"Did you work it before you put it into the oven?"

"I forgot that."

When the Professor saw the sample he divined the trouble at once.

"Of course, you have to work it, for the reason that 'working'
distributes the gases through the mass. I think you made the mistake in
working it and then putting it into the oven immediately."

"How long should it stand after working?"

"That depends on the amount of carbonic gas which is developed. When it
first raises the gas forces its way through the dough irregularly, and
by then working it the gas is broken up and distributed evenly, so that
if the mass is allowed to stand after the second working every part of
it will be leavened. When it is then put into the oven, the heat at
first causes a more rapid expansion, or raising, of the dough, and as
the heat increases, fermentation is stopped, and the baking process sets
the dough. The result is tiny little holes throughout the bread, where
the gases were."

"But why do they use yeast if it can be done without?"

"Because it makes the raising process easier, and more positive."

"Is it the carbonic acid which makes some bread sour?"

"Yes; sour bread results if the fermentation is continued too long."

[Illustration: _Fig. 9. Air Pocket._]

It was George's custom each day to watch the movements of the yaks,
because it was through them that they learned of the barley field which
was such a source of usefulness to them. One day while out on an
expedition of this kind, he wandered down to the rock cliffs, probably
five hundred feet west of Observation Hill, this hill, it will be
remembered, being close to the landing place when they were cast on the
island. The sea was heavy and the tide coming in. He could not help
reflecting, and his home, his parents, and his beautiful life there came
up to his inward vision. The dreary pounding sea made him homesick, and
for the first time he burst into tears. But George was a brave boy. He
knew that crying was useless, and felt a little ashamed of himself.

His reflections were not long, however. To his left he saw a peculiar
sight. At every inrushing wave there was a report like a cannon shot,
followed by a tremendous stream and spray of water, which was shot out
to sea high up above the waves.

This was an extraordinary sight to him, and unexplainable. The story was
related to the Professor that evening.

"That was an air pocket in the rocks."

"What is an air pocket?"

"From your description it is probably a large cave, so situated in the
wall of the cliff, that at a certain period the waves will entirely
close the mouth. When the wave dashes up against the cliff and closes
the mouth of the cave, the water tries to enter the cave. In doing so
air is compressed in the pocket, and when the wave again starts to go
out to sea, and the pressure is partly taken away, the compressed air
explodes, so to say, and shoots out the water into a spray, and also
causes the noise you heard."

"How much can air be compressed?"

"It is not known definitely how far. It has been compressed to less than
one-eight-hundredth of its bulk. It is the most elastic substance
known."

"Isn't water compressible?"

"No; if it had been compressible you would not have had that exhibition
at the air pocket."

CHAPTER V

AN EXCITING HUNT

"What is that rocking?" cried Harry, jumping out of his couch, one
night.

The Professor was awake and had noticed it.

"Probably an earthquake."

The rocking continued for several minutes, and then gradually subsided.
They boys were so excited that sleep was out of the question, for the
time, besides the shaking might again recur at any moment.

"Do you think there is any danger, Professor?"

"It is impossible to say what will happen when these symptoms in the
earth's crust take place."

"Are there not some instruments which indicate the extent and possible
dangers of the quakes?"

"There is an instrument called the seismograph, which records the
vibratory movements of the earth, and also locates the distances at
which the shocks are from the observer, but there is nothing to indicate
what the extent and probable dangers are."

"Is it true that the interior of the earth is in a liquid state?"

"Such has been the theory for many years; but it is now believed to be a
solid--a body with a density five and a half times greater than water."

"If that is the case, why is it that the molten metal flows out of the
volcanoes?"

"There may be fissures in the earth, or portions less dense than others
which, by the general disarrangements of the adjacent parts, and by the
enormous pressure exerted by the force of gravity, are contracted, and
the movement causes such friction and intense heat as to liquefy the
rock. In doing so a large amount of gas is evolved, the movement of
which causes the disturbance of the earth's crust, which manifests
itself to us in the form of earthquakes. At the same time the confined
gases seek an outlet, which they find at the weakest part, and the
volcanoes spout forth the lava, flame, and gases. There is an undoubted
connection between earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Earthquakes
usually precede volcanic action. This internal combustion is going on at
all times, and is only more violent at some period than at others. The
lava in the Crater of Stromboli has been in a liquid state for more than
two thousand years."

"Before we left home I saw in a paper that some scientist described the
kind of rock and other matter which was seven miles down in the earth."

"Was anyone ever down as far as that?"

"No; a little over a mile is as far as man has actually penetrated the
earth."

"Then, I should like to know how geologists can tell with any certainty
what the rock is like several miles down?"

"That is known just as positively as though a hole had been dug down
that distance."

"I don't see how that is possible."

"I am going to make you a sketch which you can examine at leisure, that
will show how he knows. Assuming that the earth has a crust--that is,
the outside or cooled part, let the first sketch (Figure 10) represent
this crust, before the mountains and valleys were formed. The slightly
curved horizontal lines merely represent the different layers of the
crust, such as rock, clay, coal, slate, and the like. When the cooling
process took place the earth grew smaller within, so that the crust was
forced together.

[Illustration: _Fig. 10. NORMAL CRUST OF THE EARTH_]

"The second sketch (Figure 11) shows this crust forced together, so that
when the upheaval took place, two mountain ranges, A and B, were formed,
with a valley (C) between them, and the broken lines (D), where the
crust separated, were exposed, and by that means examinations can be
readily made way down into the crust, without ever leaving the surface
of the earth."

As it was understood that the boys should take at least a day each week
for hunting, particularly since such sport would develop expertness in
the use of their weapons, an early start was made on the day selected,
which was within a week of the time they returned home.

Ever since the disappearance of the boat left at the falls in South
River, there was some anxiety on that score. It was a frequent topic of
conversation, and after they left home it was by a mutual impulse that
they wended their way south, taking a trail which was now familiar to
them.

"See here, Harry, I should like to go to the place where I discovered
South River, and where I had the experience with the snake and the
strange animal, which frightened me so."

[Illustration: _Fig. 11. MOUNTAIN UPHEAVAL_]

"Then we must go to the left, because, you remember, you came up between
these hills, and crossed the stream where I found you."

It was about three miles across from the Cataract house, but less from
their original home. When they reached the river the surroundings were
very much unlike anything George had seen before, and he could not
identify the place where the ramie plant had been found.

The ocean could be seen plainly from their position, and George thought
they were too far east, which proved to be the case.

"Here it is, Harry; here is a low place, and you can see the ramie plant
all about here. I am sure of it."

"Is this the place you lost the hatchet?"

"So I did: I'll show you the place." But he failed to find the hatchet.
Subsequently Harry stumbled across it, but it was found some distance
from the place where George declared he lost it.

"Let us try to cross the river. We can do it if we find a couple of
logs."

At a bend of the river they found a lot of driftwood caught in the roots
of a tree, and after some work a number of pieces were cut and laid
crosswise on each other.

After the experiences of several expeditions of this kind, to say
nothing of the exploring trips, the need of the bolo and ropes impressed
itself on their minds. They were never without them.

The river at this point was fully one hundred feet wide, but by the aid
of long poles the raft was not long in making the trip. After properly
securing it they took up their weapons and at once made a dive for the
interior.

The trees were fairly thick, and before going very far Harry checked
George with the statement that there was game ahead, as he had heard
rustling sounds in the leaves.

Both were now looking forward intently, expecting and hoping that some
game worthy of attention would appear. Whenever they stopped, the
animal, or what it was, would stop, to resume its motion whenever they
moved. This was getting to be decidedly interesting, and at the same
time trying to the hunters. The distance was fully a mile from the
river. The noise which came from the slight rustling of the leaves and
the occasional breaking of a twig was growing acute.

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