The Wonder Island Boys: Conquest of the Savages Part 23

"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 gra.s.s 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 s.e.xtant, 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 ma.s.s of molding leaves, and this was drawn aside and examined.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Fig. 18. The Mysterious Message._]

Here was the first real clue. A bit of paper, evidently a page from a sc.r.a.p 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 s.p.a.ce 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 quant.i.ty 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 cla.s.s 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 ent.i.tled 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."