The Wonder Island Boys: The Mysteries of the Caverns Part 9

"They have been of the greatest service, because in the early days of man, and before he knew enough to build his own habitation, he made the cave his home. You have heard of the 'cave man,' have you not? During the old stone period in England and other European countries, these caverns were the only abodes of man, and in them have been found layers from twenty to thirty feet thick, of successive accretions of bone, stalagmites and various articles of human manufacture."

This information added interest to the examination of the walls, and the eagerness of the boys to discover something new and startling was at its keenest edge. Before they had made a half circuit George announced that he could see a large opening, which turned to the right, and thus formed a bend to the general direction that the cavern had made.

A digression is necessary, in order to be able to understand all the elements in this remarkable voyage. The mouth of the cave was northeast of the Cataract home, and distant about a half mile, in a straight line.

The opening for the first six hundred feet, which had been charted by them on the previous occasion, ran directly south, but from that point it turned toward the southwest, and this now, in a measure, explained the eagerness of the Professor to explore it, as he believed the cavern led to a point near their home.

"There is no water in the opening," was the further information from George, as they approached the contracted end of the chamber.

"Before we land let us see the other side of the chamber," was the Professor's suggestion.

The boat was veered around to the left, and before they had proceeded fifty feet it was apparent that a similar opening led out to the south, and a dry floor was visible, like in the other outlet. The boat was landed, and drawn up, two of the lamps taken out and the guns examined.

The opening led into a second chamber, which looked like a canopied grotto of marble. Where they stood the chamber had the appearance of a huge letter A, the side walls of which ran together in the distance, but these walls were broken up by the most enchanting series of columns, and delicate entablatures, and the outlines of the figures were like blanched frescoes. It was such a weird and startling sight that the boys could not repress their amazement.

After they had fully entered the chamber Harry's quick eye caught a peculiar formation to the right, on a raised sort of platform, behind which seemed to be a recess. He had noticed it because it contrasted so strangely with the uniformly white glare of all the surrounding surfaces. He quickly made his way across, and as he reached it, stepped back in alarm.

"Come here, quickly; are those skulls and skeletons?"

The Professor did not need a second invitation. Scattered about on the elevation were found four skulls, and the bones comprising the remains of four human beings. The skulls were first arranged side by side, and the Professor intently examined them.

"These are skulls of the Caucasian race, beyond a doubt. All are, apparently, well formed and normal. But what is this?"

In the side of one skull was a perforation, with the bone fractured on all sides of the orifice.

"Do you think it is a bullet wound?"

"It has that appearance. As there seems to be no corresponding hole in any other portion of the skull, we may be able to find the missile inside, if death was caused by that means."

Harry had noticed a rattling sound when the skull was put in place, and mentioned this. After some hesitation the course of the fractured opening was traced through, and embedded near the top and on the opposite side, was a large lead ball, or what had been, undoubtedly, spherically shaped before it entered and pa.s.sed through the bones.

"This is evidence to me that these remains have been here a long time."

"Why; because it is in the form of a ball, and not a bullet?"

"Yes; and there is also another reason why these people came here and met their fate many, many years ago."

"What is that?"

"In this calcareous formation the preservative qualities of the carbonates would prevent rapid decomposition. These skulls are turning to the same material that we see all about us. See how brittle the bones are. Our bones are of lime formation, being largely composed of the carbonate, the same as the stalact.i.tes."

The other substances now lying about were noticed. The excitement engendered at the sight of the bones was enough temporarily to blind them to the numerous things found scattered about. Here was a dirk, the edges entirely worn away, and whitened. There were the metal ribs of what seemed to be a case, or a receptacle of some kind. Lying at one side was an ancient type of firearm, long, heavy, and with an immense bore. Another and another were found--a regular a.r.s.enal, with the scattered remnants of peculiar little copper receptacles with whitish powder in them.

Harry, who was about to remove the powder, was stopped by the Professor.

"We must retain everything as we find it, as nearly as possible. We do not yet know what the little vessels contain."

Not an article of clothing thus far had been found. A little higher up on the platform, two more skeletons were seen, both of which had fractured skulls, one of them showing two cavities which could not have been accidental, as both showed the same kind of fracture, and inclined across the skull in the same direction on the left side.

Alongside these skeletons were more of the long, wicked-looking firearms which had been found previously near the other bodies. There was every evidence to show that a terrible fight had terminated the existence of the band. More long knives, with curiously wrought handles, were lying behind the last skeletons, and on a more careful examination, a knife of an entirely different pattern was found within the ribbed cavity of one of them.

Still farther back, new articles appeared. Articles of furniture, many of them coated with the fallen carbonates; and here were the first articles of clothing, some of which were so decomposed as to crumble at the touch. Others were still firm. Some of the articles, like a mantle, had threads intact running in one direction, and the other cross thread all converted into dust, which disappeared when the garment was held up.

On some of the garments were metal tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs. "They look like silver,"

said George, excitedly; "and what is this? It seems to be silver," as he brushed a bracelet-like piece of ornamentation with the sleeve of his coat. As they advanced new articles came in sight; a bench; a veritable chair, or couch, the covering of which was there merely to give it form, but the substance had gone. Only the wood remained and that largely decayed.

And now on every side, at the rear and along the walls of the recess, were evidences of human habitation. Cutla.s.ses, knives, and at one side, what appeared to be the kitchen, were numerous pots and kettles of various sizes and descriptions, nearly all of them of copper.

"How could they possibly cook in here without being smothered to death?"

asked Harry.

"The cavern seems to be large enough to take care of all the smoke," was the Professor's reply.

"Well, I don't understand why they should have taken the trouble to come in such a long distance, when they would be just as safe nearer the mouth?"

"Before we leave this place we may be able to answer your two questions in a way that will surprise, if not startle, you," was the Professor's answer.

This vague reply did not detract any from the interest which the boys took in the search.

CHAPTER VII

THE TREASURES OF THE CAVE

While Harry was in the act of drawing back one of the couches, an object behind it seemed to fall apart with a jingling sound.

"What was that?" exclaimed George.

"I think we have found something here that will make us do some thinking," answered Harry, as he bent down to take up some of the detached pieces which came from what now appeared to be a large chest.

He picked up one of the round pieces. "Gold, gold; look at it!"

"I suspected something of the kind when I saw the skeletons. Carefully, boys; let us remove this piece of furniture. Undoubtedly, we are in pirates' lair, and here is the booty."

[Ill.u.s.tration: _"We have probably found a pirate's lair, and here is the booty"_]

The boys were too much overcome for words. They looked at the gold, and then at each other. George arose and walked back and forth. Harry, with the coin in his hand, brushed it and held it close to the light.

"With this we can buy anything we want," George finally uttered.

"Whom will you buy it from?" was Harry reply. The Professor only smiled.

Of what use was money to them? George had forgotten that.

"Here is another one."

"Another what?"

"A chest, something like yours." The lid, with its mocking lock, opened easily, and there, coated with the universal carbonate, were a ma.s.s of coins, articles of ornament, rings, bracelets, and pieces the names or uses of which were entirely unknown to them.

"Now that we have them, what shall be done with the treasures?"