Part 4 (1/2)

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Fig. 2. Walter Letter._ Go directly south from the large river which flows to the east, west of the mountains. We are too closely watched to escape. The tribe at war with our captors are to the west of. If I escape I will follow the river to the sea so you will understand where I am.

Walter. ]

”Compare the two and you will see they look alike,” said George.

”What shall we tell the Professor!” asked Harry.

”Well but I am not yet through with the paper. Suppose we moisten it, and that may bring out something we didn't see before.”

This was done, but it made the entire doc.u.ment worse than before.

”Too bad we have spoiled it,” remarked Harry, ”but I think we are safe in telling the Professor and John what we have found out.”

For the time being, however, the boys had other urgent work to do. The day for launching had been set, and every working hour was valuable, so they were over at the s.h.i.+p yard early, and the boys did not see either John or the Professor during the day.

The vessel as designed by Harry, and supervised by John, was ninety feet long, and had a beam of eighteen feet, with a very deep keel, and high bulwarks. It was constructed of a species of oak, found in abundance in the forest west of the town, and was cut up into boards, and dried in specially-prepared kilns which were put up for the purpose.

While lumber dried in this way is not the best for ordinary uses, it will serve for s.h.i.+pping purposes, because there is always more or less moisture present in the hull of the vessel, and the object was to enable them to get the material in the speediest way.

The saw mill was one of their first experiments in building machinery, and it was in constant service from the day it was first erected, getting out lumber for building purposes.

The engine was designed only for auxiliary purposes, and the boiler was intended to use coal, of which they found an ample supply in the northern portion of the island, as explained in a previous book.

When the boys returned to their rooms late that afternoon, the first thing that interested them was the message. When it was brought in it was dry, and a slight change was noticed in its appearance. Now, what appeared to be the first word of the message, was discernible, the word ”Take,” and the word ”Head” could be made out before and as a part of ”land,” in the second line.

”We have it,” cried Harry, as he jumped up. ”Now let them know about it.”

They were across the open s.p.a.ce, without any ceremony, and without taking trouble to announce themselves, were in the Professor's room.

”We have it,--we have made it out,” was the announcement, as Harry held up the message.

”Does it tell you where the Copper mine is located?” asked the Professor.

”Copper mine!” exclaimed George. ”What has a copper mine to do with it?”

”John and I concluded, from certain markings on the paper, that it contained a diagram of the mine!”

”Well, you were mistaken,” said Harry with a chuckle. ”It is something about an island, thirty leagues to the southeast, somewhere.”

”Is that so?” exclaimed the Professor in surprise. ”Get John. He will be surprised.”

John came hurriedly at the announcement, and the contents of the missive pointed out. ”This is certainly good news,” he said. ”That was fine work on your part.”

”You see the arrow, and the part of the word 'leagues.' That couldn't mean feet or yards, or miles.”

”Quite evident,” said John, as he mused for a while. ”This confirms, in a measure, the information that we have as to the proximity of these islands, but the charts show them farther away.”

”Undoubtedly, if Walter knew what he was talking about, we have an interesting problem to decipher, and the determination to make the voyage is a wise and timely one,” interposed the Professor.

”Now for the s.h.i.+p,” said Harry. ”Every day is a hundred, in my mind.”