Part 22 (2/2)

”Come to this end and take away this lot of seaweed,” called out Harry.

They soon uncovered a boat with one end embedded in the sand so it was difficult to turn it over, owing to the rotten condition of the wood.

Only here and there was any paint visible. The action of the elements had done its work.

”What kind of a boat was this?” asked Harry.

John did not answer, but peered down on the sand where the prow had rested. ”Take away the sand carefully here,” he said, and when he pointed the boys saw something white protruding an inch or two.

As the sand was sc.r.a.ped away they first saw the thigh bone of a skeleton, and soon the whole frame was laid bare, the interstices filled with sand. A peculiar rope was around the frame, and John grasped it.

The boys eagerly looked at it as John intently examined it. ”It is the same,” he said.

”The same as what?” asked Harry.

”The same as the rope found on the boat when you discovered it on the beach.”

That was the first time that the boys knew that John had any idea about the loss of the boat, or of the strange rope. It was possible, however, that the Professor had told John about it, as they were accustomed to talk over these strange things.

”But the boat?” asked George. ”What do you think of the boat?”

”It is the exact counterpart of the _Investigator's_ Life boat No. 3.”

CHAPTER XIII

A CONVICT COLONY OF NATIVES

The Chief's son was present. ”Did you ever know of a boat load of castaways on the island?” asked John.

”We never knew of anything like that,” was his reply.

Every sc.r.a.p in that ma.s.s of wreckage was gone over. There was nothing else visible by which they could gain the slightest clue. The skeleton was minutely examined. It was that of a strong, well-developed man, but from all appearances one leg was shorter than the other.

The bones of the shortened leg were closely investigated. ”The bones show that this man met with an accident in early life, or before he was fully grown, or, he may have had some disease before he attained full growth, so that his right leg is shorter because not fully developed,”

said John, as he continued the examination.

”He must have been a soldier or an adventurer, as he has three bullet marks, one here in the right shoulder, one in the ankle, and the other on the cheek bone. All of the wounds were healed before he met his death.”

”But there is one thing which is still more remarkable. This man was a captive. He was tied in the boat and it was set adrift, and was likely on the open sea and washed ash.o.r.e during one of the monsoons.”

”Why do you think so?” asked Harry, as soon as he could recover breath after this announcement.

”This rope tells the story.”

”But how does it happen that he and the boat were together. It seems to me that if the waves were high enough to bring the boat clear up to this point, he would be freed from the boat long before it reached this place.”

<script>