Part 23 (1/2)

”He was tied to the boat.”

One mystery was solved, and another more terrible in its aspect came upon its heels. There was but one thing to do, and that was to bury the skeleton, and John ordered this done, as soon as he had taken the complete measurements of the remains.

”We don't want the box or the things in it now,” said Harry.

”Indeed, I want the hatchet,” answered George.

”Yes, and the rope,” added John.

The boys went back to the camp with thoughtful expressions on their faces.

”This seems to be a Wonder Island, too,” said George, more to himself than to any one else.

They descended the incline, and crossed the narrow neck of land that joined the two parts of the island. Beyond, as they advanced the ground grew more uneven and rugged. Occasionally rocks appeared, the first that they had noticed except around the place where George was captured.

Nevertheless, vegetation grew in even greater profusion than on the other branch of the island. There were more berries upon which all the natives feasted, and the boys were not slow to pick them as they pa.s.sed.

In traveling alongside of a hill Harry was the first to call attention to a peculiar leaf on a plant, which bore rose-shaped flowers. ”This is something new to me. There is nothing like it on Wonder Island. Did you notice it, John?”

The latter took a branch, and gazed at it for a long time. ”I am surprised to find this growing here. It is a plant well known in Palestine, and is called the Rose of Jericho.”

”What a delightful perfume it has,” said Harry.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Fig. 12. Rose of Jericho._]

”It is not noted on that account, however. It is the _resurrection_ plant.”

”How singular; and in what way did it get that name?”

”It may be dried up entirely, and if placed in water it will again appear to revive and raise itself up. This is, of course, due to its power to absorb a vast amount of water. It is found near the sh.o.r.es of the Dead Sea, and I recall that when I was in Jerusalem it was a common thing to see the plant in its dried-up state, sold to pilgrims who were instructed how to resurrect it.”

Here was caught the second and only other animal on the trip. It was somewhat smaller than Sunny, and the latter danced about the dead animal, as the ”boys” brought it in.

”And what is this big-eared fellow?” asked George.

John laughed as he recognized the apt description. ”It is a kind of Australian kangaroo. It inhabits trees, but is very clumsy in appearance and in action. It is a kind of sloth, or wombat.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Fig. 13. The Koala._]

”Isn't that a dandy fur?”

”The fur is not so valuable as its skin. There is nothing to compare with the softness of the hide when tanned. It feels like the finest velvet, and is very strong and durable.”

They were now ascending a series of hills, each more difficult than the last, and the ground became extremely rough and broken. There was a lone path, in many places nearly obliterated. It was the uninviting road to the land of sorrow.

The Chief's son tried to be in the company of the boys at all times, and while he could not understand their chatter, Sutoto was a willing interpreter. He enjoyed the jolly freedom of the two chums, and their uniform good nature.

George and Harry were ever on the alert to make him feel at ease and so they talked with him, and told of the things which John explained, and it was plainly seen that he marveled at things which were described.

Referring to the exiled people, George asked: ”Do those people never return after they are once condemned?”