Part 25 (1/2)

”What have you found?” were the hailing words of George, as he approached.

”Nothing! nothing!” were the answers.

”It takes me to bring home the goods,” he remarked, and Harry laughed in derision.

”No; but I mean it,” he continued. ”I have captured a modern, good-sized cave, and it is now awaiting to be explored.”

John could not believe the tale. ”You are to be congratulated. Good boy!” Needless to add, George was the happiest person in that camp.

”Let us go down to see it at once,” said George in his eagerness. ”It is quite a distance, as it is not more than five hundred feet from the seash.o.r.e.”

”Luncheon first,” remarked John, and no one interposed an objection, as the trip had sharpened the appet.i.tes of all.

The meal over little time was lost in making a start, and George led the way with his boys. Truly enough, there was the open mouth, and it was cave-like. Now for the mysteries within. ”We went in only about a hundred feet, so as to be sure we weren't fooled,” said George, in reference to his discovery.

The lamps were then prepared, and all the preparations made, the boys being veterans in this sort of work, and John was ahead, as was generally the custom in these expeditions.

”This is as far as we went,” said George. Beyond was still a wall which glistened from the streaming lights.

Gradually the walls came closer together; the track was a narrow one; so they had to march in single file. John called a halt. ”I am afraid this is a blind hole,” he said, but George could not believe it, so the side walls were searched, for indications of some opening.

”This is the end of the cave. Note the side walls. If they should be pressed against each other they would fit exactly, showing that it is an opening caused by a fissure and not by erosion.”

Harry could not help but laugh. All this time lost on a blind lead, and the laugh was on George.

Harry could not help jesting him. ”If you are a good tribe finder it is no sign that caves are in your line.”

John enjoyed the laugh on George, but the latter retorted: ”I think the joke is on you, for traveling all this distance to see a hole in the ground.”

There was not the sign of a cave on the island, aside from the one discovered (?) by George, so the party remained that night at the mountain top, and in the morning descended the hill, and slowly marched to the north. Before noon they entered a beautiful stretch of woodland, with luxurious gra.s.s growing all around in profusion.

”This is as far as the guards have been permitted to go,” said one of the natives, who had volunteered the information about the place the day before.

Thus far not a human being was visible. An hour's march would bring them to the village of the criminals, and the boys began to examine their weapons, and to look apprehensive.

The wild fruits of the tropics were now seen in abundance in every direction. Bananas, the Bread Fruit, Cocoa, and Date Palm, on every hand.

The most astonis.h.i.+ng thing, however, was the profusion of flowers, of every variety, seemingly, and the air was scented as with one vast bouquet.

Sutoto stopped and pointed ahead: ”They are in the trees gathering fruit.” The party halted, and looked, and then proceeded.

They were, undoubtedly, the first of the criminals. A half mile beyond, and in a plain road, were several of the inhabitants. Those in the trees, two men and a boy, descended, and, together with two women, walked across the field, to witness the newly-arrived criminals, as they supposed.

They were astounded at the appearance of the party. The Chief's son addressed the men, and told them who they were, and their mission. As this was the first time that such a visit had ever been made, the man instructed the boy to run to the village and inform the people, and he scurried away.

Meantime the party moved on, and, as they proceeded, more and more of the inhabitants were seen. To the right were people in the fields, engaged in some sort of work there. This was singular. Nothing of that kind was seen in the village where Beralsee was chief.

”What is the name of this town where the convicts live?” asked Harry.

”Hutoton,” replied Calmo.