Part 32 (1/2)

John had purposely selected the route to the east, as he saw the high elevation in that direction, and George laughed, as he said, slyly: ”John is still after the caves,” and Harry laughed, as he recalled the keenness with which John had arranged the trips.

John did make his way to the highest points, and soon learned, from the observations, that the island was inhabited, but the trip of the boys was more exciting, so we shall more particularly detail their adventures.

Before they had gone two hours evidences grew thick and fast that tribes inhabited the island. Muro, and the different men, were continually finding traces, none of them, however, which indicated that the people were near at hand, or that the telltale marks had been recently made.

But now signs began to be apparent to the boys also; the bones of animals, lying around the spot where a fire had been gave them the first real sensation. Muro glanced at the boys, and at some bones, and the action on his part was so peculiar, that George quietly remarked:

”Muro looked so peculiarly at me when I glanced at the bones, over there, that I wonder what he meant?”

”I saw it too,” answered Harry. ”Let us have another look at them;” and acting on the suggestion they went over. Muro followed. They did not appear to pay any attention to him; but he was quick to join them, and as he did so he slowly nodded his head.

”Are they human remains?” said Harry, as he turned to Muro, questioningly.

”Yes; and this is not the first we have seen,” he answered. ”We may find them now at any time. I am now sure that there are several tribes here.”

”What makes you believe so?”

”Because we have found different kinds of hair, which is usually the best evidence of the differences in the tribes, as each has its own peculiarity.”

”Savages, and cannibals!” said George reflectively.

”But we must go on. We have still an hour in this direction before we turn to the south and east,” said Harry.

There was more caution now exercised, and the speed was accordingly reduced, in view of the especial care which they took. In order to understand what happened the reader should know something of the nature of the country.

Some places in Wonder Island had the same sort of timber and undergrowth, and they went through some dense forests, in which vines and small brush made traveling difficult. They had to cut their way through some of this vegetation.

The land was not low or flat. If it had been there would have been a dense jungle. Sometimes they pa.s.sed through half-grown forests, and these places were the most difficult to scour, because an enemy might be within fifty feet, and not be discovered.

It was in just such a place that they received their first surprise; a shower of arrows, so thick that they instantly knew it could not have been made by only a dozen or so. Some of the arrows found their marks, and two of the men sank down, while Muro coolly drew one of the crude missiles from his arm.

”Drop down!” cried Muro.

There was not a savage in sight; still a number of arrows fell around them. ”Remain quiet, and I will find them?” said Muro, as he crept forward quietly through the dense gra.s.s.

George and Harry followed, although it was evident it was not Muro's wish. Before they had gone ten feet, Muro turned, and pointed ahead.

”They are there; at least one party. Get ready for a shot.”

The savages, noting the quiet in their front, now cautiously peered through the bush, and the boys saw the most hideous countenances. ”We might give them a round,” said Muro, and after carefully aiming, the guns spoke.

The simultaneous explosion of the three guns, raised pandemonium on all sides. They were now surrounded by at least a hundred of the savages, but for some reason the little party of twenty awed them, and instead of making a charge, they rushed toward the place where the three victims of the gunshots lay.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ”_She ... found herself standing in front of a tall oval mirror_” [See p. 204]]

Muro's arm was bleeding profusely, and George quickly bound it up, while the enemy were hesitating. ”Do not shoot, unless they rush at us.

I will talk: to them, and try to get an understanding.”

Then, in a loud voice Muro called to them, saying they were friends, and not enemies. There was no response. Thinking that they knew nothing of the dialect, he tried another, and the only response was the evident determination of the savages to attack again.