Part 17 (1/2)
John stopped and directed the search light to all parts of the cavern.
It appeared to be nearly round, with a perfectly smooth floor. It was unoccupied, but in the exact center of the chamber was a raised object, like a mound.
Throughout the entire cave could be found the calcareous deposit so common in caves formed in limestone rocks, and the stalact.i.te hangings on the ceilings and walls, and the stalagmites on the floors made the scene a weird one.
John glanced upwardly to view the ceiling, above the mound, and said: ”That does not seem to be a natural formation. Let us examine it first.”
With the small pick which John always carried, and by means of which he was always careful to examine rocks and geological formations, while on these tours, the top parts of the stalagmites were chipped off. This was an exceedingly simple matter, since they are generally soft.
After the top layer was removed, the part beneath readily yielded, but before they had an opportunity to dig into it very deeply the pick struck something which gave forth a metallic sound. John stopped as though paralyzed.
The pick was again driven in. Again the plain contact with some hard substance. The digging was now feverish, and when the broken parts were cleared away, a small metallic box, about twelve inches square across the top, and about ten inches deep, was exposed to view.
The dent made by the pick was clearly visible, and the fresh mark showed that the metal was red.
”It is copper!” said John.
Every part of the material around the box was removed, and this enabled them to remove it from its resting place. John grasped it and securing a good hold, finally raised it.
”No, it is not any heavier than I thought it would he,” he remarked as he lay it down.
”Did you expect to find this?” asked George in amazement.
”No; this is a surprise to me as it is to you.”
”Then why did you make that remark?”
”Because I believe that this box contains treasure of untold value. I should have been surprised if it weighed very much.”
”Could it not have contained treasure if it had been heavy?” asked Harry.
John laughed, a peculiar exultant chuckle, as he responded: ”Not the kind of treasure I have had in contemplation.”
The box was turned over and over. There was not the sign of any lid, or crack which showed the cover or means of opening it. ”We must take this out and open it at our leisure,” remarked John, ”but before doing so it would be well to examine the other outlets to this chamber, if it has any.”
The chamber was found, on measurement, to be thirty feet in diameter, and the vaulted ceiling fully thirty feet high, singularly uniform in the domed formation, and not rough or jagged like the ceiling of the other chamber which they had just left.
The walls were absolutely solid on all sides, the only entrance being by way of the narrow little pa.s.sageway through which they had come. Harry picked up the box, and swung it up to his shoulder, and, John leading the way, they filed out and pa.s.sed through the chamber, quickly making their way to the opening through which they first entered the cave.
Within an hour they were back in the village, and found Muro there awaiting their arrival. ”We have found their trail, and they have not gone to the upper cave. They are heading straight for the tribe in the northern end of the island.”
”I am surprised at that,” said John. ”We must consult the Chief about this,” and without another word, he hurriedly went over to the Chief, who was as much astounded as John could be at the peculiar significance of their actions.
CHAPTER X
THE TRIBE TO THE NORTH
Instead of conveying the copper box to the village it was carried to the landing place and taken to the vessel, where it could be examined later, when they had more time. It was now of more importance to keep in touch with Muro and Uraso, the former of whom had gone to the north as soon as he had given the report mentioned in the last chapter.
On the return to the village they discussed the affairs of the previous day, which John had abstained from mentioning.