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"There are words here, sure enough. Look at this -- it must be a name. Yes; can you read it? 'Rogers.' But who has signed it? Can you make that out?" |
"Well, if there is one scrap, the chances are there must be some more. Let us get this stuff out of here." |
"But be careful, Harry. I found this by the merest accident, and as it is, you will see I have torn it." |
A more careful search was now begun, and every scrap was raked out and examined. A brass button was among the things; a buckle; the broken blade of a knife; a little metal disk, which might have been part of a locket case; a steel ring, all rusted and about two inches in diameter. |
As these things were successively brought to light, it dawned on the boys that this might well have been the homes of savages, and the articles mentioned were likely taken from captives. The message on the paper, if it could be deciphered, might be the most valuable clue, but they were reserving that for examination later on, when they could have the assistance of the Professor. |
The important thing now was to go over every bit of material in both places, and then make a survey of the surrounding country. It set at doubt all questions in their minds about the inhabitants of the country. |
The small hut was visited, and here the litter was still more profuse, but after every scrap had been gone over, there was nothing to add to the small accumulation which they had taken from the other hut. |
"Shall we go any farther?" asked George. |
"It seems to me that this is enough for one day. Before going back, however, let us look all around this place. You know the Professor will be sure to want to know everything about it." |
Directly west of the knoll, on which the huts were situated, was a slight declivity. "Let us go down the hill for several hundred feet," said George, as he led the way through the tangled brush. |
Within a hundred feet of the hut was a little brook, with the clearest cold water. "I can see why the huts were placed there. Look at that spring." |
Within fifty feet of their position was a slightly shelving rock, and below it a bubbling spring flowing upwardly into a semicircular basin formed in the rock. |
George ran forward and made a quick survey. "Here is a metal drinking cup, just as they left it. My, but it's heavy!" |
"I wonder what it is made of? Here, rub it." |
Only a few passes were made over it, when he held it up in astonishment. "Why, it looks like silver." |
"So it does," broke in Harry. "But what is this on the side? See those initials: 'A.W.'" |
"I must have a drink before I leave this," and Harry removed the little copper cup which he always carried. "What a peculiar water this is! It must be a kind of mineral water." |
"Yes," responded George; "that is sulphur water, or it has considerable sulphur in it." |
"I wonder if this was a health resort for the savages?" asked Harry, as he laughed. |
"Let's start for home at once," remarked George, without noticing Harry's sarcastic fling at the poor inhabitants. |
Chapter XVII |
The Grim Evidence In The Hills |
The boys secured a convenient pole, over which they slung the braces of game, and started out on the march for the river. It was fully three o'clock before they were ready to start. |
"See here, Harry, there is something we have forgotten, and I begin to feel it now." |
"What is that?" |
"Our luncheon." |
"I was so excited and interested that I forgot all about it until now. Why not go back to the spring and take luncheon there?" |
"With that water? I'd rather wait until we get to the river." |
"Well, let's take something, anyhow. I am mighty hungry. Funny we didn't think of it before." |
"Now for our direction. Do you think we can strike the river at the right place?" |
"I'll be perfectly satisfied if we strike the river anywhere." |
"Then why not go directly north, and we can reach it a mile or two sooner than the way we are now going." |
"Good idea! Here we go!" |
It was a lucky thing that they decided to take a different course from the river, because they soon discovered that the ridge they were on ran for a long distance almost directly north, and that the woods were not nearly so dense as they were in the course they had followed. |
At frequent intervals they came upon new game, and brought down a number of additional specimens, until Harry protested against any further stopping. |
"It seems to me we have enough to last a week, and it is getting mighty heavy at this end of the pole." |
"Well, it does seem to be an awful distance over to the river. Are you sure we aren't mixed up in the direction?" |
"Of course not. The mountains are right behind us, and the shadow at our right. You can't fool me the second time," answered Harry, as he shifted the pole to the other shoulder. |
While thus talking they caught the first glimpse of the river, and it was hailed with delight. |
"Whenever I get near the old river it feels like home. My! how I would like to put in several days in a further hunt over toward the mountains. I am sure we would turn up something there." |
They reached the river a considerable distance above the falls, and without stopping to rest, went down along the bank for a full hour before they came within hearing of the rushing water. |
They sat down on the craggy rocks alongside of the stream and took a good rest. "This will be interesting news for the Professor," said George, musingly, as he watched the rushing stream. |
"Indeed, it will. I should not be surprised to find that the natives are directly south of us, or rather west of the mountains." |
"That may account for the fact that they have never been near our part of the island." |
When they took up the load to resume the journey, it was still heavier, apparently, than before, and they were now so thoroughly tired that frequent stops were made, but in another hour they had the satisfaction of seeing the large trees that had been singled out for their guidance. |
It was a great relief to deposit the load on the raft, and it did not take long to swing the raft under the wagon and start the yaks on the homeward journey. The Cataract came in sight before six in the evening, and the Professor was on hand to welcome them. |
"Did you have a good time?" he inquired; but as he looked over the tailboard and saw the fruit of the hunt, exclaimed: "You must have gotten everything over there." |
"Yes, and something else besides that," said Harry in such a tone that the Professor anxiously asked: |
"What; have you made any discoveries?" |
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