TREASURES OF THE ISLANDS

"

The scout from the rear now came in with a leap

"

[See p. 27]

The Wonder Island Boys TREASURES OF THE ISLANDS BY ROGER T. FINLAY ILLUSTRATED N Y B Co. THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY New York

Copyright, 1915, by THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. The Peculiar Signals Page 15

The doleful sound. The Alma Perdita. "Cry of the Lost Soul." John, Uraso and Muro listening to the signals of the enemies. The night watch. Stalking. The answering cry. The Konotos. Sacrificial feasts. The dark of the moon. Its significance. The language of birds and animals. Their meaning. Discovery of cannibals. The telltale bone. Evidence of more than one tribe. Strange customs. Sacrifices of ancient times. Mexican rites. Superstitions. Previous history of the boys. Varney, Uraso and Muro. The Professor. The wreck and adventures. John's search for records, and inscriptions. Mysterious happenings. Waiting for morning. The plan outlined. The days of the sacrifices. Determine to prevent the killing of captives. Discovery of the natives in vicinity. Investigating the hills.

II. The Savages on the Hill Page 26

John's instructions. John and Muro scouting. The natives intercepting Uraso. Preparing to resist the attack. The signaling instrument. A shot. A hurried report from the scout. Sending a messenger to Muro. The puzzled natives. Muro attacked. Marching east. Muro in danger. Making a demonstration. The weird drums. The ambush. The approach of the natives. The attempt to be friendly. The Chief's refusal. The appearance of Uraso. Uraso's ruse. The savages confounded. Muro surrounded. His escape. The savages retreating. Muro's story. Muro's efforts to make friends of the natives. Driving them from the woods. The sea of the east. The runner to the landing. The peculiar drums. The Marimba. The mountain deer.

III. Capture of the Village Page 38

The trying time at night. No selfishness in education. The evening talks. Astronomy and early humanity. Savage rites determined and carried out by the signs of the stars. The Zodiac. Its origin. The universal superstitions. A common origin. The continents. The theory of a mid-Atlantean continent. The theory of the joined continents. Language as a criterion of the unity of the races. The pyramids. The tales of the Egyptian priests. The deep sea soundings by the ship Challenger. The beating of the weird drums in the night. Evidence of the natives' belief in witch doctors. The plan of advance outlined by John. The boys, accompanied by John and portion of the force advancing. Nearing the village. Hearing the shouting and the drums. Causes of the demonstrations. A captive. At the edge of the village. A curious proceeding. A huge Chief. The witch doctors. Their fantastic garb. The Chief's defiance. Demands return of the captured Chief. Asks John to surrender. Commands the Korinos to destroy captive. They bring forward Tarra, their own messenger. The warning. The shot.

IV. Rescuing a White Captive Page 53

Tarra freed. When captured. The fallen witch doctor. The surprise. The warning from Uraso. Exorcising the bad spirits. The influence of noise on savage minds. The gun silencers. The savages insist on aiding their fallen witch doctor. The shot with the silencer. The awe produced. John the white Korino. The terror among the natives. The Chief retreats. Entering the village. The Chief and people flee. The reserves come up. The sick and wounded in the village. A prison stockade. Rescuing prisoners. Their terrible plight. A white captive. The stockade burned. Learning about the tribes on the island. The messenger to the Chief. The latter's message. John's bold march to see the Chief. Astounded at John's bravery. John's peace pact with the Chief. The return to the village. The Chief assured of the friendship of John and his people. Learning about the other tribe. One sun to the north. The Chief told why the white Chief was so powerful. Wisdom. John's practical example to the Chief.

V. Return of the Natives Page 66

Trinkets. Adornments for the natives. Gifts. The day appointed for the sacrifices. John and party invited by the Chief. John sends for the gifts. The Pioneer at the landing. Sails to the native village. The Korinos called before the Chief. He demands that they produce the captives for sacrifice. The Korinos learn of the destruction of the stockade, and the release of the captives. The Chief condemns the Korinos to take their places. John secures delay. At the beach. The natives gathering clams for the feast. The Korinos and their caves. A sail. The boys spread the news. The signal. The natives wonder at the sight of the vessel. The Pioneer. The feast that night. Spitting meat. The natives' customs. Vegetables. The drink. Arialad. The value of the root. Ginseng.

VI. The Savage Ceremonials Page 78

The day for the ceremonies. The native cloth weaving. Dyeing. Black and red. The grotesque figures. The spears. The colored streamers. The covered points. The flag idea. A brilliant scheme by the boys. The band for the ceremonies. A procession. The ship's band. The leader. The enthusiasm in the village. The dancing natives. Arranging the order of the procession. The tall man and huge spear. The Korinos. The band and the flag at the procession. The leader. The magnolia trees. The march to the forest. The great tree on the hill. The ceremony. Striking the tree. The flower at the top. How it was brought down. The rite of the flower. Incineration. The powder. The dance. Return of the procession.

VII. Significance of Native Rites Page 88

Fasting before the feast. Great success of the ceremony. The significance of the flower rites. Ancient origin of rites. Explaining customs which followed the practice of scalping. Head hunters. The hair token. The flower before the fruit. The Druids. The ceremonia of the mistletoe. The antidote. The oak as a sacred tree. The great feast after the ceremony. Table implements. The Korinos. Where they were imprisoned. Prepared for the sacrifice. Their attempted escape. Gluttony. Habits of savages in this respect. The siesta. The boys discover the escape of the Korinos. The Marmozets. The tall native with the knotted club. His remarkable garb. The Chief's crown. The club-bearer reports the escape of the Korinos. The Chief's anger. Arrests the guards. Condemns them to suffer instead of the Korinos. The procession to the place of sacrifice. The sacrificial altar.

VIII. Hypnotism on Savages Page 100

John's suggestion to the Chief. Asks that he be made the executioner. Uraso's address to the culprits. Their terror. Mysticism. Hypnotic influences. Mesmerism. Constant repetitions. Mystic numbers. The spell on all the natives. The effect of the mesmeric influence on the Chief. The rigid subjects. John the peerless Korino. The threats against the witch doctors. Bringing the victims to life. Amazement of the people. The Chief's address to his people. The return to the village. The feast. The mystic third. The dance at the end of the festival. To settle the fate of the Korinos. The recovery of the faculties of the white captive. His story. The identity of the skeleton found on Venture Island. Identified with Walter. The story which was doubted by John. The rescued natives. The Maloses. Ta Babeda. The tribe to the north. Distributing the gifts. The delight of the Chief. Telling him about the wonders of Wonder Island. The invitation to the Chief.

IX. The Remarkable Cave Explorations Page 113

The Umbolos, to the north. The supposed cannibals. Determine to visit them. Preparing for the expedition. Chief Ta Babeda cautions John against the cannibal Chief Rumisses. John requests permission to take the Korinos with him. He consents provided John will enter the cave and take them. The trip to the cave. The Chief accompanies John to the cave. Superstitions about the caves. Why no one but the Korinos dare enter the caves. The hill near the ocean. The cove near the entrance of the cave. The flashlights. Lighting the caverns. Evidences of habitations. The escape of the Korinos. Following the trail. The outlet to the south. Tracked to the north. Uraso and Muro follow the fugitives. Their flight to the cannibal tribe. John and the boys return to explore the cave. A new series of caverns. A succession of four chambers. A large round chamber at the end of the lead. A mound in the center of the chamber. Removing the material in the mound. Discovery of the copper box. Peculiar character of the box.

X. The Tribe to the North Page 125

The copper box taken to the ship. News from Uraso and Muro. Explaining mesmerism and hypnotism. Concentration. The effect on susceptible minds. The Korinos safe with the cannibal tribe. John advises Stut to sail, north for twenty miles, and await their coming. The march. The cinnamon tree. Cinnamon suet. Minerals. Sulphates. Copper ores. Omens. All peoples believe in signs and omens. The shelter for the night. How signals were made. Sighting the cannibal village. Earthenware cooking utensils. Meet the first natives. The dreaded Chief. A curious figure. The hunchback. A smile on his face. The American greeting. The surprise. A white man. Finding the Korinos. The welcome to his village. The Chief told about their ship. On the island fifty years. Telling John about the strange things which have floated ashore from wrecked ships. The Korinos assured of safety.

XI. The Hunchback Chief Page 138

The Chief's house. The relics from the sea. The hunchback Chief's story. His trip as a whaler. Ill treatment. Runs away. Ships to China. His rudimentary education. Shipwrecked on the return from China. Rescued by native cannibals. Regard him with veneration. Misinterprets their motives. In desperation. Asserts himself. Becomes Chief of the tribe. Stops cannibal practices. His great influence over the people. The Pioneer arrives. Ephraim Wilmar, the hunchback. His surprise at the many changes during fifty years. His amazement at the telephone, the cable lines, the phonograph.

XII. The Chief's Family Page 148

Ephraim's wife. The family. The gifts to Ephraim's family. Delight at the cooking utensils. John tells Ephraim about the treasures on the islands. Hidden treasures. Learning the secrets of early humanity. Archeology. The trip to the cave. The long journey. The cave which had the entrances sealed by Ephraim. The peculiar kinds of masonry. Entering the cave. Dogs with the party. Mysterious death of the dogs. The alarm of the natives. Carbonic gas. Its nature, and how tested. Methods for removing it. The Humphrey Davy lamp. The principle on which it is made. Designed to indicate the presence of deadly gases. Explosive mixtures. How a primitive safety lamp was made. Reëntering the cave. A large chamber. The cross-shaped cave. A parchment. The object of John's search.

XIII. The Chart and the Caves Page 164

The map accompanying the parchment. One of the Treasure caves. Remarkable carvings, and hieroglyphics. The quarrel of the buccaneers. The story of the Spaniard who wrote the chart. The expeditions searching for the treasure. Death of all who participated. Great archeological wealth. No material treasures found. How Ephraim's story affected the boys. John explains why the cannibals feared him. Due to their superstitions. Demented people regarded by some as saints. Genius and insanity. Further explorations of the island. The proposed trip to Wonder Island. Ephraim invited. He and his family accept. Telling Ephraim about Hutoton. The curious tales that were told them about the convict colony. The wonderful character of the people at Hutoton. The Pioneer sails. The first time on the deck of a vessel for fifty-two years. Ephraim and the library. His conversation with the head of the convict colony. The identity of the paralyzed man not established.

XIV. Rescue Island Page 175

The visitors at Hutoton received with rejoicing. John invites the leader to accompany them to Wonder Island. Retlaw, the captive, rescued, brought ashore. Caramo thought he recognized him. Sailing of the Pioneer for Wonder Island. Calling at the Malolo village. Ta Babeda agrees to accompany them to Wonder Island. Naming the island Rescue. The latitude and longitude noted. Introducing Ta Babeda to the cannibal Chief Ephraim. He explains how the Korinos misrepresented him and his people. The new world to Babeda when he stepped on board the Pioneer. The trip to Wonder Island. The mysteries on board the ship to the Chief. His inquisitive nature. How he characterized electricity. Ephraim's concern for his children. Approaching Enterprise River. The steamship Wonder in sight. The greeting. Going up the river. The excitement in Unity. The crowded dock. Sutoto and his bride. The flag on the Wonder. The curiosity of Beralsea at the sight of the Banners.

XV. The Return to Wonder Island Page 187

Sutoto and the great wide world. Their trip to Valparaiso. Cinda, and the latest fashions. Blakely, the man of business. The boys tell him of the wonderful islands. His eagerness. He tells them of the great enterprises, and of the prospective new ship. The growth of Unity. The tribesmen coming in. Introducing Blakely to the Chiefs. They marvel at his energy. The Professor. John tells him about the copper box. The new hotel. The wonderful work in Unity. Agricultural pursuits. What they shipped to the north. The plans for surveying the islands. How the lands were apportioned. Building homes on the island. Energy of the natives. Emigration pouring in. Farm implements. Coffee tree planting. Raising cocoa. The schools. The Korinos as teachers. Explaining the trade problems to the Chief. Ephraim's desire to have his children remain and attend school. The Chief also permits his children to remain. Information that the paralyzed man is getting well. What paralysis is. The triangle. The visit of the boys to Sutoto's home. The new automobile. The surprise for the boys.

XVI. The Savages at Unity Page 199

Their new machines. Blakely's treat for the boys. The Professor's car. John in his runabout. The automobile procession. The Chief and the automobile. The cottage for the Chief's family. The boys and the Professor review their work. The great pleasure in their enterprises. George and Harry selected to manage affairs on Venture and Rescue Islands. The copper box. The skull in the package. The Professor announces the return of the reason of the paralytic. The word "triangle" announced by the paralytic. The remarkable coincidence. Opening the copper box. The triangle on the Walter letter. The skull within the copper box. The cryptic signs in the box. The counterpart of the skull they had found. The identical inscription. The agitation of the paralytic at the sight. He mentions the name of Walter. Retlaw enters and starts at the sight of the skulls. Tries to escape on seeing the paralytic. The latter announces his name as Clifford. Harry rightly judges that Retlaw is Walter reversed. Ephraim recognizes Clifford. Walter arrested.

XVII. Unraveling the Mysteries Page 214

Speculations concerning Walter. Sutoto informed. The mystery of their missing boat. Clifford's story. The paper with the markings on the skull identified by Ta Babeda. The secret in possession of Walter. The boys' suggestion as to proper names for the natives. Surnames, and how originated. The method adopted by the Romans. The Greek names. English surnames. Clifford's condition improving. Trying to identify the skeleton found on Venture Island. Clifford recognizes Ephraim. Walter's letter. The three islands. The triangle. The three southern stars. The southern cross. The three crosses. Thirty leagues. The charts of the islands.

XVIII. The Story of the Lettered Skull Page 224

Clifford awakes. The escape of Walter and his recapture. Clifford continues his story. His effort to find the treasure island. His meeting with Walter. Capture by the savages. The Juan Ferde. Blakely and Clifford. His knowledge of the skull. The finding of the boys' boat. Sailing down the river. Loss of the boat. Finding his companions. Sailing to Venture Island. His illness. Meeting with Walter on Rescue Island. His belief that Walter had hidden the chart. Walter brought in. Clifford apologizes to Walter. The Sign of the Plus and V. The chambers in the cave. What the inscriptions meant. Surprise when Walter learns of the finding of the copper box. Explains the meaning of the charts. Why there were three skulls. The mysterious letter. The remarkable happenings explained.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

The scout from the rear now came in with a leap Frontispiece

PAGE

'Stop!' cried John, 'It will be death for any one to touch him' 59

'It is copper,' said John 138

The old man pointed to the rocky wall 154

Fig. 1. The Marimba. 36

Fig. 2. The Atlantean Plateau. 42

Fig. 3. The Severed Hemispheres. 45

Fig. 4. Silencer: Convolute Blades. 54

Fig. 5. Spitting the Roast. 75

Fig. 6. Arialad Fruit. Sarsaparilla. 76

Fig. 7. The Mistletoe. 90

Fig. 8. The Jacchus. 95

Fig. 9. The Cave on Rescue Island. 119

Fig. 10. Cinnamon. 129

Fig. 11. Phonograph Disk. 146

Fig. 12. Types of Masonry. 154

Fig. 13. Types of Safety Lamps. 159

Fig. 14. How John made the Lamp. 160