The Wonder Island Boys: Treasures of the Island | Page 7

places to conceal their treasures.
While the boys, together with the Professor and John, had found a vast
amount of treasure, as stated in the first six volumes containing the
history of Wonder Island, they found not a single scrap of historical
value, excepting a few traces, which have been referred to, and certain
inscriptions which all pointed to the same depositary, somewhere in the
South Seas.
The last inscription was found by John, shortly before they left Wonder
Island, and which, though its full meaning was wrapt in mystery,
pointed, as did the others, to another island than the one on which it
was found. What made the matter still more interesting, was the
knowledge that some one, by the name of Walters, either had prepared
the inscription, or had some knowledge of what it meant.
This man was not known to any of the party, and what made it the more
remarkable was the information, lately obtained, that while Walters,
apparently, knew one of the companions who accompanied John on his
wrecked vessel, that man did not know Walters, at least not by that
name.
These circumstances, together with numerous other incidents, which
the boys could not understand, or unravel, made such an impression on
them, that they were determined to devote their energies to ferret out
the inexplicable things, and the earnestness of John was a great
incentive in the undertaking.
Up to this time the boys did not know the real motive in the mind of
John. To them this quest on his part was to find out where the Treasure
islands were for the material value that might be obtained.
His long silence about the real design had been purposely concealed by
him, as he felt that merely to delve into the hidden recesses of the

islands would not be understood by them in its real sense, because as
boys they could not appreciate that real knowledge always must be
disassociated from the idea of material or commercial gain.
It was with a great deal of anxiety that the boys waited for the morning
sun. They had but a comparatively small force to deal with the situation.
True, they were equipped with fire-arms, and they knew that the
Pioneer, their vessel, would return within a week, still, within that time
the large number of natives might be able to surround them, and unless
they could get some word to the ship, and by that means enable their
friends to send reinforcements, they would be starved out.
As soon as the camp was astir there was a consultation. John had fully
matured a plan in his mind, but it was always a pleasure, as it had been
with the Professor, to present any complications to the boys, so that
they could take a hand in the developments which might follow.
"Harry and I have been considering the matter," said George. "We think
it would be well to leave this place, and go back to the landing and wait
for the Pioneer. We will then be ready, with reinforcements to meet
them with more than an even chance."
"But," remarked John; "are you willing to go back, and permit the
devils here to destroy the captives they may have, or, to prevent them
from sacrificing their own people?"
The boys had not thought of this. "I know the feast days, during which
these events will take place, will occur within the next four days,"
added Muro.
"If that is so," said Harry, "I am willing to do my share in keeping them
from it. What do you suggest?"
"We must try to get into communication with them, and if we fail then I
am in favor of taking some stringent measures to divert them from their
purpose," answered John.
"Then you may be assured we are with you to the end," said George.

"After talking with Uraso and Muro, we have agreed on a plan that may
be successful, and it will at any rate, for the time, prevent them from
carrying out their festival scheme." As John said this Muro appeared,
and stated that he had discovered the arrival of at least a hundred
natives on the hill beyond the second ravine, and that he saw smoke on
the third hill beyond that, and was of the opinion that the village must
not be far away.
This intelligence added interest to the situation. As nearly as could be
estimated they were at least fifteen miles from the landing place
selected when the Pioneer sailed.
"Unless I am very much mistaken the ridge on which we now are is the
backbone of the island, and I also believe that it is narrow and we
should be able to find the sea much nearer by going east from this
place,"