The Wonder Island Boys | Page 9

but near enough that they could have caught some of the boats. I quite agree with you that we ought to make the attempt. The Professor and I have just been talking of taking up the matter in order to relieve any who might have been so unfortunate as to be east away."
"I am surprised," said the Professor, "that you are not through with treasure hunting, and want some more of it."
"But you know, Professor, that some of the most interesting times we had were during the investigations we made at the big cave at the Cataract on Wonder Island!"
"Quite true; but think of the immense riches you now have. In the vault beneath the floor of the main shop you have the combined treasure of the two caves," continued the Professor.
"Yes; and that shall be taken back by you to your homes in the States, and you will want to enjoy it," and John said this with a most sincere air, as he looked at the boys.
"That would be nice," said Harry reflectively. "But if we are there the only thing we can do is to spend it, and there is no particular fun in doing that."
"What? No fun in spending the money?" exclaimed the Professor.
"Why, we haven't spent a cent since we have been here, and we have enjoyed every hour of the time, except--except--" and George hung his head for a moment.
"I know," said the dear old Professor; "I know what you mean. Home still has a warm place in your heart. That is right. You must see your home, and then,--"
"Then we want to come back," broke in Harry.
"It makes me happy to see that the lessons of the past while we have been together has impressed on your minds one thing; that it is not riches which give happiness."
"I know that," said Harry. "When I go out and see these poor people here, and I meet smiles on every face, and a welcome everywhere, the thought that we have tried to make them feel and know that wars were wrong, and that true happiness consists in trying to make others happy, it gives me more pleasure than all the gold which we took from the caves of the Buccaneers."
"Yes, and there is another thing, that I have been thinking about," said George. "I really don't think the people here are so bad, and never have thought so."
"Well, they have been doing some pretty bad things," remarked John. "I would like to know what makes you think as you do."
"I mean, that if it wasn't for certain classes, like the Krishnos, say, the people would not be trying to sacrifice each other. Those fellows are the ones who lie to the people, just as the fellows at the last cave told the people and the Chiefs that if they went into the cave the Great Spirit would destroy them."
John and the Professor both laughed, while the boys looked on. There did not seem to be anything amusing about that, and they wondered why they should laugh at George's remark.
"Did it ever occur to you how like that is to the white man's way of doing things?" asked John.
"I never thought of that!" said Harry.
"Do the white people act that way, too?" inquired George. "I never knew that we had people who tried to deceive others so they could give them up as a sacrifice?"
"What do you think the Krishnos deceive the people for?" asked the Professor.
"So as to give them the power," answered George.
"Quite true. But what is the object of that power?"
"So they can rule?"
"Yes; but what gives them the power to rule?"
"Oh, I see now! They get paid for it! And that is why the Krishnos have all the best things, and are better cared for than even the chiefs are?"
"You have given the right answer. The Krishnos don't want to sacrifice human life because they love to do it, but because in the doing of it they inspire fear, and through fear they can get what they want."
"But, Professor, you haven't yet told us how that is like the white people do it."
"In exactly the same way. The Krishnos own the big gun factories, and they tell the chiefs that the people across the river, or on the other side of the mountain are going to rise up against them, and they must arm the people and attack them. You see the white man's Krishnos have a great cave, called a gun factory, and while he does not want to offer up any sacrifices for the love of it, he does so because it is his business to make guns, and ammunition, and shells which explode with terrific force, and destroy hundreds at every shot."
"Well, after all, we are not much better than