The Wonder Island Boys: Exploring the Island

o handle this morning?" said George, as he stopped

h a cry of alarm, and quietly, but with-evident excitement

moved forward with Harry. "You would better remain wi

land, somewhere in the Pacific, over four months prior to the opening of this chapter; and, after a series of adventures, had been able, by ingenious means, to devi

ings they had discovered, of some of their adventures, and of wha

implements. Neither possessed even a knife, so they had to get food

dstone formations. With these, and the knowledge of the Professor, they finally succeeded in making iron and coppe

rough a forest, where they saw an exciting combat between bears for the possession of a honey tree, and witnessed the dea

The second voyage was along that stream, until they reached a falls, where they were compelled t

ey returned home hurriedly. On the journey they had the fortune to capture a yak and her calf, and subsequently became possessors of a small herd, two of which they trained. A wagon was built and a store of p

ral mysterious and inexplainable things occurred. First, the fire on the banks of the Cataract River, about fifty miles from their home. Second, the disappearance of their boat, which had be

ent mentioned on the opening page of this chapter r

from the search. "We have lost them, but shall

med to trend to the northwest, after passing the wild barley fields. The ground appeared to be more open and level, so a more s

est of detached trees and thick underbrush, George, who was in the lead, and acting the part of the scout, rus

me orang-outans

ail of an infant. All stopped in surprise. The Professor was the f

ing of several orangs, and not fifty feet away was a pair

eyond the reach of George, who, in his eagerness, was too busy watching Harry's captive to notice the other animal, and befor

ey," said the Pro

ngs good for, any

The Ora

led to keep it, but while you

does i

etables. If properly prepared they will eat

ear camping time for the night, the Professor suggested that it would be

ep in fifteen minutes. When the boys arranged the mattresses for the night,

no attempt was made on his part to leave the wagon. He relished the honey

but made no demonstrations, although they saw the you

il any infant. Probably, the parents saw the affection lavi

old on the mattress, or lazily swung from the cross bar

stopped. The antics of Baby looked like fear. Before Harry reached the wagon the Professor and George heard a shot, and the next moment something struck the canvas t

he strange animal on the back of the yak, drew his g

t at it, the bullet going through its forelegs. The result was it fell, striking the wagon, rolled over, and then sprang to the back of the yak. George's nimbleness in ju

it?" aske

nder the poor Bab

side of the wagon

o encounter the grown animals, they will attack the young, and the ora

fore he could be calmed down. The wildcat was skinned, and it was days before t

. Nature has provided them with warning

t has," remarked George;

istinguishing differences. Its color, as this one is, uniformly grayish-brown, with stripes running around the bod

eir location was fully sixty miles due west of the Cataract. Far to the south and southeast th

nted them from judging of the character of the lan

ains in the south, do you t

about five miles," w

your idea

George is far o

if I should put it at tw

kes you

eptive when you have nothin

istances on water are

u can judge distances better if the

iced: When I am standing on the ground and looking up at an object, it

pearance of the heights are natural things to you; but, when you are above, things below you have an entirely different perspective outl

eople, when at an elevation, like a tall building, or

purely an unnatural sensation, that temporarily disorganizes the nervous sy

tered about everywhere, gave a most pleasing view. During the fourth day of the journey occasional little streams, flowing to the north, were c

barred their further progress, unless a raft could be made large enough to take the team across. This was considered