The Wonder Island Boys: The Mysteries of the Caverns

. The Professor again brought up the subject of the cave. Th

at around?" was the matte

, of course," w

p the sides of the cliffs? From my present recollection the mouth of the cave is fully thirty feet or

ound on the wagon, and l

the most fea

ad been taken before, and one was lost in the cave. Since that several more

ys looked at the boards inquiringly, as the Professor turned back from the wagon. "Oh, yes, the boards; we

only one boat?" And George laughed at the idea of m

the falls without going to t

team could be taken to a point directly over the mouth of the cave, and in a little while the ropes were attached to it and

an ample supply of ammunition, descended to the entrance. The boat was at the mouth, and it was suggested that a preliminary surv

ot where the water was found at the first exploration, the water glistened before them. Returning toward the opening a loud beating sound was he

ntrance the cave made a turn to the right at an angle, so that when at a distance of fifty feet from the

ough to cause some alarm. The boat was beyond the open mouth and at one

e a cessation, to be repeated again. Whatever it was it was not far away.

the ledge, he threw up his hands and burst out in laughter. Angel was in the boat, imitating Harry in the building operation. The sudde

, on top of which two of the lamps were mounted, so they would be out of the way, and thus give them freedom to handle the oars an

d along the tortuous path which had to be taken by their burden, but when the water was re

ust propel the boat, as we cannot row through many of the places, and as the water is not deep, that will not be a difficult task. The ones at the bow and amidships should have the

amps were securely fastened, Harry pushed the boat forward through the cavern. It did not take lo

ould call out for the depths, as he was making notes of the descent formed by the floor to the chamber. The oars gave a

it to the right and skirt the wall going to the

The Trea

gaged in making notes on the board tablets. "It may be likely that the chamber has more than one ou

thin the chamber was not over eight feet deep, and at the outlet to the south he could not touch bottom with the twelve-foot pole they carried. This outlet was contr

d. All peered forward. The lights threw their beams forwardly through a broadenin

" asked the Professor, witho

five

head, until I te

boat moved forwardly fully fift

hamber. Before exploring it let us make a t

th wonder and admiration. Harry, on the other hand, with the utilitarian idea in

rt it from the places where it is found in its natural state, as sc

hese rocks

the caves so far found are in an

of cave a

d by volcanic action. There t

underground channels a

rder roof or wall. This action is brought about by carbonic acid acting on the rock and producing what is ca

between the two names

r cylindrical accretions of the carbonate. Stalagmite is the term used to designate the calcar

ost of the c

t, others for their gorgeous interiors, like this chamber. Some show the most beautiful draperies, or veils; in some cases port

the world are mo

iles and through which is a subterranean river. In the river are eyeless fish, and fish with eyes, but sightless. Others are the Luray, in Virginia; the Wyandotte, in Indiana; Weir's, in Virginia; the Big Saltpeter, in Missouri, and Ball's, in New York. Of seashor

y are they

ou have heard of the 'cave man,' have you not? During the old stone period in England and other European countries, these caverns were the only abodes of man,

new and startling was at its keenest edge. Before they had made a half circuit George announced that he could see a

bout a half mile, in a straight line. The opening for the first six hundred feet, which had been charted by them on the previous occasion, ran directly south, but from that poi

further information from George, as they a

other side of the chamber," w

ps taken out and the guns examined. The opening led into a second chamber, which looked like a canopied grotto of marble. Where they stood the chamber had the appearance of a huge letter A, the side walls of which ran together in the distance, bu

platform, behind which seemed to be a recess. He had noticed it because it contrasted so strangely with the uniformly w

ly; are those sku

re found four skulls, and the bones comprising the remains of four human beings. Th

beyond a doubt. All are, apparently, we

erforation, with the bone fractu

k it is a bu

ng hole in any other portion of the skull, we may be able to

e course of the fractured opening was traced through, and embedded near the top and on the opposite side, was a

that these remains hav

in the form of a bal

son why these people came here and

is t

ion. These skulls are turning to the same material that we see all about us. See how brittle the bones ar

re was a dirk, the edges entirely worn away, and whitened. There were the metal ribs of what seemed to be a case, or a receptacle of some kind. Lying at one side was an ancient type of fir

rofessor. "We must retain everything as we find it, as nearly a

seen, both of which had fractured skulls, one of them showing two cavities which could not have been accidental,

idence to show that a terrible fight had terminated the existence of the band. More long knives, with curiously wrought handles, were lying behind

cles of clothing, some of which were so decomposed as to crumble at the touch. Others were still firm. Some of the articles, like a mantle, ha

rushed a bracelet-like piece of ornamentation with the sleeve of his coat. As they advanced new articles came in sight; a bench; a veritable chai

man habitation. Cutlasses, knives, and at one side, what appeared to be the kitchen, were

k in here without being smot

nough to take care of all the s

ken the trouble to come in such a long distance,

er your two questions in a way that will surprise,

act any from the interest whi