The Wonder Island Boys: The Mysteries of the Caverns

t to know how it would act. The utmost care had been taken to have it well caulked

equal to what their contemplated load would be, and this they estimated, not countin

he knew every part of the boat. It devolved on him to take command for the day, but he would not c

was no doubt the case, his former trip. There was evidence of the remembrance in the animal, w

and the boys knew it was appreciated on his part. The wind was blowing from the w

wo o'clock it was very brisk. The cliffs were rounded, and as the wind had not changed quarters, the sails were set fo

ous to penetrate the river, and sail up to the falls, but Harry's more practical views prevailed. "If we want to explore the river we

give them the best results, as they were out for the

perceptible, extending southwest, and along which it appeared that the coast followed. The wind changed and came from the mountains, and made progr

d increased, until it blew with considerable violence, every minute being more boisterous, and the Professor suggested that the jib be taken down, which

rds gradually let down the mainsail when the tempest had reached

portion of the boat, curled up in a corner, and apparently u

think he

incts of the animal prevent him from having any feeling of discomfort at a height. The trees are their homes, and for that

it abated somewhat, and the boys anxiously inquired whether it

empt to round the cliff and steer it into the mouth of the rive

er. They stood out to sea in order to make a starboard tack, and it was a gratification to see the magnificent manner in whic

end, and only the roof structure held it in place. Thus the trip had a warning lesson f

h had on it the tracings of the cave, and which had been the means of

said the Professor. "You will note that the light shows some characters which can readily be made out, and at t

looks l

oticed the wood if the peculiar letterin

s, and do you know w

dgment on that until we ha

fully chipped off, and it was found to be a piece of oak board, with a smooth cut-off end, parallel sides, nine inches wide, nearly two inches thick, and about eleven inches

e Slab Foun

the letters were in

tried to find something in the cave, on the day I went in while you went after the team,

rs should show through only after

more curious than

ss or the sheet that the negatives are made of, and

t great photographer, and who was also a scientist, says that every wall, or other object, which you stand before

by developing

product; in other cases the result is a complete change of color. Now, in photography, if a certain chemical is placed on a glass or a film, and the film is exposed, the light and dark portions of the

mean by the

s violet. Now there are still more rapid vibrations than are put forth to make the violet ray

ograph with a light that is

such a character that they penetrate many substances. A curious effect of this was shown some time ago when a photograph was taken of the side

und the island. It was a momentous time for them. The boys could not help but look with longing ey

at all backward in enc

things out of the cave as we can make use

o you think we

and then they have s

laughingly, "couldn't we ta

ve plenty of money in our pockets. Very we

s, together with the bolos, collected. It was a short walk to th

the left of the entrance. The Professor, after reviewing the scene, suggested that the bone

0, Spanish Pistole

d Coins fou

em here as evidenc

heir eyes which staggered them. One of the chests which Harry first found contained not only an immense quantity of gold coin, of Spanish and other

re thes

ious articles, and probably the coin itself, s

hey are! and loo

but little coin, but here the interest was not less pronounced than in the other chest, because the vessels found were not only of beautiful, but many of curious, design. So

e required to hold the money, jewelry and other articles taken from the two decayed chests, and there were still remai

. And now the guns! Seven skeletons were found, two of which had been removed to the

w had two of them," w

east you will find a sufficient number to ass

dozen guns were certainly enough. These were also set aside, and it was then agreed to place the vessels containing the treasure in a secluded nook, in the extreme corner of the large reces

that the failure to bring the team was keenly felt. However, it was the work of an hour, only, to get

me of the coins which he exhibited when they returne

inly of an antiquated pattern. The first thing was their leng

they made their guns

All the ancient pistols were very inefficient, because of the short barrel. Even down to the time of the American Revolution the

owder of to-day more powe

is, that chemical means have been discovered whereby the moment a sufficient amount of heat has developed in the powder it instantly burns-not a sl

ppearance of Angel had been entirely forgotten. All remembered him going along, and no one had seen him enter th

e Cataract, dragging something after him laboriously. All stood and watched him a

. It was the barrel of a gun, with part of the flintlock still attached, but it was rust

pose the little r

e curious part about it is, that this weapon is of an entirely d

was not only shorter, but it had a smaller bore, and what is more, the outside of th

were made of iron, very much softer than the steel of which their own guns were constructed, and it is questionable wheth

so with the vessels, which could be and were utilized in the kitchen and in that capacity were of t