The Wonder Island Boys: Adventures on Strange Islands

  CHAPTER XIV

  A WHITE PARALYTIC IN THE CONVICT COLONY

  It would be useless to recount the experiences of all of the parties.They had four hours of search before them. This would, at least, givesome idea as to the nature of the mountain, and enable John to decidewhether it would be wise to give that project further consideration.

  At midday the parties began to appear, first Harry, then Sutoto,followed by John, and finally George. The latter was the only one whowas smiling. The three early parties had no news to impart.

  "What have you found?" were the hailing words of George, as heapproached.

  "Nothing! nothing!" were the answers.

  "It takes me to bring home the goods," he remarked, and Harry laughed inderision.

  "No; but I mean it," he continued. "I have captured a modern, good-sizedcave, and it is now awaiting to be explored."

  John could not believe the tale. "You are to be congratulated. Goodboy!" Needless to add, George was the happiest person in that camp.

  "Let us go down to see it at once," said George in his eagerness. "Itis quite a distance, as it is not more than five hundred feet from theseashore."

  "Luncheon first," remarked John, and no one interposed an objection, asthe trip had sharpened the appetites of all.

  The meal over little time was lost in making a start, and George led theway with his boys. Truly enough, there was the open mouth, and it wascave-like. Now for the mysteries within. "We went in only about ahundred feet, so as to be sure we weren't fooled," said George, inreference to his discovery.

  The lamps were then prepared, and all the preparations made, the boysbeing veterans in this sort of work, and John was ahead, as wasgenerally the custom in these expeditions.

  "This is as far as we went," said George. Beyond was still a wall whichglistened from the streaming lights.

  Gradually the walls came closer together; the track was a narrow one; sothey had to march in single file. John called a halt. "I am afraid thisis a blind hole," he said, but George could not believe it, so the sidewalls were searched, for indications of some opening.

  "This is the end of the cave. Note the side walls. If they should bepressed against each other they would fit exactly, showing that it is anopening caused by a fissure and not by erosion."

  Harry could not help but laugh. All this time lost on a blind lead, andthe laugh was on George.

  Harry could not help jesting him. "If you are a good tribe finder it isno sign that caves are in your line."

  John enjoyed the laugh on George, but the latter retorted: "I think thejoke is on you, for traveling all this distance to see a hole in theground."

  There was not the sign of a cave on the island, aside from the onediscovered (?) by George, so the party remained that night at themountain top, and in the morning descended the hill, and slowly marchedto the north. Before noon they entered a beautiful stretch of woodland,with luxurious grass growing all around in profusion.

  "This is as far as the guards have been permitted to go," said one ofthe natives, who had volunteered the information about the place the daybefore.

  Thus far not a human being was visible. An hour's march would bring themto the village of the criminals, and the boys began to examine theirweapons, and to look apprehensive.

  The wild fruits of the tropics were now seen in abundance in everydirection. Bananas, the Bread Fruit, Cocoa, and Date Palm, on everyhand.

  The most astonishing thing, however, was the profusion of flowers, ofevery variety, seemingly, and the air was scented as with one vastbouquet.

  Sutoto stopped and pointed ahead: "They are in the trees gatheringfruit." The party halted, and looked, and then proceeded.

  They were, undoubtedly, the first of the criminals. A half mile beyond,and in a plain road, were several of the inhabitants. Those in thetrees, two men and a boy, descended, and, together with two women,walked across the field, to witness the newly-arrived criminals, as theysupposed.

  They were astounded at the appearance of the party. The Chief's sonaddressed the men, and told them who they were, and their mission. Asthis was the first time that such a visit had ever been made, the maninstructed the boy to run to the village and inform the people, and hescurried away.

  Meantime the party moved on, and, as they proceeded, more and more ofthe inhabitants were seen. To the right were people in the fields,engaged in some sort of work there. This was singular. Nothing of thatkind was seen in the village where Beralsee was chief.

  "What is the name of this town where the convicts live?" asked Harry.

  "Hutoton," replied Calmo.

  "And what is the name of your town?"

  "Sasite."

  "Rather queer names, I should say," exclaimed Harry.

  John laughed and glanced at Harry, as he said: "I wonder how _Unity_,and _Pioneer_, and _Mayfield_, and the queer English names sound tothem!"

  "Oh, I suppose they have some good reason for having such names."

  "Yes; for the same reason that we apply names to certain things. Seewhat a wonderful expression there is in the word 'Harsh,' and howexpressive it is compared with its opposite 'soft.' How the first wordgrates, and the second comes out so smoothly. Then, compare 'swift' and'slow'; or 'sweet' and 'sour.' Ugh! I can almost taste the last word."

  John roared, as he saw the serious aspect of Harry's face. But othersights now attracted their attention. A group of men and women appeared.How strange the natives looked. They were well dressed, that is, judgedfrom the people in Sasite, and they were people of good deportment, ifthose of the inhabitants that accompanied them were fair specimens.

  At the head of the villagers was a man of striking appearance, tall,with white hair, such as you would call distinguished, because hediffered from most around him. The women were well clad, and thechildren plump and vigorous in their actions.

  Something must be wrong! These people were not criminals! The old mancame forward, and gave a respectful bow. He looked at John and said afew words. Calmo responded, his words when translated being: "These arefriends of my father, and they have come to visit you."

  At this the man gave another bow, and John went up and held out hishand, which the man took in a simple and unaffected manner.

  "We welcome you to our village," was his reply.

  The boys looked at each other and relaxed their hold on the guns. Wasthis, after all, the wicked place that had been described to them? Asthey marched down to the village they were enchanted at the flowerswhich greeted them on all sides.

  Here and there were garden spots, carefully kept, and when the firsthuts appeared beyond the grove, the boys simply gasped, and could hardlybelieve their senses. Hundreds of Magnolia trees were in bloom; and thegentle breeze blowing in from the sea, moderated the rays of the sun,and wafted the odor of the plants many miles inland.

  The homes were not rudely built, and, although they were on the samegeneral plan of those in Sasite, they had every appearance of comfort.

  The head man of the village led them to a more pretentious home,probably his own dwelling. This was soon confirmed, as they were invitedto enter and repose themselves on slightly elevated couches, so muchlike Chief Beralsee's court.

  Within a short time there was a great commotion in the village. The boyslooked around startled, and the old man noticed it, for he turned toCalmo, and said: "The villagers are preparing a feast for you. Let themgo out and mingle with the people."

  The boys were happy at this opportunity of satisfying their curiosity.Sutoto accompanied them, and with Calmo, they placed themselves underthe guidance of a young man named Anasa, who, Calmo said, was the son ofthe old man.

  They passed down the main street, for there was some semblance of orderin the location of the huts. Around the huts were flowers, just as theyhad seen on the path leading from the mountain, and here and therepatches of growing vegetables. After passing one rather attractivelooking hut, Anasa paused for a moment, and then turned back, motioningfor them to follow. He ent
ered, and the boys saw a villager, and twowomen within.

  Anasa pointed to the figure of a man seated in a chair, and upon seeingit both boys started back in amazement.

  "That is a white man," cried Harry.

  Anasa nodded, his manner indicating that he felt sure that the boyswould recognize him as belonging to their race. George went up to him,and held out his hand. In response the man gave a listless look, andslowly raised the left hand, which was grasped by George, who said: "Iam glad to see you. Who are you? We are white, the same as you are."

  The man made no sign, and his arm dropped to his side as George relaxedhis grasp. Harry touched George on the shoulder, as he said: "There issomething the matter with him. Ask Anasa about him."

  Calmo put the question, and this was the reply: "We found the poorfellow on the beach many moons ago. We brought him here, and tried toheal him, but he does not speak, and one side of him has no life."

  The man made no show of recognition, and the only motion observable wasa twitching jerk of the left arm, and a slightly swaying motion of thehead.

  "John must know about this," said George.

  "By all means," was the reply.

  Calmo was told about the wonderful man John, and that he should becalled at once, so one of the accompanying natives was instructed tobring John, and he speeded away on the errand.

  George stood outside of the hut when John came up. "This is a remarkablething. Did they tell you about it?"

  "No."

  "There is a white man here."

  "Where?" asked John in astonishment.

  "In the hut, and he is paralyzed and cannot speak."

  John did not wait for more, and as he went the head man followed him in.Then they told him the story, and John stood there and gazed at the man.To the boys who were by John's side he remarked: "I do not know him. Ido not think I ever saw him before. How long has he been in thiscondition?" The old man responded: "Ever since we picked him up on theshore, about _tuta romama_ ago."

  "And how long ago was that?"

  George informed him that Calmo received the information that it was overtwo years prior to that time, and as John received this information hepassed his hand over his head, and, turning to Harry, said: "We shall,probably, get at the bottom of another mystery."

  "What is it? Why do you think so?" asked George in astonishment.

  "Not now; not now!" answered John, wishing to defer discussion untilthey were out of the stricken man's hearing.

  The latter, however, did not in the least appreciate who were beforehim. He was not at all perturbed by his visitors, nor when John quietlypassed his hand along the poor man's arm and body to satisfy himself ofthe extent of the paralytic stroke.

  He winced but slightly when the examination of the left side was made,otherwise there was no sign of comprehension on his part.

  "This is a remarkable thing," said John, as they were returning to theold man's dwelling.

  "Why, is it a peculiar case?"

  "The ailment itself is not remarkable; but there is something whichpasses my comprehension."

  "What is it!" asked the boys in, unison.

  "These people are savages."

  "Yes; answered the boys."

  "And they are criminals," he said as he stopped and looked at the boys,with an earnestness that surprised them.

  It did not take more words to make them understand what John meant.These people had taken this shipwrecked man, and tenderly cared for himduring a period of more than two years. This was done without hope ofreward. John learned later on that the natives of the town had madeprovision for the shipwrecked man and had compensated the people atwhose home he was then living.

  After the evening meal, John walked around the village, observing thepeople, and he found happiness everywhere. Everything seemed to bearranged according to a system. The old man was not a chief, but waslooked upon as their advisor and guide; but he was a criminal, as wereall the others in that town.

  That evening when all were present John had the first opportunity totalk with the venerable chief of the town.

  "How long have you been here?" he was asked.

  He was silent for a moment and then answered: "Thirty years."

  It must be understood that the questions and answers had to betranslated and as the natives knew nothing about the division of time inmonths or years it was necessary to convert the time which was given bynature into terms of years and months.

  Thus, they understood what a day meant, and they could calculate time,as all savages do, by the phases of the moon, and in many cases theywere able to indicate time by the position of the sun, in which theyrecognized three phases only, namely, when the sun was directly abovethem, and when it reached the extreme northern and southern points.

  "Why were you sent here?"

  "Because I committed a crime."

  John was almost startled at the frankness of the confession, which theold man made without the least perceptible show of feeling or shame.

  "Would you like to go back again?"

  "Go back where?"

  "To your home."

  He looked bewildered for a moment, and then answered: "This is my home."

  "But I mean your old home at Sasite."

  The old man shook his head vigorously, and answered: "No! no! There isno place like Hutoton."

  "Do you know what 'Hutoton' means?"

  "Yes; it means 'the place of death.'"

  The boys were startled at the reply. John turned to them, when he sawtheir expression, and smiled. The old man, too, smiled.

  "Do any of your people want to go back?"

  He looked surprised at the question. "Do they want to go back?" herepeated the query. "No; but you should ask them. I do not know of anyone who wishes to return. We love our Chief too much to wish for such athing."

  "Do you know what the people in Sasite think of this place?"

  "No; not altogether; I am curious to know."

  "They believe it is a terrible place, and that the people who are senthere never have another day of peace or happiness."

  "And have they not changed their opinions? I used to think so too, andwe believed it of those who went before us; but we thought they mighthave changed their opinions, because we felt that people were growingbetter and not worse. It is a long time since they sent us realcriminals, and we thought the Chief's people were growing wiser andhappier."

  "When did the last criminals come here?"

  "Nearly one year ago."