CHAPTER VI
DISCOVERY OF THE ISLAND AND EXPLORATIONS
Weary, they dragged themselves over the cliffs and down to the waitingnatives. Muro was surprised to learn that they had found no signs ofpeople, so they rowed back to the ship, and after a hearty meal, retiredfor the night.
In the morning when they asked John for his opinion, he said, "The onlycourse is to sail south, and circumnavigate the island. In doing so weshall effect a landing every ten miles or so, and then go into theinterior. This will thus enable us to learn all about the land. At thesame time we must survey the island, so as to learn its extent, as wellas its general shape and outline."
"But how can we survey it without the instruments?"
"That is readily done, by observing the headlands, or some special coastline marks, and then taking the angles from those points."
"Well, that will be interesting, at least. How shall we start?"
"Do you see that point to the south which may be five or ten milesaway?"
"Yes."
"Now, examine the compass, and turn it so that the cardinal points aredirectly north and south. Now sight across the face of the compass sothat you get the exact line between this point and yonder object. Whatdo you make it to be?"
"Why I make it out to be S. E."
_Fig. 5. Measuring by Triangulation._]
"That is correct. The line 1 is south by east."
"But how can we find out how long line 1 is?" asked Harry.
"Why by triangulation," said George, quickly.
"I know that, but how can we do it on sea?"
"It can be done on sea, as well as on land, but we had better go andmake the first measurement by triangulation correctly, and do this inour subsequent measurements, unless it should be necessary to make themeasurements at sea. The plan followed on shipboard will be foundsimilar to the plan followed on land."
The boat was manned and the boys with a crew of the men and John madefor the shore, and together they went inland to a point marked B (Fig.5), and sighted across to the same object C that was noted of the ship.This, then, gave three lines, 1, 2 and 3, forming a triangle.
"If these angles are placed on a paper the distance from A to C can bedetermined on the principles of proportion," remarked John.
"How is that done?"
"We will assume that the lines 1, 2, are at right angles to each other.This is not necessary, but it happens to be so in this case. Let usfirst measure the distance along the line 2, which may be any number ofinches, or feet. Suppose we call the line one inch long. Then draw theline 1, so that it will be sufficiently long to be sure and meet theline 3."
"Yes; I now see how it is done," remarked George, with enthusiasm. "Ifthe line 3 is drawn at the angle we got, when we looked at C, from B,the line will cross line 1 at C."
"That is correct. Now, if it is one inch from A to B, we may use thatinch as a measurement to get the distance along the line."
"Let me step it off," said Harry. "I find it is just two andthree-quarters inches."
"What was the distance, in feet from A to B?" asked John.
"I have the figures here," said George. "We found it was six hundred andninety feet."
"If, now, you will multiply 690 by 2-3/4, we shall have the distancefrom this point A, and yonder point, or headland C."
_Fig. 6. The Second Limb._]
"I make it out to be just 1897.5," was Harry's conclusion.
The boys, together with John and a half dozen of the natives, went alongthe shore, and mounted the point C, and from that place selected anotherpoint in a southerly direction, and again made the same calculations.
The vessel in the meantime was put under sail and anchored a milebelow, giving the surveying party time to make several triangulations,and late in the afternoon the party came on board, tired and ready totake a rest.
From the position taken up by the ship they could see a long stretch ofshore line, practically straight, trending toward the southeast, andwith their glass could see, miles away, a headland which afforded apronounced point for observation.
The next morning the same parties rowed to the shore, and Uraso was leftwith the party to guard the shore boat, while Muro accompanied John andthe boys. On this occasion John issued the following instruction:
"The long point which you see in the distance is, probably, 15 milesbeyond. It is not more than that, but this clear atmosphere is liable todeceive. I have instructed Sutoto to wait until one o'clock today, andif by that time there is no word from us Uraso will return to the ship,and you will take up anchor and steer for the headland beyond."
"So that you may understand our movements, we will strike into theinterior, taking a course due east, for ten miles, or thereabout, andthen turn to the south, and reach the sea near the place where thevessel will be located."
"I understand, now, how the distance can be measured by triangulation onland; but how to get the distances, on shipboard, is what puzzles me,"said Harry.
John smiled as he replied: "I knew you would come to that sooner orlater, so I prepared a little sketch (Fig. 7), which shows the bow of avessel, and the tall mast. The lines from A to B give an angle with thevertical line of the mast, which will enable you to determine how farthe ship is from any point."
"But I am still in the dark as to how, even if we have that distance, wecan thereby tell by triangulation, on the vessel, how far one point isfrom another on the land."
_Fig. 7. Triangulation from a Vessel._]
"After the distance from the vessel to the point is determined, as Ihave shown, then the length of the ship itself is used as the two pointsto sight from, and the two lines thus projected, from the opposite endsof the vessel, together with the line lengthwise along the ship, form atriangle, the same as the triangle lines 1, 2, 3, in the sketch (Fig.5)."
It might be well at this place to describe the equipment of the party asit left the boat. The natives carried a plentiful supply of provisions.Each had a gun, the best kind of breech loaders, and also a spear.
The natives love to handle spears better than anything else in the wayof a weapon, and each also had a knife, and some carried the inevitablebolo, that primitive form of hatchet which is known all over the worldwhere steel or iron is available, and the people have arrived at such astate that they are able to make metal articles.
John and the boys also carried guns, but the boys had revolvers, sevenshooters, not of large bore, but very convenient weapons, in closequarters. Each carried also a knife, and belt to contain the cartridgesfor the guns.
Harry carried a camera, which he had brought from the States, and Georgehad the field glass strapped across the shoulders. John felt that theyhad a force large enough to make a fairly effective stand against apretty strong force of natives, the entire party counting, in thisinstance, sixteen.
As they advanced into the interior, it was evident that they weregradually ascending, so that at about six miles from the landing placethey reached the crest of the rising ground. Beyond, where the nature ofthe ground permitted they saw clearly that the distance beyond had alower altitude than the place where they stood.
During this trip there was no evidence that the island was occupied, butthey saw the most amazing evidences of tropical fruits and trees.Magnificent trees were in evidence everywhere, and the woods, besidesmahogany, and ebony, were of the most valuable character.
John noted all these things, but the boys were most interested in thebirds and animals which roamed about. The latter were not large orvicious looking, but it was not permitted to shoot any of them lest itmight alarm Uraso, who was at the landing.
Ahead could be seen several ridges, one of them heavily wooded. Reachingthe summit they beheld a beautiful valley below, and opposite on ashelving rock, stood a type of mountain deer like a sentinel, while adozen or more were feeding on the green slope beneath.
Frequently on the march the boys would take side trips, in the attemptto run down some of the curious animals, but they we
re careful to keepthe main force in sight.
Thus they tramped on fully five miles beyond the crest of the ridge, andoccasionally John would stop to examine some suspicious-lookingindication of habitation.
"It would surprise me very much to find that the island is notinhabited," he said, as he examined what appeared to be a path.
At this juncture one of the native scouts came up and showed John acurious stone formation. John took it, and turned it over several times."That is part of a stone hatchet." The scout nodded assent with asmile.
All now became intent on searching. This finally resulted in bringing tolight a well-formed spear, not unlike those originally used on WonderIsland among the native tribes.
Surely they were getting evidence pretty fast now. Then, while crossinga little rivulet, one of the scouts plainly saw the print of a nativefoot, which was unmistakable. True, it had been made days before,probably a month, but there it was, and now it was incumbent on them tofind out where the people were.
The entire party scattered along the little stream, and searched bothbanks for a considerable distance, the boys taking an active part in thework. Usually the boys kept together, and entertained each other, but onthis occasion all were so intent on discovering where, and in whatdirection the footprints would lead, that they quite forgot to watcheach other.
John gave a customary whistle, as he was in the habit of doing, when itwas desired to call the party together, and all of the scouts promptlyreturned, as well as Harry. George was nowhere to be seen. Johnquestioned Harry. He had first missed him at the bend in the stream nottwo hundred feet to the north.
He rushed back in that direction, while John gave another blast on thewhistle, and then listened intently for a reply. Harry came back withoutany intelligence, and almost frantic. John and the scouts then brokeinto a run, and Harry turned with them.
That instant a shot rang out. "That must be George," exclaimed John."Forward as quickly as possible."
The party turned the bend of the river. All along this part of thestream the banks were cut up by ridges and diminutive cliffs, and inmany places were large shelving rocks which came up close to the stream.
Immediately after the shot John stopped, and listened for some sound,and the natives, usually so alert to recognize noises, did likewise.
"That shot means that George is in some danger," said John.
"But why does he not answer the whistle? Why should he shoot, and thennot call to us, if there is any danger," said Harry in despair.
They turned the bend, and searched to and fro. The shot could not havebeen more than eight hundred feet away. The searchers spread out into afan-shaped formation. One of the scouts ran up hurriedly and called toJohn, who went forward, and there, alongside of a huge rock, where therewas little grass, he saw unmistakable evidence of a scuffle.
"These are the footprints of George's shoes," remarked Harry.
"Yes, and here are the prints of the native feet," said John, as one ofthe scouts distinctly pointed out two or three well defined marks.
"They are, undoubtedly, near at hand. We must now be on our guard," saidJohn, as he pondered on the situation.
"I wonder why they didn't attack us?" asked Harry.
"The reason, no doubt, is that it is a small party. A larger body wouldnot have attempted to capture one of us by stealth."
John turned to Hasmo, one of the fleetest runners, and instructed him togo back to the landing place at once, and advise Uraso to bring his menand provisions, as well as additional ammunition, and to hold the shipuntil additional word should be sent.
Hasmo was off in an instant, and then John issued additionalinstructions. "It is evident," he said, "that we must look for thepeople to the east or, more likely, toward the southeast. That is thereason why I had the boat held at the place where we have just landed.There is also another reason why I think the tribes, if there are any,are to the south, and that is, in this latitude they are much lessexposed to the effects of the great winds that occur at certain portionsof the year."
Harry wandered about, not knowing what to do, at this terriblecatastrophe. George in the hands of the savages! He could hardly believeit.
"Don't worry about George too much," said John consolingly. "I aminclined to think he has had enough experience within the past two yearsto help him out of immediate trouble, and we will then be able to take ahand."
This somewhat relieved Harry. It is possible that George might be ableto take care of himself. "But suppose they kill him?" This was his greatfear.
"It is not at all likely they will do that," remarked Muro. "Those whocaptured him form only a small party, and it is not at all likely thatthere was a chief with them. Under the circumstances they would not darekill him until the Chief ordered it."
John smiled as he nodded at the explanation given by Muro. After all, itwas not as bad as it might be. Now to the rescue. Muro begged permissionto do scouting work until Uraso arrived, and selecting Stut as hiscompanion, they glided through the forest directly to the east.
They were now fully twelve miles from the boat, and the runner could bedepended on to reach Uraso within an hour, if not hindered on thejourney. It would then take, possibly, two hours more for the party toreturn, so that it was safe to assume that they would have to remain inthe vicinity for the next three hours.
John decided that the time should be spent in exploring the directionsto the southeast and to the northeast as well, so they might be wellinformed when the reinforcements arrived.
Hasmo glided through the forest like a deer. He knew that it wasimperative to reach the shore before one o'clock, because at that timethe vessel would leave for the southeastern point. To get there too latewould mean a trip for fifteen miles or more along the shore to reach thenext landing.
The dense forest near the shore prevented him from seeing the vesseluntil he crossed the last ridge, and when he finally came within viewof the harbor the ship had disappeared. He stopped and glanced to thesouth, but no ship was in sight. This was a situation which had beenconsidered, from the point of view of the departure of the vessel; butwhere had it gone?
He went to the shore, where Uraso's party had been, and then,laboriously ascended the point beyond, and from which he could get aclear view of the sea. There, far beyond, was the _Pioneer_, sailing tothe southeast under a strong breeze.
He tore off his jacket, and seizing a branch, began to wave it back andforth. The ship went on, and there was no indication that they noticedhim. He remained thus for nearly a quarter of an hour, and then knewthat he must follow the ship until he reached the next landing place.
The trip along the shore was a most difficult one, as he could notfollow the beach. Many of the rocks along the shore were licked by thewaves, so that he had to take a course beyond the cliffs, and the landwas not only rough, but numerous gulleys, or draws, as they are called,were washed out, making speed impossible.
It required more than two hours to make the trip, and it wasconsiderably after three when he hailed the boat from the shore, andhurriedly told the story of George's capture.
Uraso was not slow in gathering the men needed for the expedition, andwhen the guns and ammunition were brought out all of the men actuallybegged to go along, but he knew that John would not sanction leaving thevessel without a crew.
* * * * *
John and his scouts impatiently awaited the return of the men and duringthis time received the reports from the scouts as they came in. It wasevident from the slight traces found that the band which captured Georgehad gone east. It was no doubt from some indication to this effectobtained by Muro, that induced him to take his course in that direction,also.
All had departed but Muro: Four o'clock came, and then five, but neitherMuro nor Uraso appeared. This did, indeed, look strange to John, whocould, in a measure, account for Muro's non-appearance; but he could notunderstand why Uraso did not come. It then occurred that after all Hasmomight not have been able to r
each the landing before sailing time, andwith this theory he consoled Harry, who was constantly on the alert,waiting for tidings.