Roger T. Finlay

“ Whatever the Great Chief gives willingly, like the fruits of the earth, is intended for all alike, and men should not be called criminals for taking what they need, if they do not wilfully destroy it."
"That is a wonderful idea, when I come to think of it," remarked George. "And to think that a savage could work that out in his mind."
"But there is one thing that looks a little queer to me. He said he did not know or believe in a Great Spirit, and yet he talks of the sun as a Great Spirit," remarked Harry.
"I will put the question to him," said John. ”

“ Thus far not a human being was visible. An hour's march would bring them to the village of the criminals, and the boys began to examine their weapons, and to look apprehensive.
The wild fruits of the tropics were now seen in abundance in every direction. Bananas, the Bread Fruit, Cocoa, and Date Palm, on every hand.
The most astonishing thing, however, was the profusion of flowers, of every variety, seemingly, and the air was scented as with one vast bouquet.
Sutoto stopped and pointed ahead: "They are in the trees gathering fruit." ”

“ If I can judge anything by that I should say they have a number of warriors," answered Uraso.
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"That does, indeed, look as though they are ready to meet us from whatever direction we may attack them," remarked John.
"The thing which is the most singular to me," remarked Muro, "is the way they are coming at us after the fight over there. If they were a weak lot they would draw off, and keep away from us, and that makes me think they have a lot of warriors, and are simply waiting until they can collect all of them."
"We must do one of two things," ventured John, on reflection. ”

“ The countenances of Harry and George fell. John noticed it, and smiled at the disappointment.
"There are no caves around here," said George.
"Are there any mountains on the island?"
"There are high hills."
"Have they any neighbors, or different tribes?"
"Yes; to the north, (pointing in that direction) are some bad people, but they belong to him."
"Why do they not live near to the village!"
"Because they would make the people bad." ”

“ The two boats pulled for the shore. After landing John, with Uraso's men the boys quickly scrambled up the rough cliffs beyond. When the heights were gained they looked over a beautifully wooded landscape, but it was still, except for the birds and the small animals which looked at them in a startled manner, and then scurried for cover.
"I doubt whether there are any people living here," remarked Harry. "There is not a sign of living beings."
"You are quite mistaken there," said John.
The boys looked at John. "Have you seen any signs?" asked George. ”

“ Muro followed. They did not appear to pay any attention to him; but he was quick to join them, and as he did so he slowly nodded his head.
"Are they human remains?" said Harry, as he turned to Muro, questioningly.
"Yes; and this is not the first we have seen," he answered. "We may find them now at any time. I am now sure that there are several tribes here."
"What makes you believe so?"
"Because we have found different kinds of hair, which is usually the best evidence of the differences in the tribes, as each has its own peculiarity."
"Savages, and cannibals!" said George reflectively. ”

“ To show they can perfectly agree, even though they do talk."
"But that is all before the real ceremony itself," said George. "How do they get married? That is the main thing."
"Why," said Mida, "that is part of the marrying."
"But they haven't promised anything. Marrying is promising."
This occasioned another roar of merriment. "Yes; marriage is a contract under our law, but not so with these people. The only question with them is whether they are suited to each other."
"But suppose they should not want to marry each other, or one of them should object," interposed Harry. ”

“ John turned to them, when he saw their 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?" he repeated the query. "No; but you should ask them. I do not know of any one who wishes to return. We love our Chief too much to wish for such a thing."
"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 sent here never have another day of peace or happiness." ”

“ They remained there for a long time, and viewed every portion of the island. When they descended they took a route leading to the west, and when nearly at the bottom, heard the unmistakable sounds of voices below them. For a moment the boys were alarmed, but Sutoto set up a shout, his quick ears having detected the voices of their friends. It was the first caravan load of copper which they were taking from the great cave near the Illyas' village.
"Glory! we are near the Illyas' village," said Harry, as he stumbled down the mountain side, and saw the train of men with the loads. ”

“ John mused for a while, and then said: "It is likely that the people here have the same aversion to fish as some natives along the Australian continent, and in the islands near there."
"What is that?" asked George.
"The natives of New Guinea, for instance, worship snakes, lizards, sharks and crocodiles, and there is a strict law among them not to injure anything, of that kind. As a result, they are afraid to eat anything that approaches the shape of these animals."
"Well, if they worship the snakes they must have some kind of religion," ventured Harry. ”

“ When I go out and see these poor people here, and I meet smiles on every face, and a welcome everywhere, the thought that we have tried to make them feel and know that wars were wrong, and that true happiness consists in trying to make others happy, it gives me more pleasure than all the gold which we took from the caves of the Buccaneers. ”

“ The great and overshadowing trait in humanity is to acquire something. It is just possible that the cartridge belt, or the field glasses, or the buttons on his coat were of more importance to them than George himself."
"Then you mean they had to get George to get the buttons," said Harry, laughing in his relief.
"Of course," answered John, and Muro laughed aloud, as he recalled his first experiences with the boys.
"John has hit upon the very thing which is at the bottom of the whole business. All we wanted was to get the trinket, and the prisoner belonged to the Chief." ”

“ It was a saucy little steamer, and as they drew near Blakely said: "What speed do you think she will make?"
"Fifteen miles at least," remarked Harry.
"I am guaranteed eighteen miles an hour at the least."
"Isn't that fine," said George. "What does she burn?"
"Either wood, coal or petroleum."
"Now would be the time to look up the oil deposits on the island," remarked Harry.
Within an hour the ship was under way, greatly to the delight of the boys.
Notwithstanding the ship was sent forward under full steam, the speed was far too slow for the impatient boys. ”

“ Now all was bustle. Fires were being built; the men and women were busy preparing food. A species of hog, well known on Wonder Island, was being prepared and spitted, and hung over the heated coals.
They saw the favorite native vegetable, the Taro root, and also, to their surprise, an abundance of Uraso's poison bulb, the Amarylla, which he had tried to prepare in stealth after he had been captured, and the telling of which was the occasion of many jokes at the expense of George and Harry.
John, the two boys, together with Uraso and Muro, were ushered into the Chief's house. ”

“ John could not help but smile at the acuteness of the question. "That, in effect, is just what they do. It is not so considered, however, by our people. It is difficult to say just where necessity ends and luxury begins. But each year, yes every month, new things are brought out, and people begin to buy them, because the traders and the people who sell are shrewd and know how to cultivate taste and the desire for new and startling things." ”

“ The Krishnos own the big gun factories, and they tell the chiefs that the people across the river, or on the other side of the mountain are going to rise up against them, and they must arm the people and attack them. You see the white man's Krishnos have a great cave, called a gun factory, and while he does not want to offer up any sacrifices for the love of it, he does so because it is his business to make guns, and ammunition, and shells which explode with terrific force, and destroy hundreds at every shot. ”

“ John was anxious to see the people who were exiled from their homes on account of their crimes. Furthermore, he was impressed with the idea that the upper end showed volcanic upheavals, which would be likely to expose mineral formations.
Gruesome tales were current of the ferocity of the convicts. It was no wonder that the poor victims, whom George had prevented from being expelled several days before, regarded their deliverance as such a great blessing.
No one, once condemned, was ever permitted to come back. ”

“ The reason for inflicting punishment on criminals has been to protect society but apparently no efforts have been made to cure the criminals or to help them to better themselves."
"I heard the Professor say, at one of the trials at Wonder Island, that some scientists consider crime a disease," said George.
"Exactly; now suppose we treated people suffering from smallpox, or scarlet fever, or some otherp. 186 like disease, just like we treat criminals, it would be regarded as brutal. To lock them up, and deprive them of the pleasures of living, simply to protect society, is wrong." ”

“ At midday the parties began to appear, first Harry, then Sutoto, followed by John, and finally George. The latter was the only one who was smiling. The three early parties had no news to impart.
"What have you found?" were the hailing words of George, as he approached.
"Nothing! nothing!" were the answers.
"It takes me to bring home the goods," he remarked, and Harry laughed in derision.
"No; but I mean it," he continued. "I have captured a modern, good-sized cave, and it is now awaiting to be explored."
John could not believe the tale. "You are to be congratulated. Good boy!" ”

“ John roared, as he saw the serious aspect of Harry's face. But other sights now attracted their attention. A group of men and women appeared. How strange the natives looked. They were well dressed, that is, judged from the people in Sasite, and they were people of good deportment, if those 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 he differed from most around him. The women were well clad, and the children plump and vigorous in their actions. ”

“ CHAPTER VI DISCOVERY OF THE ISLAND AND EXPLORATIONS
Weary, they dragged themselves over the cliffs and down to the waiting natives. Muro was surprised to learn that they had found no signs of people, so they rowed back to the ship, and after a hearty meal, retired for the night.
In the morning when they asked John for his opinion, he said, "The only course is to sail south, and circumnavigate the island. In doing so we shall effect a landing every ten miles or so, and then go into the interior. This will thus enable us to learn all about the land. ”

“ It must not be supposed that during all this time George was not thinking of Harry, and John, and the boys who came over with them on this trip.
They always called each other "boys." All the natives on Wonder Island were boys to them, and it was amusing to hear them say the word in return. They were all boys, Uraso, and Muro, as well; all but the Professor, John and Blakely.
When George went out after breakfast he was surprised to note the absence of the men. No one but women and children were about. ”

“ It is difficult, sometimes, to know just how information travels among savage people, but in this case, the peculiar beatings of the drums which could be heard in the dim distance, was sufficient to satisfy Muro that they had watchers, and a signaling means from treetops and from the crests of the great hills all around them.
An hour afterwards Uraso's men were seen in the distance, and, although they had fired no more shots, it was evident that the natives were now in force and pressing against him with all their might. ”

“ Within certain limitations such a desire to ornament and render themselves attractive is most laudable. They knew that among the few peoples in the world, where that quality is entirely lacking, they are of the lowest type, and possessed of the least intellect, and that all such are the hardest to cultivate.
Here, as on Wonder Island, the natives understood weaving, the fabrics being of the coarsest character, both in the matter of quality and appearance. ”

“ They get paid for it! And that is why the Krishnos have all the best things, and are better cared for than even the chiefs are?"
"You have given the right answer. The Krishnos don't want to sacrifice human life because they love to do it, but because in the doing of it they inspire fear, and through fear they can get what they want."
"But, Professor, you haven't yet told us how that is like the white people do it." ”

“ The leading commercial genius of the town was Blakely, who was one of the owners of the vessel on which John had sailed from San Francisco, and which was also wrecked by the same monsoon which sent the schoolship Investigator to the bottom.
It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world. ”

“ George took the weapon, and extracted one of the bullets, and then pointed to the hole in the tree. It was plain that even this did not satisfy him. Better still; why not dig out the bullet; and as he thought of it he instinctively reached in his pocket for the knife.
Then he remembered. One of his captors had it. Without any ceremony he walked over to the man who had it, and by motions indicated that he wanted the knife. The savage was mute. He boldly searched the folds of the rude clout, and without a protest on the part of the savage he brought forth the coveted knife. ”

“ CHAPTER VIII FIGHT OF THE NATIVES FOR THE TRINKETS
Scouting in an unknown country, with assurances that foes may be in ambush at every turn, is not a rapid way of marching. Ordinarily, in the open road, a man will walk three or four miles an hour. But in a forest, where every tree may conceal a foe, it is quite different.
Muro was an expert in scouting work. He had had years of experience in this sort of life, and, moreover, was a chief of one of the most powerful tribes on the island. ”