Roger T. Finlay

“ Harry saw the danger, and went back to consult the Professor. He had the tiller firmly in his grasp, and his body bent over it to keep it steady; but when Harry reached him, and touched him, there was no response. Almost frantic, he cried to George: "Come here, quickly; something is the matter!"
George was there in an instant, and caught up the Professor, while Harry grasped the tiller, as it was released, and turned it to starboard. The little boat responded, but Harry knew that if turned too far, the wind might catch it on the beam and crush it to atoms. ”

“ The most wonderful thing in nature is, that she manifests herself in only one way, namely, by a movement, or a motion of some kind. Vibration is the term used to designate this. Sound, light, heat, taste, smell, and everything which becomes sensible to us is produced by vibration. The movements of the heavenly bodies, swinging back and forth around the sun, like huge pendulums, the movement of the sap in trees, up and down, the beating of the heart, the winking eyelids are all motions which show energy, development, life. ”

“ It was Red Angel who left the wagon and followed them down the river, and who by his peculiar actions attracted attention to their missing team.
"We owe something to Angel for his cuteness in coming for us," said Harry.
The orang progressed rapidly, swinging, as he did, from tree to tree on the route, and when no trees were in sight, would shamble along in a peculiar way, as it is difficult for them to walk erect. Their feet are not adapted to promote a graceful gait. ”

“ The Sea-going Boat
The weaving of a large sail in one piece was impossible, as the loom could turn out goods only thirty inches wide, and as it could be operated by hand power solely, it will be seen that the sails required not only time, but an immense amount of patience. It is no wonder that George was anxious to take a day off at the cave, or anywhere else that afforded a change.
While at work Angel was his constant companion. It is remarkable what a degree of friendship and companionship grew up between the two. ”

“ It is a selfishness, however, that does no injury to a fellow-man. That kind of selfishness is the great quality which has produced the wonderful things that we see all about us, and which distinguishes the man from the brute creation."
"But I have read of a great many men who made millions and millions and who never did any of the things you have just referred to," answered Harry.
"Then do you think they are any better than the pirates were?" ”

“ True, George had spent hours and days in his education. He knew many of the words, and could execute missions, and did many things to aid George in the work at home, and it would have been a trial and a sorrow to miss him.
The next day would see them home again, and they could hardly restrain themselves at the thought of it. What if some one should have visited them while absent? Why might not the savages have found their abode? These were questions ever uppermost in the minds of all.
Before noon they reached the Cataract River to the west of the forest. ”

“ What they do need is a true stimulus for work; and when that evening they were gathered together in the cozy little living room at the Cataract, the Professor who for two days had been particularly reticent and retired, said:
"Can you imagine the condition of the pirates who gathered all that hoard in the cave? What do you think their aim was in life?"
"It seems to me," was Harry's reply, "that the only thing they were after was wealth."
"If what we see in the cave is any indication, the principal thing they lived for was to kill somebody," was George's conclusion. ”

“ During all this hubbub, Angel had been left with the luggage, and he now appeared along the trees, swinging from branch to branch, uttering the most fearful shrieks and chattering, as he was in the habit of doing when alarmed or excited.
"Something is after Angel; quick!" called out George, as Angel made his way over to him. Harry grasped the loaded gun from the Professor and started toward the direction from which the orang had come, but he stopped suddenly after going several hundred feet. ”

“ In the effort to discover, produce and build the various tools, weapons, and articles of clothing, to hunt food, and in the endeavor to learn about the condition of the island, and guard themselves against foes which might be all about them, imposed immense responsibilities.
In their struggles were personified the contests of the human race from the beginning of the world, in the effort to conquer nature, and to make it contribute to their necessities. ”

“ All took a part in this important work, and it was here that the workmanlike qualities of John showed themselves. He was a treasure in this respect. The lathe was a pleasure to him, and so with bench work, and within ten days a new and larger wagon was turned out.
"I only wish," said Harry, "that we could paint it up, and thus make a real finished article out of it."
"Your idea is a good one, but in order to make a lead paint will take too long a time to provide a carbonate which will answer the purpose." ”

“ It is our first duty to take up the task of finding our comrades, whatever the cost may be. If that is your view, we should proceed with that determination, but let us prepare for it in the best manner possible. How long will it take to finish the six guns you are now at?" said the Professor, looking at Harry.
"I will try to have them ready within another week," was his reply.
"In the meantime, George and I will prepare a new lot of powder; and for your further information, I will state that I have been busy during the past week in making preparations to extract some lead for bullets." ”

“ Harry made his way through the violent wind and rain to the boat shed. He came back with a sorry-looking countenance. "I am afraid everything is soaked beyond recovery." He was almost on the verge of tears.
Before noon the rain abated somewhat, but the winds still blew strongly, and when they ventured out to take stock of their surroundings, George was the first to notice the disappearance of the flag on Observation Hill. Rushing in to the Professor, he cried: "Our flag is gone." ”

“ Should they again brave the dangers of the sea, or make the next trip by land?
The only means available by sea would be the partially damaged boat, which was seventy-five miles away, and plans were considered either to bring it to the Cataract by boat, or to repair it where it lay; either course had its disadvantages.
One day the stranger wandered over to the workshop where Harry was engaged. He had never been inquisitive, as nothing seemed to interest or appeal to him. When he saw the machinery, the lathe, and, finally, the electric battery, he stood still and gazed. ”

“ Now see if he understands this: 'Angel, do you want some honey?'"
His attempts at whistling ceased, and in a moment more was in the kitchen. Harry, who by this time had recovered from his mirth, thought it would be a good idea to attempt to teach him.
"If canary birds and dogs can understand language, I do not see why Angel shouldn't."
"Unquestionably, any animal, by patience, will learn the meaning of sounds. Constant repetition of certain notes causes birds to repeat them. ”

“ A new series of books, each complete in itself, relating the remarkable experiences of two boys and a man, who are cast upon an island in the South Seas with absolutely nothing but the clothing they wore. By the exercise of their ingenuity they succeed in fashioning clothing, tools and weapons and not only do they train nature's forces to work for them but they subdue and finally civilize neighboring savage tribes. ”

“ While they could not remember the particular spot, they knew the old trail had been crossed, and it was a comfortable, homelike feeling to come across the spot.
"Let us camp here again," said Harry, as he threw down his pack. On this occasion they did not have the wagon and the yaks, but they had an ample supply of food and there was no difficulty in making a fire.
Their first adventure came about noon of the seventh day. Plenty of evidences of animals had been found, but they were not eager to hunt. The trail for home had far more fascination than all the animals on the island. ”

“ As the rays of the sun strike the globe of water, they produce different wave lengths, and in that way make it appear to you as being possessed of colors. Now, a rainbow is nothing more nor less than sunlight passing through the drops of water which are suspended in the air and causing a refraction of the light. At noon the sun shines down from overhead, and we are not in the proper position to see this refracted light; but in the morning or in the evening the sun shines against the earth at an angle. ”

“ The inside of the boat was filled with sand which had been driven in when the impact took place. To repair it would be impossible without suitable lumber, to say nothing of tools. They sat down, not with a feeling of despair, so that they might the better form a judgment as to the wisest course to pursue.
"What interests me most," said George, "is to know where we are. Do you think we are anywhere near West River?"
The Professor sat there musing, but did not answer. Harry ventured the opinion that they must be far east of the mouth of that river. ”

“ The perfection of the guns must await their return.
Now, let us go down to the marine works, on the shore below the Cataract. Here were the three vessels lined up side by side, and also the after part of the lifeboat. The shed, which was the boathouse, had nearly all their tools, and besides the bench, was a forge and the primitive blower which the Professor and George had made and set up. Wood, parts of planks, thin boards, of all sorts and description, were scattered about. It looked business-like, and Harry was intensely proud of it. ”

“ Naturally, the muscles of mobility in the face, which express pleasure, never have been exercised, and those indicating fear and anger unduly developed. Here is Angel, in a new atmosphere, where he sees delight depicted on the countenance, and, gifted as he is, with wonderful powers of imitation, has learned to actually laugh, and to enjoy the scene."
"Well, Professor, as we have one of the guns polished up and completed, wouldn't it be well to make the bullets?"
"For that purpose I suggest that we make the molds out of a metal or alloy which has a higher fusing point than lead." ”

“ But George was alert on the questioning end of any proposition. "Do you really think white people have had the boat? I do not see anything that would make you think so."
"If they were savages they wouldn't use the oarlocks or notches, as they row free-hand, almost without exception; but get a white man in a boat, and the first thing he looks for is a place to put his oars in. This incident in itself shows one of the distinguishing features between the civilized and the uncivilized people."
"In what way is one civilized and the other not?" ”

“ The current is, therefore, from one magnetic pole to the other."
"What I cannot understand is why the magnetic poles should be at the north pole and at the south pole."
"The magnetic poles are not at the poles of the rotation of the earth, but hundreds of miles away, to one side of the poles on which the earth rotates; but they are near enough to the real poles, for all purposes, so that the needle points to what we call the north pole of the earth. Any magnetized body must have these two opposite poles. If it is a body, like a bar of iron, one end is called north and the other south. ”

“ Above all things, we want to impress on them the feeling that we are not antagonistic and have no hostile intentions. We are unfortunate in not knowing the character of the dwellers on the island. They may have had frequent contact with the outside world. That may, or it may not, mitigate our lot. So we cannot count on that factor too much. If they are low down in the scale of humanity, we may find a still harder problem. In any event, however, this must be made plain. The wagon is our fort. From that we can defy them, unless they have firearms. ”

“ Harry ran over to the laboratory, and informed the Professor, who came at once, and arrived just as he was dropping the wires.
"The best thing for him is something to do. In this way, the association with tools, if he has any knowledge of them, may awaken some recollections of his past. I have watched him for the past three days and I am sure he is not deranged, in the sense of being demented. Let us try what employment will do."
Harry was engaged in dressing a board with a plane when the man came in. ”

“ The storm was from the west, and the promontory pointed to the north. Under the circumstances, the sea at the end of the land was a raging maelstrom, and the counter influence of the raging waves, beyond the point, offered as great a danger as at its extremity.
And now the leaks appeared at every side. Despair almost overtook Harry, and he moved from one point to the next with the oakum and the caulking tool. The Professor had insisted on again taking the helm. He had been refreshed by the few moments' relaxation. Slowly he moved over to the tiller. Would he ever make it? ”

“ Time can always be accurately determined, but the question of speed can come by experience only. A good sailor can very accurately determine speed by an examination of the passing water, where the sea is comparatively calm. I have known where the distances have been thus estimated within a hundred feet in each mile in a ten-mile course, and where the speeds were varied along the route. Then, a good observer must have the gift of direction. If he has sailed one hour at a certain speed in a given direction his mental chart may be of the greatest service to him. ”

“ A Magnet
"Well, is magnetism the same as electricity?"
"Both exhibit the same manifestations. Magnetism is nothing more than a body charged with electricity. The electricity, which appears to travel around the conductor (A) , extends out for some distance from its body, and produces what is called a magnetic field. This is the case whether the magnet is a permanent one, like the earth, or whether the conductor is charged by a dynamo."
"What is the difference between the north and the south pole?" ”

“ Very few metals are used alone in the various arts and manufactures. For every purpose some combination has been found which makes the product better. Even coins are so alloyed. Silver and gold in the form of money would be entirely too soft, unless alloyed with some hardening metal. Some substances, like arsenic, antimony and bismuth, are too brittle to be used alone. The only metals which can be used alone are aluminum, zinc, iron, tin, copper, lead, mercury, silver, gold and platinum."
"What is bronze, of which all the ancient guns were made?" ”

“ Harry inquired, "to think it was some one from the Investigator? Otherwise, how is it that they had possession of the boat?"
"That is the problem we shall now have to find out."
Thus, in another direction, was found an evidence that savages were on the island and that others had been wrecked and found a refuge there. How much of a refuge it was to them they had no means of knowing. They were thankful their own lives had been preserved and had been permitted to accomplish so much during their enforced stay.
"We are now vigorous and strong and have been blessed with energy as well as health. ”

“ In the native forests of northern Europe and America, the unlettered explorer hails with joy the broad-leaved trees glittering in the sun among the pines, as a symptom of good land, which he knows how to cultivate. The rudest peasant in Europe knows that wheat and beans seek clay soils ”

“ Arriving at the hill he made an examination, and found that the halliards had been broken and the wind carried away the flag, halliards and all. As the wind came from the sea, the flag must be inland somewhere. Search was made in every direction, but to no purpose. Every rock and lodging place was examined, but it had disappeared. Angel was an interested searcher. He really seemed to divine George's mission. At every bush, or rock, or other possible landing place, he would be the first, and peer around, and look up and down, just as he had seen George do. ”

“ While on the way home, George, who was seated by the Professor, mused over the occurrences of the day. "It has always been a wonder to me to know why it is that humanity must always be surrounded by a mystery of some sort. It seems there is always something just beyond him, and he must struggle and work to find it out. ”

“ Even the slaves in the Southern States were aware that open alluvial lands were best suited to cotton; and the degraded slaves of Pernambuco know that the cocoa grows only on the sandy soils of the coast, just the same as in west Africa the oil palms flourish on the moist sea sand that skirts the shore, and the mangroves where muddy shallows are daily deserted by the retiring tide. ”

“ No one could possibly suspect an opening into the walls anywhere along the hillside. The outlet was not more than twenty feet from the rather level ground, which sloped off toward the west and in the direction of Cataract River.
They sat there silently for a time, but evidently the Professor was not disposed to allow too much time for reflections which he knew must be gloomy to the boys' impressionable minds.
"What are you thinking about, boys? Have you had enough excitement for one day?"
George was the first to reply: "I have been thinking about what we ought to do with the gold." ”