THE STORY OF THE CAVE
An hour or more was spent on the shore of the river, passing along its banks and investigating the proximity of the falls, but if there was a glimmer of intelligence, John did not exhibit it. All realized this one thing: that if his memory could be brought to its normal condition, he would be able, undoubtedly, to reveal some of the mysteries they longed to unravel. For all they knew, he might have been one of the crew of the Investigator, but this, after all reflections, was out of the question, because life on shipboard is rather intimate, and boys, above all others, are most likely to remember faces.
Neither had the slightest knowledge of ever having seen him, and it was now felt that they must await the time when he would again regain his consciousness by the orderly course of nature.
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. Why is it?"
"You have asked the great question of the ages. It is an eternal question. Why should man know everything? That would be omnipotence. If you stop to consider, it will occur to you that the moment man knows everything he ceases to be a man. All energy, all effort, and every instinct in life fades away. The association of man with man would cease. Take the simple act of one lady calling on another. Do you think it is merely to look at her friend, or is it done to make some inquiry? Every action in life has in it some desire to acquire something, to get that which man did not possess before. The quest for the things of this life become and are the great pleasures which man enjoys. It is not their possession. Men pursue pleasure. That is a seeking after something just as much as hunting for wealth."
Returning to their home, the samples which the Professor and John had gathered were carefully taken to the laboratory, and several of the large copper receptacles cleaned for the honey. This was the part which Angel enjoyed more than anything else. And here it may be remarked that, when John was installed, Angel was a little shy with the stranger, but gradually became accustomed to his presence. Somehow John could not fully understand the creature, and often would be seen following his motions; but within a week Angel would permit himself to be caressed without objection, and he seemed to know that no harm could come from the kindly faced man.
Notwithstanding the mystery of their new friend, there could be but one course to follow. They lived on the island and were a part of it. The longing to know what the other side of the island contained was an ever-constant inquiry. Something must be done to forward their efforts in that direction.
During the four weeks at home a good supply of provisions had been gathered, and now the plans were made for an overland journey. The wrecked boat was still near the mouth of West River. It would be a week's trip to bring it home, and this was not considered advisable, particularly as the monsoons were still blowing, with greater or less violence and frequency.
It may well be imagined that the boys had not forgotten the cave. It was their constant talk by day and their dreams at night. It had a fascination which was constantly drawing them in that direction, but, singularly, they never entered it. But one day George suggested that they make a search on their own account. Harry quickly assented, and taking up the two lamps, together with their weapons, were soon at the entrance.
They cautiously went down the stone steps and directed their way to the recess where the treasure was deposited. The skeletons had been buried on a previous visit, so they did not have that grim recollection to ponder over.
What interested them most was the chamber to the east which had been examined by the Professor, and to that they made their way. During the first two hundred feet the direction was to the east, or nearly so, and then the walls suddenly turned to the right, and here a sight met their eyes which bewildered them.
The chamber was a gorgeous one, not so large as the one in which the pirates had their booty, but the calcareous hangings on the walls were far superior and possessed greater decorative effect. From a point near the center of the cavern, they turned and examined all sides, and to the south was what appeared to be an outlet, and this was approached.
They moved nearer with a silent tread, as though fearing the ghosts of the past century would rise to receive them. They saw a recess, cut like a room in the side of the walls, symmetrical in form, and fitted with all the comforts and luxuries that humanity could wish, but it was crumbled, and crumbling, and everything fell at the touch.
Here, scattered about, were the remains of a table, and among its crumbled ruins were gold and silver vessels. There was a mass of debris, among which could be recognized articles of human manufacture and use, but all covered with the everlasting carbonate of lime, which gave it the color of death and the shroud of a sepulcher.
Not a word was spoken. They moved from place to place and touched the objects. What appeared to have some resemblance of a rigid form fell away, just as they had seen it in the other portion of the cave. What surprised them most was the entire absence of any firearms, although they remembered that the Professor had said the other portions of the cave would show that the pirates had plenty of guns.
This incited them to further search. Could it be possible that the Professor had not seen this part of the cave? Their own tracks could be made out in the soft stalagmites on the floor, and retracing their steps to the center of the chamber, they searched back and forth to determine whether or not he had visited this portion.
Nothing was found to satisfy them on this point, but, passing on beyond the first recess entered, they were amazed to find a second grottoed recess, similar to the first, but much longer, and here, with merely a wall separating them from the other recess, was an orgy of bones and weapons.
It was such an unlooked-for sight that they almost staggered at the scene. At one side was a row of chests, fully six feet long, all white and crumbling, and these were filled with the long Spanish guns of which they had several specimens.
Here everything was in confusion. The final act in the drama enacted here, whether before or after the battle in the other chamber, bore evidences of annihilation. Here were skeletons, locked in their dying embraces, still grasping cutlasses with which they closed the act. But what interested them more than anything else were four skeletons, reclining on a raised portion, with chains on wrists and ankles, which looked like a mockery in their surroundings.
The captives had taken no part in the struggles. Were they being defended? and who were the captors? The boys had no time to consider these things. Other matters attracted them. The nook close by was a veritable arsenal. It contained chests which, undoubtedly, were filled with gold. The sights, their surroundings, the evidences of untold treasure everywhere were enough to unnerve them for the time, and George, with a voice almost hoarse, suggested that it would be well to return. It was some time before they could make their way back to the entrance, and when it was reached, they sat down, not knowing what to say or what interpretation to put on the last discovery.
Nothing was said to the Professor about the visit to the cave. It must be confessed that they felt a little sheepish about this, as such a thing as deceiving the Professor was farthest from their thoughts, but there was no concerted agreement to keep him in the dark. Either would have scorned to enter into such an agreement.
The boys were more than surprised that evening when the Professor brought out some of the treasures he had brought from the cave and exhibited them. Among them was a crude implement of stone, which had the appearance of a cutting instrument. Another was a small stone vessel, unmistakably showing human manufacture.
The sight of these did not, at first, interest the boys, but when the Professor stated that the cave was undoubtedly of very ancient origin, George could not resist the inevitable question, "How can that be determined?"
"In the study of paleontology an effort has been made to classify the different periods of man's life on the planet, so that we have the stone age, which is the earliest, the bronze age, and the age of iron."
"How far back in the history of the world has evidence been found of the existence of man?"
"In the chalk cliffs of England, and also in like formations in Germany, skulls have been found which indicate an existence back to a period fully 500,000 years ago."
"What reason is there to assume that if they were found in those chalk deposits, that they must have been that far back?"
"Because it was fully that long ago in the period of the world formation when the chalk beds were made, and this seems to be conclusive evidence of great antiquity."
"Is it not singular that more evidence of that condition is not found than the recovery of a few bones?"
"Not when it is considered that the earth is constantly undergoing change, first in one place and then in another. Have you ever heard of the great continent, which was supposed to be lost in mid-Atlantic, called Atlantis? Plato refers to it, and attributes the first knowledge of it as coming from Solon, who visited Egypt and there learned from the wise men that a great country, to the west of the Pillars of Hercules, which Gibraltar was called in ancient times, had disappeared thousands of years before; and they further informed the great Grecian lawgiver that the earth had been peopled and repeopled many times before in ages past."
"Why was it necessary to repeople the earth? Were they all destroyed?"
"They pointed out that at certain stages of the world's history great floods came and destroyed all the people inhabiting the low places, and at other times the terrific volcanic eruptions destroyed those who lived in the hills, and at other times entire continents, like Atlantis, disappeared, so that the earth had to be repeopled and the arts and sciences learned over anew."
It is wonderful to relate how the life on the island affected the health of all. They lived outdoors and had plenty of sunshine and vigorous exercise. In the laboratory, the Professor made it a constant habit to do all his work in the sunlight, to which he exposed himself at all times. The boys often spoke of this, and one day, while talking on the subject, he remarked:
"It is surprising how little the majority of people value sunlight. It is not the visible sunlight that performs the wonders in giving strength to man. If you recall, we spoke about the actinic rays which cause the chemical changes on the photographic plate. It is those unseen rays which produce the aurora borealis, exert a curative effect upon leprosy and tuberculosis, fill the atmosphere on the sunny side of a street with oxygen and nitrogen, and do many other marvelous things."
"In what manner does the invisible light produce these results?"
"In its sparkling radiations microbes die, decay ceases, the iron in the blood becomes chemically strong; ozone is manufactured from the dirt and dust, which are also destroyed; the perspiration becomes active and carries off waste from the muscles and cleanses the skin; dead tissues are purified and the muscles invigorated; and all life is made to thrive."
"Does the sunlight have the same effect on all the animal creations?"
"This is true of all animate life, except minute organisms, or what are called bacteria."
"If that is the case, why do worms and the like hide themselves in the earth?"
"In that case it is the instinct of self-preservation. The most of them are eyeless, so that sunlight exposes them to birds and other enemies. Professor Mast demonstrated that they are very favorably influenced by exposure to sunlight. Dr. Dolly has shown, by a series of very brilliant experiments, that the butterfly will live three times longer in sunlight than in the shadow; and Professor Yerkes has also proven that the jellyfish, while inactive in the dark, becomes very strenuous in sunlight."
"If that is the case, why wouldn't it be a good thing to have all houses made of glass?"
"That is really what has been proposed. The Government of the United States has set a good example in this respect by devoting over one-half of the space of the new post-office building in Washington to an arrangement which permits the interior to be flooded with sunlight."
In the really strenuous times which our colonists had passed through the pleasures of fishing had been forgotten, and as that was an article of food which all relished, and of which they had been deprived for some time, Harry insisted that at least a portion of the following day should be spent in that way.
John saw the preparations which were going on and entered into the spirit of it in his usual listless way, but it must be said that there was now more eagerness in his actions than had been theretofore noticed.
All saw the change that was perceptibly coming over him, and the particular thing that George noticed was the character of the eye. "I wish you would explain, Professor, why it is that the eyes of people so affected are dull, and that when they recover the eye becomes bright?"
"That change in the character of the eye is expressed by everyone under certain conditions. How much brighter the eye is when you are affected by laughter. That is due to the duct which lubricates the eyeball. Anything pleasant causes an undue amount of discharge, so that the eyeball glistens, and we call it looking bright. The same principle holds good in the case of one who is dull or listless, or, as in our friend's case, has nothing to stimulate the flow of the secretions. The moment he is affected, this is shown on the eyeball sooner than by any other part of his body."
It will be remembered that in a former volume it was stated how Harry had prepared a number of very creditable fishhooks, and these were now attached to the ramie fiber cord and suitable poles were easily obtained for the day's outing.
Aside from John, it was a merry party that left the Cataract that morning, and Angel was among them. Several good fishing spots were known, but the Professor suggested that a change be made and that the trial for the day should be in the river below the Cataract, in the hope that larger and gamer fish might be found. In all former trials only the tame fish were caught.
Less than a quarter of a mile below the Cataract, and close to the mouth of the river, was a small cove, with deep water, bounded by a sandy shore. Here the party stopped and cast their lines. The Professor, however, used a fly and fished with it at the surface of the water. As on the previous occasion, he was the first to land a magnificent specimen, which was so large that he had difficulty in landing it.
"What is that beauty?"
"It is a salmon; or it might be more correct to call it a salmon-trout. Trout belong to the salmon family, and they are all game."
"Well, he certainly made a fight for it."
"Does the salmon live in salt as well as in fresh water?"
"They have a habit of remaining off the coast in salt water during the winter months in northern latitudes, and then entering the rivers when the spawning season begins, ascending the rivers slowly, despite every obstacle that may be put in their way. When they reach a favorite spot, the eggs are laid and are hatched out in countless numbers."
"Has it been discovered why they do this?"
"In order to escape their enemies, who seek the eggs. Even with the care which they take in breeding, millions are destroyed, and it has been estimated that if all the eggs laid were hatched out the number would be so great as to prevent navigation along the shores of the coasts where they thrive. In the rivers of Oregon and Washington the shoals of salmon are frequently so great in the rivers as to make it impossible for a boat to be navigated through them."
Harry was awarded with the second catch, which was fully fifteen inches in length. It had a nearly cylindrical body, covered with exceptionally large scales, and its head above convex. The striking thing about it was the color, the back being of a bottle-green, light on the sides, and silvery white underneath.
The Professor was on hand at once. "You have captured a fine specimen of the mullet, not considered, generally, as a game fish. It is a particularly fine table fish."
George came in for his share of luck, as well as John, who seemed to enjoy the sport immensely. His eyes showed that. It was a pleasure to all at this opportunity to bring something into the life of the poor unfortunate so that he might be brought back to light again.