He looked at the Professor in amazement, and then began a minute search of the articles scat[p. 170]tered about, and lying in the little coves within the main recess. Here were found a sextant, several knives, some coins, a bunch of keys, a package of letters, written in German, a revolver, but no ammunition, various articles of clothing, all in the last stages of decay and eaten with holes by insects.
But the condition of the skeletons caused the greatest speculation. They were lying near together, and there was no indication of a struggle between them. One was lying with the head resting on a mass of molding leaves, and this was drawn aside and examined.
Here was the first real clue. A bit of paper, evidently a page from a scrap book, which showed faint traces of writing. Parts were entirely eaten away, and after a time the following words were deciphered:
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"Escaped during the night miles wes tains lyas have Rogers right faithful (Signed) roman" |
The German letters contained no information, excepting the name "Johan," to which they were addressed, and were signed, "Matilda," all dated during the year 1911.
"One of these men was a white or Caucasian, and the other was, undoubtedly, an aborigine, as the skull formation clearly indicates. I am satisfied that this one was a native," remarked the Professor, after he had made an extended examination.
"This letter may be an interesting one to decipher," said Blakely, as he went over the contents again and again. "It seems to me that the part of the word 'lyas' has reference to the 'Illyas,' and 'tains' is part of the word 'mountains.' Probably, it would read, if properly reconstructed, 'west of the mountains.'"