The Wonder Island Boys: The Mysteries of the Caverns

by Roger T. Finlay

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?"