Promptly at nine o'clock the company, consisting of the Professor, Harry, George, John and Angel, started on the journey across Wonder Island. This was their sixth trip, only one of them by sea.
Would this be any more successful than the preceding ones?
CHAPTER XVII
THE TRIP THROUGH THE DENSE FOREST
On the march up Cataract River, and out toward the forest, the same order was observed as on the previous trips. One must lead the way, and act as scout, while the others were to remain with the team. They did not anticipate much difficulty during the first two or three days from savages, but it was always well to have some one in the lead so as to point out the most desirable paths, as it must be remembered they had to make their own trails through a wilderness. Much of it had been traveled, it is true, but there was nothing approaching such a thing as a road, or even a path, by which they could be guided.
It was amusing to watch Angel, as he glided along from one tree to the next, where the forests were in their paths. At other times he would be in the wagon, or shamble along, and sometimes leap on the backs of the yaks and ride there. The patient animals were so used to him that no attention was paid to his antics, even though he occasionally sat on the yoke between the animals.
John was an interested observer of all the preparations, and was one of the first to take his place alongside of the wagon. When the Professor urged him to take a seat he looked up inquiringly, but did not comply. The Professor did not urge him, but after several hours of walking, he was again asked to mount, and he did so, thereby seeming to understand what was required of him.
When they camped at noon for the first meal, they were still on the banks of the Cataract, but here it took a decided turn to the west; and now the course for the afternoon must be to the southwest so the South River could be reached above the falls.
That river was reached early in the afternoon, and they recognized the trail formerly made on the first journey along its banks. The first encampment for the night was probably twenty miles from home, but the next morning, after they had struck into an entirely new section of the island, the journey grew more burdensome, as the land on both sides of the stream became rough, and in many places the small streams crossed offered such steep sides that frequent detours had to be made to enable the team to get across.