The Wonder Island boys

by Roger T. Finlay

As soon as the meal was over John signaled to Stut, and he in turn, motioning to his fellows, formed a picket line to the north in expectation of the savages; but they did not return, and night set in without seeing them. George sent Angel to the treetop frequently for information, a proceeding which was just as much a wonder to the two Saboros as his service in helping with the meal.

Blakely could hardly contain himself, as he saw and heard the different things, and he particularly admired the wagon, declaring it was as strongly built as any he had ever seen. Without the wagon it would have been a foolhardy task for six men to boldly march into a country populated as the island was.

Fig. 8. Primitive Wheel. Bas relief, Acropolis, Athens. 400 B.C.

“The romance of wheels is the most remarkable of anything in the history of the world. In nature there is nothing similar to it, so far as uses are concerned.”

“Do you know,” asked George, “about the origin of the wheel?”

“Its invention dates back beyond the time when history began. When man saw the moon it looked to him like a wheel, and may have suggested the idea of a wheel on which things could be rolled. When we stop to consider the vast importance of the wheel it amazes us to see how it forms the prime element in every industry in the world. The wheel and the lever are the two greatest mechanical elements in the universe.”

During the night John and Stut made a trip toward the village, and was surprised to find a well-beaten path leading from the northwest toward the village, and that the wagon was located not two hundred feet to the east of the trail.

The village was behind, or on the south side of a slight elevation, which was the reason why it was hidden from their view at the time they crossed the first river. John counted the huts, and found forty-two, of various sizes.

Conferring with Stut, in order to ascertain the number in each, he calculated the village to contain not less than two hundred and fifty, which would not by any means contribute the number of warriors which were in the party.