looking reeds on the table in the laboratory that evening.
"What do you call that?"

"Our honey has been getting low, and I took the occasion to-day to bring
in some samples of sugar."

"Is that sugar cane?"

"Yes; the true sugar cane."

"Is that different from sorghum?"

"This is the species which grows in the southern part of the United
States. The kind you know and which is cultivated in the Northern
States, is the Chinese Sorgo, or, as we call it, sorghum. It is equal in
quality and in quantity to the southern species and is readily treated
to produce molasses or sugar."

"What is that peculiar flower, if it is a flower? I never saw a flower
like that; it seems to be hard."

"I was surprised to find this. It is called the Tamarisk. This long,
oval-shaped part is made by an insect which inhabits the plant, and is
eaten by the inhabitants in the plains east of the Mediterranean Sea. It
is there called Mount Sinai Manna, and is supposed to be the Manna which
the Jews found when they were in the Wilderness after the Exodus."

"I think we have properly named this place Wonder Island."

In the volume preceding this, when they first considered the building of
a new boat, it was decided to graft an extension to the after part of
their wrecked lifeboat; but when the second one was found, and
calculations were made as to its usefulness, it was discovered that such
a course would not be wise; hence the larger vessel was found to be the
only solution.

The newly discovered boat was, however, a valuable addition, as it
afforded a means by which short trips could be made, and Harry quietly
set to work making a sail and rigging up a mast, so that the
long-cherished desire to make these trips could be undertaken before
they were ready to launch the real vessel. It was hauled up on shore and
caulked and new parts added to make it adaptable for the purpose.

While engaged at this work he removed the cross seat which still
remained, and in doing so was surprised to find a piece of cardboard
which had been hidden, apparently, at the end of the board. Eagerly
picking it up, he saw writing on it, with the following words: "We
cannot hold out much longer. Wright and Walters were captured yesterday.
WILL."

[Illustration: _Fig. 9. THE HIDDEN MESSAGE_]

Harry could hardly contain himself, as he rushed up to the laboratory,
crying out: "George, come here, quickly! I have found something!"
Without waiting to see whether Georg