the
birds and animals which roamed about. The latter were not large or
vicious looking, but it was not permitted to shoot any of them lest it
might alarm Uraso, who was at the landing.

Ahead could be seen several ridges, one of them heavily wooded. Reaching
the summit they beheld a beautiful valley below, and opposite on a
shelving rock, stood a type of mountain deer like a sentinel, while a
dozen or more were feeding on the green slope beneath.

Frequently on the march the boys would take side trips, in the attempt
to run down some of the curious animals, but they were careful to keep
the main force in sight.

Thus they tramped on fully five miles beyond the crest of the ridge, and
occasionally John would stop to examine some suspicious-looking
indication of habitation.

"It would surprise me very much to find that the island is not
inhabited," he said, as he examined what appeared to be a path.

At this juncture one of the native scouts came up and showed John a
curious stone formation. John took it, and turned it over several times.
"That is part of a stone hatchet." The scout nodded assent with a
smile.

All now became intent on searching. This finally resulted in bringing to
light a well-formed spear, not unlike those originally used on Wonder
Island among the native tribes.

Surely they were getting evidence pretty fast now. Then, while crossing
a little rivulet, one of the scouts plainly saw the print of a native
foot, which was unmistakable. True, it had been made days before,
probably a month, but there it was, and now it was incumbent on them to
find out where the people were.

The entire party scattered along the little stream, and searched both
banks for a considerable distance, the boys taking an active part in the
work. Usually the boys kept together, and entertained each other, but on
this occasion all were so intent on discovering where, and in what
direction the footprints would lead, that they quite forgot to watch
each other.

John gave a customary whistle, as he was in the habit of doing, when it
was desired to call the party together, and all of the scouts promptly
returned, as well as Harry. George was nowhere to be seen. John
questioned Harry. He had first missed him at the bend in the stream not
two hundred feet to the north.

He rushed back in that direction, while John gave another blast on the
whistle, and then listened intently for a reply. Harry came back without
any intellige