o far, I have no direct reason for thinking so, but there are several
very curious things about the story."

"What in particular do you have in mind?"

"He said the boat was found on the seashore, and that Walter left
without taking it with him, but that when he recovered the boat was
gone."

"Is it an unreasonable story?"

"That is not at all improbable. The tide might have washed it away, but,
if it was our boat, and it was provided with the peculiar rope and the
strange oars, that were found in it when it was recovered by you, it
would be interesting to know whether he or Walter put them there."

"Why is that so interesting to know?"

"Because the rope found in that boat, is the same as the rope we took
from Clifford's body, which you discovered on Venture Island."

"If we could only find Walter now it would solve that mystery," said
Harry. "I don't like to think that this man was instrumental in the
Clifford tragedy."

"Nor do I," responded John. "It is evident there is some connection
between that boat and the skeleton, and that our boat played a part in
it." This ended the conversation on this point.

It will be remembered that two of the men rescued from the prison
stockade, were natives of another tribe, who had been captured some
weeks before. Upon inquiry John found that they had disappeared the day
before.

The two others, in a very emaciated condition, were still under John's
care, and rapidly improving. No attempts had been made to question
them, and as it was the intention of the boys to commence the trip to
the north, as soon as John had settled the matter with the Korinos, they
were anxious to get some information from them concerning their tribe.

Accompanying Uraso, and through him, they first learned that the people
they were now living with were called Malosos, and that the Chief was
named Ta Babeda, which meant the _strong man_. He was not so large as
Beralsea, the Chief of Venture Island, but his muscles were more active,
thus the boys could see that he rightly acquired the sceptre of chief
ruler, as did Beralsea, because of the strength he possessed, and there
was no one on the island to question his king-ship.

While rambling about the boys and Uraso were informed that John wished
to see them at the Chief's house, and they went over without delay.
Entering the house, they were surprised to see that the different
packages containing the presents had been opened, and were about to be