ion of the island we journeyed
along the eastern coast, to the north, skirting a large forest on the
way."

The boys looked at each other, significantly, but he did not notice
this.

"Then we reached a large river, and to our surprise, found a boat,
evidently of native manufacture, and with this floated down the stream
to the sea."

"But where did you get the rope that we found in the boat?" asked
George, eagerly.

He turned, and answered: "How did you know we put any rope on the boat?"

"Because that was the boat we made, and we found it afterwards, with the
strange rope and oars."

"Strange oars. I know nothing about them. We used the oars found in the
boat."

"Did you get the boat near a large falls?"

"Yes."

"And on the north side of the river?"

"Yes; but after we reached the sea, it was too rough, and the wind was
blowing too heavily from the north to make it safe to navigate in that
direction, so we went south, probably ten miles, and drew ashore. The
next morning when I awoke the boat and my companion were missing."

"Who was your companion?"

"Walter."

John looked indignant, and expressed his opinion very forcibly, but
Clifford held up his hand, restrainingly. "Do not be too harsh. I have
no ill will toward him. I did not know what to do, nor which way to
turn, but went to the west, and before night, came, unexpectedly, on the
remains of a fire, which led me to believe that I would find friends in
the inhabitants.

"I went on and on, and caught up with the band, and was then horrified
to find that they were having a feast, and sacrificing human beings. I
saw Walter among the captives, but I could not contrive to let him know
of my presence, and left the place as hurriedly as I could.

"After a month of struggling I reached the southern part of the island,
and there, to my joy, found three of my companions on a life boat,
belonging to a vessel called the _Investigator_, and together we made a
course southeast, and there found the location of the second skull."

"But you knew nothing of that at the time, did you?"

"I did not know what the marks on the skull were for, but the finding of
the second one was sufficient to revive in me the hope that, after all,
the treasure might be found. One of the men, who was the intimate of
Walter, figured out the course to be taken, and we reached the island to
the north the second day.

"There, to our surprise, we found Walter, and he charged one of