cal
value, excepting a few traces, which have been referred to, and certain
inscriptions which all pointed to the same depositary, somewhere in the
South Seas.

The last inscription was found by John, shortly before they left Wonder
Island, and which, though its full meaning was wrapt in mystery,
pointed, as did the others, to another island than the one on which it
was found. What made the matter still more interesting, was the
knowledge that some one, by the name of Walters, either had prepared the
inscription, or had some knowledge of what it meant.

This man was not known to any of the party, and what made it the more
remarkable was the information, lately obtained, that while Walters,
apparently, knew one of the companions who accompanied John on his
wrecked vessel, that man did not know Walters, at least not by that
name.

These circumstances, together with numerous other incidents, which the
boys could not understand, or unravel, made such an impression on them,
that they were determined to devote their energies to ferret out the
inexplicable things, and the earnestness of John was a great incentive
in the undertaking.

Up to this time the boys did not know the real motive in the mind of
John. To them this quest on his part was to find out where the Treasure
islands were for the material value that might be obtained.

His long silence about the real design had been purposely concealed by
him, as he felt that merely to delve into the hidden recesses of the
islands would not be understood by them in its real sense, because as
boys they could not appreciate that real knowledge always must be
disassociated from the idea of material or commercial gain.

It was with a great deal of anxiety that the boys waited for the morning
sun. They had but a comparatively small force to deal with the
situation. True, they were equipped with fire-arms, and they knew that
the _Pioneer_, their vessel, would return within a week, still, within
that time the large number of natives might be able to surround them,
and unless they could get some word to the ship, and by that means
enable their friends to send reinforcements, they would be starved out.

As soon as the camp was astir there was a consultation. John had fully
matured a plan in his mind, but it was always a pleasure, as it had been
with the Professor, to present any complications to the boys, so that
they could take a hand in the developments which might follow.

"Ha