been in that section of the
island, and all were desirous of again visiting the spot where so many
of their experiences had taken place, and in a region that gave them the
most startling surprises and mysteries, some of which were not yet
unraveled.

Shortly after the noonday hour the roaring of the falling water was
distinctly heard, and the boys hurried forward to see it, followed by
the wagon.

"Here is the place we found the lifeboat--the one we have at
Cataract--right across the river, near that tree. A little farther up
we'll show you where we put our boat--that is the one we started out
with to explore the river, and the one which disappeared."

While passing up toward the falls, John stopped suddenly at a mass of
the driftwood, and called to Tom, who was nearest, "Pull that log over;
I want to see what this is."

Tom obeyed at once, and while he held up the log indicated, John, after
considerable exertion, drew forth a smaller log, which had evidently
been cut off with some dull tool, and when Harry came to the rescue the
entire log was extricated, and all saw a piece of rope attached, and the
indication at two places where evidently it had been in scraping contact
with some other timbers.

"Did you see the rope?" asked the Professor, "before the log attracted
you?"

"No; the end of the log could not have been broken off in that manner,
and when it was drawn out the rope followed."

"It is the same kind of rope we found on our boat at the beach. The
boat, as you remember, was left by us a little above this place."

"I do not remember ever having been here before," answered John.

They had forgotten that John visited the place before he had recovered
his memory.

The log was evidence that some one above the falls used it as a raft,
and from its position could not have been there many months, and
probably was washed there at the time of the last severe rains about ten
weeks previously.

John removed the rope, and put it in the wagon, and the boys noted the
approving manner of the Professor as he did this.

They passed up around the falls, and camped for the night on the bank of
the river. In the morning the stream was followed for ten miles, and the
Professor stated that, owing to the rough character of the country
adjacent to the stream, it would be advisable to leave the valley and
pass to the right.

During one of the previous trips they were compelled to do this, but
that brought them to a d