Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-08-30
for a signpoSt."

A slip of hardwood had been nailed
to the tree in such a way as to point
to the westward
Most certainly a signpost," said
Challenger. What else? Finding him
self upon a dangerous errand. our pio-
neer has left this sign so that any
party which follows him may know
the way he has taken. Perhaps we
shall come upon some other indica-
tons as we proceed
We did indeed. but they were of a
terrible and most unexpected nature.
Immediately beneath the cliff there
grew a considerable patch of high
bamboo. like that which we had tray
cTscd in our journey. Many of these
stems We're twenty feet high. with
sharp, strong tops. so that even as they
stood they made formidable spears.
We were passing along the edge of
this cover when my eve was caught
by the CLEAN of something white with
in it. Thrusting In my head between
the stems, l found myself gazing at
a tieshless skull. The whole skeleton
was there. but the skull had detached
itself and lay some feet nearer to the
open.
With few blows from the rnachetes
Of our Indians we cleared the spot and
We're able to study the details of this
old tragedy. Only q few shreds of
clothes could still be distinguished. but
there were the remains of boots upon
the bony feet, and It was very clear
that the dead man was a European. A
gold watch and chain, which held a
stylographic pen, lay among the bones.
There was also a silver cigarette case.
with ~. c., from A. E S." upon the
lid. The state of the metal seemed to
show that the catastrophe had occur
red no great time before.
Who can he be?' asked Lord John.
Poor devil, every bone in his body
seems to be broken"
And the bamboo grows through his
smashed ribs" said Summerlee. at is
q fast growing plant, but it is surely
1nconcetvable that this body could have
been here while the canes grew to be
twenty feet in length"
AS to the mans identity" said Pro
lessor Challenger. II have no doubt
whatever upon that point As made
my way up the river before I reached
you at the fazenda I instituted very
particular inquiries about Maple White.
At Para they knew nothing. Fortu-
nately, had a definite cIew, for there
was particular picture in his sketch
book which showed him taking lunch
with certain ecclesiastic at Rosario.
This priest I was able to find. and
though he proved a very argumenta-
tive fellow who nh
that 1 should point out to him the cor
rosive effect which modern science
must have upon his beliefs, he none the
less gave me some positive informa-
ton. Maple White passed Rosario four
years ago, or two years before I saw
lis dead body. He was not alone at
he time, but there was a friend. an
American named James Colver, who
'emained In the boat and did not meet
his ecclesfastic- I think, therefore.
hat there can be no doubt that we are
low looking upon the remains of this
James Colver."
Nor" said Lord John, "'is there much
loubt as to how he met his death. He
las fallen or been chucked from the
op and SO been impaled. How else
'ould he come by his broken bones and |
low could he have been stuck through |
~ these canes with their points so |
Ugh above our heads?"
We moved off in silence and contin- |
led 10 coast round the line of cliffs,
which were as even and unbroken as {
ONE Of those monstrous Antarctic ice /
elds which ! have seen depicted as /
tretchinE from horizon to horizon and /
owering high above the mastheads of /
lie exploring vessel.
In nve miles we saw no rift or break
md then suddenly we perceived some
hing which filled us with new hone.
Il hollow Of the rock. protected from
ain. there was drawn rough arrow
chalk. pointing still to the west
garIl.