Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-06-10

Democrat, though the date had been
obliterated.
"Not mine" said Challenger. "It
must be Maple Whites"
Lord John had been gazing curlously
ut great tree fern which overshad.
owed the encampment. 81 say, look at
his" said he. II believe 1t is meant
for a slgnpOst"
A slip Of hardwood had been nailed
to the tree in such way as to point
TO the westward
"Most certainly a signpost," said
Challenger, "What else? Finding him
self upon 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.
lions as we proceed"
We did indeed, but they were of
terrible and most unexpected nature.
Immediately beneath the cliff there
grew a considerable patch of high
bamboo, like that which we had tray.
ersed in our Journey Many of these
stems were 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 eye was caught
by the CLEAN Of something white with.
in it. Thrusting in my head between
the stems, | found myself gazing ut
a aeshless 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 machetes
Of orr Indians we cleared the spot ana
were able to study the details OF this
old tragedy. Only a 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
! styl0graphlc pen, lay among the bones.
There was also silver cigarette case,
with -. c., from A, II. 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 he broken
"And the bamboo grows through his
smashed ribs" said Summerlee ut is
II fast growing plant but 1t is surely
ncOneeyable that this body could have
been here while the canes grew to be
twenty feet in length"
"As TO the mans Identity" said Pro
ressor Challenger, 81 have no doubt
whatever upon that point As | made
my way up the river before reached
you at the fa2enda instituted very
particular inquiries about Maple White
At Para they knew nothing. Fortu.
nately, | had n definite cew. for there
was particular picture in his sketch
book which showed him taking lunch
with certain ecclesiastic at Rosario
This priest | was able to find, and
though he proved very argumenta-
tive fellow, who took it absurdly amiss
that | 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 saw
his dead body. lie was not alone at
the time, but there was friend an
American named James Colyer, who
remained IN the boat and did not meet
this eccleslastlc. | think, therefore,
that there can be no doubt that we are
now looking upon the remains Of this
James Colyer"
Nor" said Lord John "ls there much
doubt as TO how he met his death. He
has fallen or been chucked from the
top aud so been impalcd How else
could he come by his broken bones and
how could he have been stuck through
by these canes with their points so
high above our heads"
We moved on In silence and coutin.
ued to coast round tho line OF cliffs,
which were as even aud unbroken as
some Of those mOnsirous Antarctic ice.
ields which | have seen depicted as
stretching from horizon TO horizon and
towering high above the mastheOds Of
the exploring vessel.
Ia Eve miles we saw no rlft or break.
And then suddenly We perceived some.
thing which llled us with new hope.
In hollow Of the rock, protected from
rain there was drawn rough arrow
In chalk, pointing stlll to the west
ward
Maple White again." said Professor
Challenger "lic had some present.
ment that worthy footsteps would fol.
low close behind him"
"tIc had chalk, theny"
"a box OF colored chalks was among
the effects | found In his knapSack. !
remember that the white one was
worn to n stump"
"That Is certainly good evidence"
said Summerlec I'VE can only ac.
ccpt his guidance aud follow ON to the
westward"
We had proceeded some Ave more
miles when again we saw a white ar.
row upon the rocks Il was at point
where the face OF the clif was for the
first time split Into a narrow cleft In.
side the cleft was second guidance