e now! They had been successful, and had abundant
treasures at their command. Something told them that they were to find
still greater treasures, and the zest was one beyond expression.

The course was directed due north. The boys knew that they were to
investigate the mountains, the hills and the streams. They were to learn
what fruits and vegetation might be found in their native state on the
island; the kinds and varieties of animals, and the qualities of the
minerals, if the geological formations offered them for inspection.

From the first day that they landed, the boys had heard a peculiar
guttural sound, impossible to describe. The sound was almost annoying
after they had heard it for a time. Passing the limb of a tree during
the first hour of the march they heard the same cry.

"I see what it is," remarked George. "It is a bird. See it on that
limb?"

John looked, and then turned to George. "Why certainly, that is the
Kagu."

"Why its bill and feet are red, while the rest of the body is gray. What
a funny feather it has running back from its head!"

Harry laughed, as he remarked: "I wonder if our women took their hat
fashions from the Kagu?"

[Illustration: _Fig. 8. The Kagu._]

"You have made a correct observation. Some species of the hornbill have
feathers which project up into the air like sentinels, and the same
feathers are used in exactly the same fashion by makers of millinery.
Now, I am not an authority on the fashions, but I have often thought
that if the leaders in styles would build those wonderful head
decorations something like the patterns furnished by nature they would
be more beautiful and becoming."

"I wonder if it has only one leg?"

John laughed. "I imagine it has two. It is the custom of many birds of
this species to stand for hours on one leg. It is of the same family as
the stork, the heron and the ibis."

"Why don't we see more animals?"

"The island is not, probably, large enough. These small islands have
only the smallest kinds. Besides, the larger animals are found where the
nature of the country permits them to conceal themselves."

George stopped before a large bush which had rows of yellow flowers
growing up all along the stems, and at each flower was a seed.

"Ah! you have found a most valuable plant," said John, as he broke off
one of the stems. "Feel the crushed leaves."

"It is just like grease."

"It is an oil. It is one of the products largely used in the U