accompanied by some of
the natives of Venture island.

The Professor and the others remained on board, while the party made the
preliminary examinations of the immediate neighborhood. John formed two
parties, one under command of Muro, and the other of Uraso. The boys
were with Uraso, while he was with Muro. The object was to find out as
quickly as possible what they would have to meet, and the result would
enable them to determine the future plans.

"It is understood, now," remarked John, "that the two exploring parties
shall take the two courses outlined, Muro and his men, to go directly
east, while Uraso will take a course to the northeast, and proceed in
that direction for three hours, and then the two parties are to turn
toward each other, and mutually report. This will give us an
opportunity to find out something, unless the island is a very large
one, and requires subsequent exploration to ascertain whether it is
inhabited."

John had purposely selected the route to the east, as he saw the high
elevation in that direction, and George laughed, as he said, slyly:
"John is still after the caves," and Harry laughed, as he recalled the
keenness with which John had arranged the trips.

John did make his way to the highest points, and soon learned, from the
observations, that the island was inhabited, but the trip of the boys
was more exciting, so we shall more particularly detail their
adventures.

Before they had gone two hours evidences grew thick and fast that tribes
inhabited the island. Muro, and the different men, were continually
finding traces, none of them, however, which indicated that the people
were near at hand, or that the telltale marks had been recently made.

But now signs began to be apparent to the boys also; the bones of
animals, lying around the spot where a fire had been gave them the first
real sensation. Muro glanced at the boys, and at some bones, and the
action on his part was so peculiar, that George quietly remarked:

"Muro looked so peculiarly at me when I glanced at the bones, over
there, that I wonder what he meant?"

"I saw it too," answered Harry. "Let us have another look at them;" and
acting on the suggestion they went over. Muro followed. They did not
appear to pay any attention to him; but he was quick to join them, and
as he did so he slowly nodded his head.

"Are they human remains?" said Harry, as he turned to Muro,
questioningly.

"Yes; and this is not the first we