146
Fig. 12. Types of Masonry. 154
Fig. 13. Types of Safety Lamps. 159
Fig. 14. How John made the Lamp. 160

TREASURES OF THE ISLANDS

CHAPTER I

THE PECULIAR SIGNALS

"Do you remember, Harry, after discovering the treasure and the
skeletons of the pirates in the cave near the Cataract, that we heard
the doleful sound of some bird while going down the hill?"

"Yes; that cry was something like it. Do you recall the name of the
bird, George?"

"It was the Alma Perdita."

"I remember, now; it means the 'Cry of the Lost Soul.'"

"Yes; but I don't think that came from a bird. It is more like an animal
of some kind. Don't you hear a sound that seems to be answering it?"

"It does seem so; I think John would know what animal it is; but it is
too late to speak to him about it to-night, George."

As Harry ceased speaking, the boys heard a noise, and George arose
holding up his hand as a warning. "I think I see something, so we ought
to call John."

The boys quietly moved forward, and noted two figures moving about a
short distance beyond. The boys crawled over to the place where John was
sleeping, and found that the place he occupied, as well as that of
Uraso's vacant.

"That must be John and Uraso over there," remarked Harry in a whisper.

They were confirmed in this on approaching the moving figures, and saw
that both were armed, and also that they were watching another moving
figure beyond.

"Is that a bird or an animal?" asked George.

"An animal," replied John, in an undertone.

"That was my opinion from the first," remarked George, who turned to
Harry with a sort of 'I told you so,' expression.

"But it is a two-legged animal," responded John.

"How long have you been up?" asked Harry.

"More than an hour," said Uraso. "Muro is now coming back, and we shall
know something more definite."

"Then that is Muro?" asked George, in surprise.

"Yes; he has been stalking the ones making that noise, and was the one
who called our attention to it."

Muro disappeared, and the peculiar cries were repeated, then, most
startlingly, a sound, similar in character, appeared to come from a
point very close to where they were now crouching.

John turned to Uraso in astonishment. The latter did not seem at all
perturbed, but after the second cry Uraso imitated the sound, and