human
It looks to me, boys, as if you had discovered the spreaders of a demolished aerial.
gpt
No doubt of it, Hal agreed.
human
Somebody used this tree and that one over there as masts of an aerial.
gpt
But trees are not supposed to be good for aerial masts,
human
They're all right if you have your insulation well out beyond the branches,
gpt
Yes, that's true, Bud admitted.
human
And look up there--see that wire? The fellow who took down this aerial didn't do his work very well.
gpt
It was probably done in a hurry,
human
And that is one more point to the argument that this is the island we were looking for,
gpt
Yes, but the fellow we came to rescue is gone and left no trace where he's gone to,
human
Still, don't you think the search has been worth while?
gpt
I do, put in Hal, who had been noticeably quiet and meditative since the last very important discovery.
human
This makes it look as if that last distress message we got from the island was no fake affair?
gpt
Why?
human
Why! flashed Hal.
gpt
It's plain enough to me. Those four fellows, he said were coming to attack him, probably overpowered him and swept away his camp, radio outfit, and all.
human
And what did they do with him?
gpt
Never mind, Hal, said Cub with his bravest effort at consolation;
human
Don't you worry too much over this affair, Hal, urged Mr. Perry by way of response to his son's extravagant assurance.
gpt
If the person you got those messages from was your cousin, I don't believe the fellows who were after him had reason to do him any serious harm. But you may be sure that we will not leave a stone unturned in an effort to solve this--this--
human
Mystery,
gpt
Call it what you wish, smiled Mr. Perry.
human
But under any name you may be pleased to style this problem, we are going to go after it with some more mathematics--
gpt
And geography,
human
Yes, and geography, and you boys know what success we have had with mathematics and geography in this search of ours thus far. Now, meanwhile, I'm going to make a new suggestion which I hope you boys will look upon with favor. Let's establish a camp of our own right here on the spot where the Canadian Crusoe had his camp.