Burials

           Asitwasnowquitelight,theparty,noneofwhomhadeatenorsleptsincethepreviousmorning,begantobestirthemselvestopreparefood.

           ThemutineersoftheArrowhadlandedasmallsupplyofdriedmeats,cannedsoupsandvegetables,crackers,flour,tea,andcoffeeforthefivetheyhadmarooned,andthesewerehurriedlydrawnupontosatisfythecravingoflong-famishedappetites.

           Thenexttaskwastomakethecabinhabitable,andtothisenditwasdecidedtoatonceremovethegruesomerelicsofthetragedywhichhadtakenplacethereonsomebygoneday.

           ProfessorPorterandMr.Philanderweredeeplyinterestedinexaminingtheskeletons.Thetwolarger,theystated,hadbelongedtoamaleandfemaleofoneofthehigherwhiteraces.

           Thesmallestskeletonwasgivenbutpassingattention,asitslocation,inthecrib,leftnodoubtastoitshavingbeentheinfantoffspringofthisunhappycouple.

           Astheywerepreparingtheskeletonofthemanforburial,Claytondiscoveredamassiveringwhichhadevidentlyencircledtheman’sfingeratthetimeofhisdeath,foroneoftheslenderbonesofthehandstilllaywithinthegoldenbauble.

           Pickingituptoexamineit,Claytongaveacryofastonishment,fortheringborethecrestofthehouseofGreystoke.

           Atthesametime,Janediscoveredthebooksinthecupboard,andonopeningthefly-leafofoneofthemsawthename,JOHNCLAYTON,LONDON.