第15章

While on our way up we came to an object which filled us with much interest.This was the stump of a tree that had evidently been cut down with an axe! So, then, we were not the first who had viewed this beautiful isle.The hand of man had been at work there before us.It now began to recur to us again that perhaps the island was inhabited, although we had not seen any traces of man until now;but a second glance at the stump convinced us that we had not more reason to think so now than formerly; for the surface of the wood was quite decayed, and partly covered with fungus and green matter, so that it must have been cut many years ago.

"Perhaps," said Peterkin, "some ship or other has touched here long ago for wood, and only taken one tree."We did not think this likely, however, because, in such circumstances, the crew of a ship would cut wood of small size, and near the shore, whereas this was a large tree and stood near the top of the mountain.In fact it was the highest large tree on the mountain, all above it being wood of very recent growth.

"I can't understand it," said Jack, scratching the surface of the stump with his axe."I can only suppose that the savages have been here and cut it for some purpose known only to themselves.But, hallo! what have we here?"As he spoke, Jack began carefully to scrape away the moss and fungus from the stump, and soon laid bare three distinct traces of marks, as if some inscription or initials had been cut thereon.

But although the traces were distinct, beyond all doubt, the exact form of the letters could not be made out.Jack thought they looked like J.S.but we could not be certain.They had apparently been carelessly cut, and long exposure to the weather had so broken them up that we could not make out what they were.We were exceedingly perplexed at this discovery, and stayed a long time at the place conjecturing what these marks could have been, but without avail; so, as the day was advancing, we left it and quickly reached the top of the mountain.