"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.