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diff --git a/21832.txt b/21832.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..63994b0 --- /dev/null +++ b/21832.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7857 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Wonder Island Boys: Conquest of the +Savages, by Roger Thompson Finlay + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Wonder Island Boys: Conquest of the Savages + + +Author: Roger Thompson Finlay + + + +Release Date: June 14, 2007 [eBook #21832] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS: CONQUEST +OF THE SAVAGES*** + + +E-text prepared by Joe Longo and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed +Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 21832-h.htm or 21832-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/1/8/1/21832/21832-h/21832-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/1/8/1/21832/21832-h.zip) + + + + + +THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS + +by + +ROGER T. FINLAY + + +Thrilling adventures by sea and land of two boys and an aged Professor +who are cast away on an island with absolutely nothing but their +clothing. By gradual and natural stages they succeed in constructing all +forms of devices used in the mechanical arts and learn the scientific +theories involved in every walk of life. These subjects are all treated +in an incidental and natural way in the progress of events, from the +most fundamental standpoint without technicalities, and include every +department of knowledge. Numerous illustrations accompany the text. + + Two thousand things every boy ought to know. Every page + a romance. Every line a fact. + + * * * * * + + _Six titles--60 cents per volume_ + + * * * * * + + THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS + The Castaways + + THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS + Exploring the Island + + THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS + The Mysteries of the Caverns + + THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS + The Tribesmen + + THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS + The Capture and Pursuit + + THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS + The Conquest of the Savages + + PUBLISHED BY + THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY + 147 FOURTH AVENUE NEW YORK + + THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS + + * * * * * + + + +THE CONQUEST OF THE SAVAGES + + + +THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS + +THE CONQUEST OF THE SAVAGES + +by + +ROGER T. FINLAY + +Illustrated + + + + + + + +[Illustration] + + +The New York Book Company +New York +Copyright, 1914, by +The New York Book Company + + + + +CONTENTS + +I. THE COMPACT BETWEEN THE FOUR ALLIED TRIBES, Page 11 + + The camp startled by Sutoto. Confederation of the + Tuolos, Kurabus and Illyas. A council of all the + chiefs. The Professor's address. Advising unity of + all the tribes against the hostiles. The assent of + the chiefs. The views of Oma, Uraso and Muro. How + the allied tribes met. Review of the work of the + Professor and the boys. Determine to send a force to + the Cataract. Conclude to remove all tools to the + southwest. The warriors selected. Adopting a settled + plan. Mustering the warriors. Sending for Chief + Suros of the Berees. The muster roll. John in + command of the forces to the Cataract. Blakely in + command of the home forces. The march to protect the + Brabos. A compact between the allied tribes. John + and his party on the march. Sadness at giving up + Cataract. At the Cataract. The flag as a charm. + Uraso's interpretation of the flag. + +II. BUSY TIMES AT THE CATARACT. THE ALARMING NEWS + Page 24 + + The tribute to the flag. A national talisman. + Entertaining the warriors. Starting the water wheel + in motion. The sawmill at work. Making spears. + Gathering and threshing barley. The roast ox and the + feast. Making bread. The surprising novelties for + the warriors. Determining to make guns before + dismantling. Building a new wagon. Uraso directing + the work of the men. The universal tattoo. Its + significance. Designating name and rank. Clothing. + Blakely drilling the army at the Brabo village. News + of the approach of the old chief Suros. The + Professor and party receiving him with honor. The + conversation with Suros. His hearty accord. Jim and + Will. Their observations. The value of unity. + Sutoto's report about the confederated tribes. + Information of their movement toward Cataract. + John's scouts at the Cataract capture two Kurabus. + Startling intelligence. Interviewing the captives. + Completing the new wagon. Sending out scouts toward + the Kurabus. + +III. INTERCEPTING THE MARCH OF THE CONFEDERATES. THE +TREASURE Page 37 + + Blakely with a force to intercept the confederates. + Sutoto delegated to inform John. Reaching the + Cataract. Interesting scenes at the Cataract for + Sutoto. The scouts report the tribes to the west. + Blakely's force near the confederates. Watching + their movements. John's messenger to Blakely. Advice + that the tribes are waiting for reinforcements. The + tribes on the march east. Blakely's message to John. + Blakely intercepting the tribes. His message to the + enemy. Their surprise. To give their answer in two + suns. The message to the Professor. The Professor + decides to capture the Kurabus' village. On the + march. Capturing the Kurabus' reinforcements. The + villages in his possession. The Professor's message + to John and Blakely. A message from Blakely. + Hurrying the work at Cataract. Making guns and + spears. Taro. The treasure in the cave. Decide to + take it to their new home. Loading up the wagons. + Transferring the hoard in the caves. A messenger + informing John of the battle. Instructs Muro to go + to aid of Blakely. + +IV. THE SURRENDER OF THE KURABUS Page 50 + + The load of treasure. A doleful sound. The "cry of + the lost soul." Activity at Cataract. Bringing in + the flag. The trip to Observation Hill. The warriors + participate. George and Harry lower the flag. An + impressive scene. The last sad night at the + Cataract. A runner from John to the Professor. The + confederates within eight miles of Cataract. A + movement to capture them. Messenger from the + Kurabus' village arrives too soon. The flight of the + confederated tribes. The Kurabus determine to defend + their village. John orders a forced march to assist + the Professor. The messenger from Muro advises the + Professor. He learns of the approach of the + Professor. The arrival of John. The confederates at + the Kurabus' village. Surprise of the latter at the + leniency of the Professor. Advancing on the Kurabus' + village. A messenger from, the Kurabus. Agree to + surrender. The flight of the Tuolos and Illyas. The + Kurabus join the allies. Submission. Tastoa's + message to the other tribes. + +V. THE NEW TOWN SITE. THE WATER WHEEL AND SAWMILL + Page 62 + + Return to the Brabo village. The train from Cataract + in sight. The triumphal entrance into the village. + The festivities. Safety of the Brabos assured. The + Professor tells the chiefs his object in forming the + alliance. Suggests the building of a new town. To + belong to all the tribes. To take all the chiefs to + the new town. The boys want their herd of yaks. + Sutoto and party go for them. Blakely's fighting + force. The Banyan tree. Its peculiar growth. Sap in + trees. Capillary attraction. Hunting a town site. + Uraso selects a place. A water-fall. An ideal spot. + Reported arrival of the herd. Fencing off a field. + How the fence was built. The warriors at work. + Building a new water wheel. Erecting a sawmill. The + warriors at work bringing in logs. The sawmill at + work. + +VI. BUILDING UP THE NEW TOWN Page 74 + + Disquieting rumors of the confederates. Shop and + laboratory put up. A safe place for the treasure. + Making looms. Searching for minerals. Putting up a + furnace and smelter. Making molds for copper coins. + The mint. Teaching the people how to use money. + First lessons in industry. The measure of value. + Coins of no value. Paying wages. Inculcating the + ideas of pay for labor. Teaching natives the + principles of purchase and sale. Making bargains. + Begin the erection of buildings. The Tuolos and + Illyas still bitter. Evidences of hostilities. + Decide to conquer the Tuolos. John at the head of an + expedition. The natives encouraged to bring in all + kinds of vegetables. Chica. Burning oil. Why + different plants grow differently on the same soil. + Ralph and Tom accompany John on the expedition. + Going to visit the tribe which captured them. + +VII. THE EXPEDITION AGAINST THE TUOLOS Page 86 + + Crossing the West River. Approaching the Tuolos + village from the south. The advance scouts. First + signs of the Tuolos. The feasting at the village. + Ralph and Tom wander from the camp. They discover a + cave. Striking a match. The weird interior. Leave + the cave to notify John. Return to the cave. A + hurried exploration. The home of the Medicine men. + Their absence at the village. Meeting the Medicine + men at the entrance. Effecting a capture. The + Krishnos. A curious cross found by John in the cave. + Its history. The uproar in the village. John + confronting the Medicine men. They tell him the + Great Spirit will destroy him. John strikes a light + on the cross with, matches. The Medicine men in + terror. Orders one of them to go to the village and + tell the Chief to surrender. Surrounding the + village. Muro captures a rival set of Medicine men. + Another cave. Questioning the newly-arrived + captives. They are defiant. + +VIII. THE SUBMISSION OF THE TUOLOS Page 100 + + Threatening the Medicine men. Beating them for + lying. Morning. Dissensions in the village. Learn + they are surrounded. The Chief comes forward. + Meeting John and Muro. John's plain talk to the + Chief. Demands his immediate surrender. The Chief + stunned. Says he will go and tell his people. The + Chief returns. Surrenders. The warriors march into + the village. Liberating the captured Brabos. Ralph + and Tom visit the large hut where they were + confined. Blakely showing the Chief the maneuvers of + the warriors. The Chief proposes to torture the + Medicine men. John interferes. Asks that they be + turned over to him. The Professor and the colony. + The insulting message from the Illyas. The messenger + to John. Building chairs and tables. Two-and + three-room cottages. Stimulating individual efforts. + The first thief and the treatment. John and party + visit the cave east of the village. + +IX. PLANS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE NATIVES Page 111 + + Entering the cave. What they found. The treasure as + John had described it. Removing it to the wagon. The + Chief, the Krishnos and a number of the warriors + taken to the new town. Approaching home. The Chief + Marmo. Meets the Professor. The welcoming functions. + Interest in the works. Watching the loom. Trying to + teach him new ideas. A lesson in justice. Told the + difference between right and wrong. Blakely the man + of business. The island as a source of wealth. + Blakely determines to stay on the island. Agree to + build a large vessel. Projecting a trip home. + Agricultural pursuits. The states. How lands were to + be disposed of. Value of land. Proposing an + expedition to the Illyas. Marmo sends a message to + the Illyas. Making new guns for the expedition. + +X. THE PECULIAR SAVAGE BELIEFS AND CUSTOMS Page 124 + + The Krishnos. Chief Marmo learning. The Tuolo + workman asks permission to bring his family to the + new town. The boys find a name for the town. Unity. + The Hindoo christening. The expedition against the + Illyas. Three hundred warriors. Reflections of the + boys. Six tribes. Heading for the Saboro village. + Muro happy. A day and night of feasting. Muro's + family. The pocket mirrors. Lolo. An artisan. Events + at Unity. Two deaths. The peculiar rites. The + Spirits in the air. Rewards. Savage beliefs. The + honored dead. Lessons from the Great Spirit. + +XI. EXPEDITION TO SUBDUE THE ILLYAS Page 137 + + The warriors' families. The plaintain leaf. The + native loom. Weaving. Primitive goods. A store set + up. Kitchen utensils. Bringing in ore and supplies. + Sanitary arrangements. Home comforts. Native combs. + Fish fins. An immense turtle. Tortoise shells. John + and the war party. Illyas reported in front. + Character of country. Savage beliefs. The moon in + their worship. Distance to the Illyas village. In + sight of the first Illyas. Borderlines. Double line + of guards. Illyas surprised. Capturing an Illyas + warrior. Sending him back with a peace message. A + strong position. The history of the Illyas. + Differences in the color of the various tribes. + +XII. THE PERILOUS TRIP OF THE WAGON Page 149 + + At Unity. Suros and Oma announce they will not + return to their tribes. The return of the Tuolo + warrior and family. A cottage for him. Famished. How + the Professor explained his act of humanity to Chief + Marmo. The principles of justice. Marmo accompanies + the Professor through the town. An object lesson. + Ralph and Jim in charge of the factory. Sending out + hunters to gather in yaks. Laying out fields. + Wonderful vegetation. John and the Illyas. Planking + movement around the Illyas. The charge. The Illyas + in confusion. Their retreat. The forest a barrier. + Sighting the main village. Astonishment at its + character. An elevated plateau. A town by design. + Peculiarly formed hills or mounds. Fortified. The + mystery. Sending the wagons to the south. Avoiding + the forest. No word from the team. The teams reach + the river. Intercepted. Illyas in front. Blocked by + precipitous banks. Forming camp. Sending messengers + to John. Muro gets the message. Hastens to relieve + the force with the wagon. The savage attack. A + volley behind the Illyas. + +XIII. THE REMARKABLE DISCOVERY AT BLAKELY'S MOUNTAIN + HOME Page 163 + + At Unity. The weekly outing. The great forest to the + west. The trip of the whites to Blakely's forest + home. Driftwood. Centrifugal and centripetal motion. + The forest animals. Orang-outan. The monkeys. + Reaching the hill. The scaling vine. Reaching the + recessed rocks. The two skeletons in the rocks. A + gun and trinkets. A sextant. A letter. No identity. + The message. Effort to decipher it. A mound for the + bones. Forwarding copy of message to John. John's + examination of the Illyas' village. The remarkable + character of the buildings. Muro returns with the + wagons. The Tuolos as fighters. Two captured. Trying + to open communications. Returns of the messengers. + Defiance. Permitting the messenger to return. + +XIV. THE SURPRISE AND CAPTURE OF THE ILLYAS' STRONGHOLD + Page 175 + + Astonishment of the Illyas' messenger. The character + of the eastern side of the town. A movement in the + night. Surrounding the town. Muro and Uraso as + warriors. The architecture of the buildings. Not + built by the natives. Different kinds of + architecture. Their distinction. Disposing the + forces. The signal for attack. John, and his party + rush the breastworks. Enter the town. The surprise + and confusion of the Illyas. Harry observes the + Illyas' chief and attendants. Surrounds and capture + them. Muro makes a charge. The chief signals + surrender. Uraso surrounds the Illyas. Marched to + the great square. The conference between John and + the chief. The Doric building. The Illyas' chief. + His imperious air. Dignity of Uraso and Muro. + +XV. THE RESCUE OF FIVE CAPTIVES Page 187 + + The chief's question. John's brief answer. The chief + trying to deceive John. Questions the chief about + the messages. The lying answers. The punishment + imposed on the warriors. Orders the same punishment + for the chief. Consternation. Uraso and Muro plead + for the chief. Whipping the most disgraceful + punishment for a chief. Demands the white captives. + Sama to show the way to their hiding place. The + wagon brought out. The boys, accompanied by Lolo, + and commanded by Stut. Reach the village. The + captives' hut. The rush for the door. The five + captives. Three _Investigator's_ boys. A pitiable + sight. Hungry. Harry's inscription on the litter. A + Saboro and a white man. Taking the Illyas' warriors + along. Feeding the rescued ones. + +XVI. REMARKABLE GROWTH OF UNITY Page 199 + + Awaiting word from John. Telegraph line needed. + Wireless telegraphy. Sound and power. Vibrations. A + universal force. B Street in Unity. Visiting the + villagers in their homes. Incentives to beautify + their houses. Erecting larger dwellings for the + chiefs. The schoolhouse. A growing town. Marvels to + the chiefs. The mysterious things the white men do. + The thermometer. Teaching medicine. Cinchona. + Calisaya. Acids. The boys reach the Illyas' village + with the liberated prisoners. Making them + comfortable. The white man a former companion of + John. A health resort. The _Investigator's_ lifeboat + No. 3. Mystery about the note. The commotion + outside. Capturing the Illyas' reinforcements from + the south. Provisions. Cultivation of the soil. + George and Harry explore the buildings. Trying to + solve the puzzle. Arrangements of the streets. + +XVII. THE MYSTERIOUS CAVE. RETURNING TO UNITY Page 211 + + Cornerstones. The treasure chart. Caves near the + town. A guess at the meaning of the buildings. The + Medicine men. Questioning the chief. He says John + will be destroyed if he enters the cave. John's test + of the truth of the chief's statement. The trip to + the cave. Proving that the Medicine men lied. The + chief enjoys his first ride. The cave entrance. John + goes in. He finds the Krishnos. Their conversation. + John appears before them. The consternation. Orders + them to leave the cave. Shows the chief that the + Medicine men have lied. Taking them to the village. + John and the boys explore the cave alone. No + treasure. An immense deposit of copper. Probable + explanation of the houses of the town. An immense + chamber. The start for Unity. Sighting the Saboro + village. Muro's family. Waiting to go to Unity. The + town out to meet the returning warriors. Angel at + the reception. + +XVIII. BUILDING A SHIP TO TAKE THEM HOME. PEACE, Page 221 + + Oroto surprised at the appearance of Marmo. Anxious + to see the great White Chief. The Professor + welcomes the Illyas' chief. His great surprise. + Friendship. Has no further belief in the wise men. + Life and death. Why he was brought to Unity. Peace + among the tribes. Oroto and Marmo confer. A + jollification of the whites. What had been + accomplished in two years. Building a ship for home. + Sadness as well as joy. The engineering force of + Unity. How the different tribes lived together. Rich + soil. New houses. New people. A printing press. A + schoolhouse. Making paper. Many mysteries unsolved. + One thing lacking. The flag. Getting the flagpole. + The ceremony. Hoisting OLD GLORY. + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + "The warriors, together with the chief and the two boys, Jim + and Will, rushed to meet them" Frontispiece + + PAGE + "Meantime John consulted Muro and Uraso, and the three + picked out the most trustworthy scouts" 38 + + "The act was such a startling one that they threw themselves + on the ground in terror" 86 + + "The party plunged into the forest, taking the direction which + Tom and Ralph had gone on the former trip" 230 + + Position of Wagon and Attacking Force 18 + George's Old Dutch Oven 26 + The Tattooed Arm. Antelope 29 + The Taro Plant and Bulb 45 + The Banyan Tree 65 + Showing Capillary Attraction 68 + Sample of Island Fence 71 + The One-cent Coin 76 + The Five-cent Coin 77 + Chica. The Gum Plant 84 + Stone Cross Found in the Cave 92 + Ancient Crosses 93 + Ready for the Happy Hunting Grounds 131 + Primitive Weaving-Frame 137 + Comb from Fin of Fish 140 + The Marmoset 166 + Proboscis Monkey 167 + The Mysterious Message 170 + Orders of Architecture 179 + The Peculiar Illya Village 212 + Diagram of Cross-shaped Cave 219 + Paper-making Machine 231 + The Stars and Stripes 236 + + + + +THE CONQUEST + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE COMPACT BETWEEN THE FOUR ALLIED TRIBES + + +When the morning sun was struggling to come up over the mountains in the +east, the whole camp was startled by Sutoto, who, with a number of the +Berees during the night, had acted as a picket, to observe the attitude +of the defeated tribes. + +He made his way to the Professor, who had taken his old place in the +wagon. "The Tuolos, Kurabus and Illyas have all united and are now on +the big river." + +"When did you last see them?" + +He held up his fingers to indicate the time, and the Professor called to +Will: "Do you know what time he means?" + +Will soon interpreted the sign to mean three in the morning. + +"If they have not been separated it is a sign that they intend to +continue the fight," said John. + +"I suggest," replied the Professor, "that we call a council of the +principal men in the tribes, and let them fully understand what our aim +and desires are, and thus unite the four tribes in a bond of unity. This +is a most opportune time." + +The news of the obvious action of the tribes to the north was soon +learned by all, and when the Professor's view was communicated there +was a universal assent. + +Within an hour the chiefs assembled, and the Professor addressed them as +follows: "My brothers, I am glad to be able to talk to you, and Uraso +and Muro will tell you what I have to say. The Great Spirit sent us +here, and we tried for a long time to tell you why we came, but you did +not understand it. + +"The Great Spirit is the same to all tribes; he does not favor one more +than the other, but sometimes one tribe will understand better than the +other what he wants, and when they do know what he says it makes them +stronger and better. + +"We believe the Great Spirit wants the different tribes to live together +in peace, and not kill each other, and for that purpose he has given +each one something to do. If he does that in a right way he not only +helps himself, but he helps everyone else. + +"We want to show you how to do this, but before we can start we must all +be like one family. We do not ask the Berees to give up their customs +and become Saboros, nor do we want the Brabos to do as the Osagas do. We +do not care what you believe about this or that, or how you shall dress, +or what language you shall speak. The only thing we should be careful to +do alike is to so work that we shall not injure each other. + +"It will not be hard to learn this, and we will all be patient, and we +ask you to be patient with us. We want to show you that the ground is +your mother, and when you ask her for fruit she will give you plenty, +and you can soon learn to make things which will make your wives and +children happy and contented. + +"You will know that anything you own will be yours, and none can take it +from you, and if anyone tries to take it, everyone will stand up and +protect you. The tribes which are now to the north must be made to +understand this, and we must unite to compel them to agree to this +manner of living. + +"I know that the tribes are powerful enemies, and can bring a great many +warriors to fight against us, but we do not want to kill, nor do we want +them to kill us. Your weapons are not any better than the ones they +have, and we want to make some that will enable us to overcome them, not +for the purpose of killing them, but only to protect ourselves and our +homes and children. + +"If that is what you want and you agree with me that it is the right +thing to do, we will help you. To do that you must not fight each other. +I have heard that you do not believe in sacrificing captives, as the +Tuolos and the Illyas and the Kurabus do, and I am glad of it. + +"I am told that you all know Suros, the great, father of the Berees, and +that he is wise. He is my friend, and he must be present at our +councils, but we cannot go to him now, because we must protect our +friends, the Brabos, against the warring tribes. + +"But we must also be prepared to meet those enemies, and where we live, +we have the workshop by which we can make all the wonderful things +needed for our protection. We must go to the Brabos' village, to be on +guard, while others must go to our village and bring back those +articles, and we will make the things at your own homes, so we can +compel those tribes to submit." + +These words affected all the warriors, and they gathered around the +chiefs and expressed their willingness to do all that the Professor had +suggested. + +One after the other, the chiefs assented, and the Brabos were especially +pleased. Their chief, Oma, arose and said: "We have been fighting our +friends, and not our enemies, but we did not know any better. We thought +everyone was an enemy. The Great White Chief has told us a new way to +live, and we will do whatever he says." + +Uraso, chief of the Osagas, held up his hand, and turned to the people: +"I was wounded by the White Chief, and he took me to his village and +treated me like a friend. He cured me of my wounds, and I became his +friend. I left him and tried to come back and tell my people what a +wonderful father he was, but the Illyas captured me, and when I escaped, +and returned, found my people had gone out to fight him and his people. +This made me sorry. I cannot tell you of all the things I saw at his +village, and now let the White Chief say what I shall do and my whole +tribe will help him. Muro will tell you what he has learned, because he, +too, knows him." + +"I do not know how to tell you about this wonderful man," said Muro. "I +have seen him refuse to kill his enemies, when he could easily do it. +He healed the Kurabus, and returned him to his friends, and that is +something new for us to think about. His enemies are our enemies, and +his friends are our friends." + +This remarkable scene, which took place on the battle-field, could not +be properly understood without some explanation of the preceding affairs +in the history of Wonder Island. + +About a year and a half previous to this, the Professor referred to, and +two boys, George Mayfield and Harry Crandall, who were companions on the +schoolship _Investigator_, were wrecked and cast ashore on the island. +It was fortunate that they landed on a portion of the island remote from +the inhabited part, and for several months had no idea that any human +beings lived there. + +They had absolutely nothing but their clothing; not even a knife or +other tool, but despite this, set to work to make all the appliances +used in civilized life. The preceding volumes showed how this was done, +and what the successive steps were to obtain food and clothing, and to +make tools and machinery. + +They built a home, and put up a water wheel, a workshop and laboratory; +captured a species of cattle, called the yak, and used the milk for +food, and trained the oxen to do the work of transportation; they found +ramie fiber and flax, built a loom and wove goods from which clothing +was made; they found various metals, in the form of ore and extracted +them; and finally made guns, electric batteries, and did other things, +as fast as they were able to carry on the work. + +In the meantime several exploring trips were undertaken, and they +learned of the existence of savage tribes, and what was more startling +still, ascertained that other boats, belonging to the ill-fated +_Investigator_, had been cast ashore, and later on came in contact with +several tribes with whom they had a number of fights, and by chance +discovered a tribe, the Tuolos, who held two of the boys in captivity. + +These they rescued, namely, Thomas Chambers and Ralph Wharton. Returning +from one of these expeditions they found a man at their home, who had +entirely lost his memory. This was John L. Varney, a highly educated +man, who had seen service in many lands, and later on was restored to +reason. + +Prior to the present enterprise, which was related in the opening pages, +a chief, Uraso, of the Osagas, was wounded and captured by them, and +taken to their Cataract home, as they called it, and when healed, he had +left them, for the purpose of returning to his own tribe, so that he +might bring them to the Cataract as friends; but he was captured and +detained. + +During this interim, the last expedition was organized, and after some +mishaps, they proceeded into the part of the country where the savages +lived, and on the way rescued the chief of the Saboros, and also a +former companion of John. + +Two weeks before our story begins, the Professor was captured by a band +of Berees, and taken to their village, where he was instrumental in +healing the chief's favorite daughter, and in gratitude, placed his +warriors at the Professor's disposal to rescue his friends, who were +about to be attacked by the hostile tribes. + +The Professor saw and rescued two more of the shipwrecked boys, who were +held captive by the Berees, and together they started to relieve the +occupants of the wagon. The various tribes had been at war with each +other, and when they learned that the wagon with the whites was entering +their country, all sought to effect the capture; but the enmity between +certain tribes caused several of them to unite and the three most bitter +and vindictive, namely, the Tuolos, Kurabus and the Illyas, were opposed +to the Osagas, the Saboros and the Berees. + +It was fortunate that all these forces met at the place where the wagon +was located, and in the battle which followed, the whites and their +allies won. The situation was, however, that the victory might soon be a +fruitless one, because the three tribes could muster a larger force than +the four tribes now joined under the Professor, and might renew the +attack at any time. + +"Let us now see what the situation is," said the Professor, to the +chiefs. "I have made a map of the island, showing where the various +tribes are located, and where the villages are situated, so we may all +have a like understanding." + +"I would suggest," said John, "that a part of the force be sent to the +Cataract and bring all the machinery and stock we have at that place, to +this part of the island, where it can be set up and operated. In that +way we can the more readily teach the people how to do the work." + +"That is absolutely necessary, as it is too far off where the plant is +now located, to be of service to us." + +[Illustration: _Fig. 1. Position of the Wagon and attacking Forces._] + +"If you will allow me to say something it might help us," remarked Muro. +"Let the Professor select a certain number of warriors from each tribe, +to go to your village and bring the things here, and others will remain, +and watch our enemies." + +"That is a good idea," observed Blakely, "but before doing that I think +we ought to muster our forces, so that we may know what we have to +depend on, and the chiefs can tell us who are the best fitted for the +various tasks." + +"Your view is the correct one," answered the Professor, "and Muro, you, +Uraso and Ralsea, inform all of them what is required. I shall expect +you, Blakely, to take charge of the mustering of the forces." + +The suggestion was understood and agreed to by all, and the various +tribes were arranged in columns. + +The Professor addressed them as follows: "In our country, we have a plan +for everything we do, and everything is done in order. We try to follow +the plan in which the Great Spirit orders everything done. We want every +man to do something and be responsible for one part of the work." + +"While the people are gone to the White Chief's village, others might go +to the Berees' village and bring the Great Chief Suros, as he is wise, +and we should like to have him here," added Uraso. + +"Your suggestion," said the Professor, "is a wise one, and it will show +how earnest you are in making this bond a lasting one among you. I thank +you for calling attention to the matter, and it shall be acted on at +once." + +The muster roll, as prepared by Blakely, showed the following results: + + The Berees: Sub-chief Ralsea and eighty-five warriors. + + The Osagas: Chief Uraso, two sub-chiefs and one hundred and ten + warriors. + + The Saboros: Chief Muro, three sub-chiefs and one hundred and + fifteen warriors. + + The Brabos: Chief Oma, two sub-chiefs and one hundred and five + warriors. + + The whites were enumerated as follows: + The Professor. + John L. Varney. + Samuel Blakely. + + { George Mayfield, + { Harry Crandall, + The boys: { Thomas Chambers, + { Ralph Wharton, + { James Redfield, + { William Rudel. + +The combined force thus numbered four hundred and twenty-four, not +counting Angel. It should be said that Angel was an orang-outan, +captured while a baby, and he had been educated by George to do many +wonderful things. It is well known that these animals are great +imitators, but this one really learned many useful things. One of them +was to climb the tallest trees and warn George of the approach of +enemies, and this was such a wonderful thing, that Muro explained it to +his people and they really admired the animal, and who was, in +consequence, a great pet. + +When the council met the Professor said: "I will detail one hundred and +fifty men to accompany John to our village to bring the things from that +place, and those remaining will go to the Brabos' village to watch our +enemies and to protect the home of our friends. Ralsea should take the +litter and twenty men and go after the Great Chief Suros, and bring him +here, so that we may consult with him." + +"We have thirty guns," said John, "and at least half should be left with +you while we are away." + +"It might also be well," remarked Blakely, "to have the different chiefs +select the most competent men in the four tribes to whom instructions +might be given in the use of the guns, and I will drill them and show +how to handle them to the best advantage." + +The four chiefs selected the men for the expedition from the respective +tribes, and the four boys who had been together for so long, begged that +they might be of the party also, and the Professor could not deny them +this privilege. + +Early in the morning the entire force started on the march for the +Brabos' village, and before night arrived at the main one, where the +Professor and his party had the first close sight of the village and the +inhabitants. + +Runners were sent ahead to inform the people of the expected arrivals. +This was the first time in the history of the island that a foreign +tribe had ever visited them, except in a hostile manner, and the +curiosity of the women and children was intense. + +Oma, the chief, had graciously ordered the best hut for the Professor, +but he declined it with many thanks, and presented the chief's wife with +one of the mirrors, which delighted them. Some of the warriors were +designated to procure game, and others to bring in wood for the fires, +and the most skilled were selected to scout to the northwest to +determine the movements of the enemy. + +In the morning, John and his party, with the wagon, started for the +Cataract home. Uraso and Muro were designated to accompany them, and you +may be sure that to the boys this trip had in it every enjoyment that +could be brought to them. + +"What a difference there is in things, now," mused Harry, as he drove +the yaks along. "I hope they will have no trouble with those treacherous +tribes until we get back." + +"It makes me sad to think that we have to give up the Cataract," said +George. "The past year has been a happy one to all of us, even though we +have had serious times. And what shall we do with the flag?" + +They had made a beautiful flag, which floated from a tall staff on +Observation Hill. It would have been a grief to permit it to remain. + +John overheard the conversation. "Yes; we shall certainly take it with +us, and teach the natives here to respect it." And the boys applauded +the sentiment. + +In two days more the party sighted the Cataract, and saw "Old Glory" +floating from the mast. When they saw it again, they took off their hats +and gave three cheers. This so astonished the natives that they could +not understand it, and Uraso told his people that the flag was +worshipped by the white people. + +"Did you hear what Uraso told them?" asked John. + +"No; what was it!" + +"He said that white people did not carry individual charms to ward off +troubles, but that they had the flag for that purpose, and the one flag +was the charm of all the people; and he also told them it was made a +certain way for that purpose." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +BUSY TIMES AT THE CATARACT. THE ALARMING NEWS + + +The flag incident, and Uraso's interpretation of it, amused the boys +immensely. + +"Do you know why Uraso thought so?" asked John. + +"No; I can't understand why he ever had such an idea," replied Tom. + +"You forget it has been our custom, ever since I can remember, to go to +Observation Hill, each day, to watch the sea, in the hope that a vessel +might be sighted. Uraso thought that was intended as a tribute to the +flag." + +"After all," said Ralph, on reflecting, "they are not so much out of the +way, and the flag is really our talisman, isn't it?" + +"Yes; because it is a real protection, and not a fancied one. It is a +symbol, behind which lies all the power of a material kind, which is +able to help us everywhere, and among all people. The charm which the +savage wears, is a symbol to him, and that typifies protection from some +unknown power. To us that is a reality, and we know where the power is." + +The dear old Cataract home. How the boys roamed over every part of it, +and went down where the cattle were still ranging around. The place was +a study for the warriors. + +"Now, boys, for the first day entertain your visitors, show them +everything, and amuse them in every way possible; and after to-morrow we +must commence work in earnest," was John's injunction to the boys. + +What could be more natural than to start the water wheel in motion? The +warriors stood on the bank, watched them push it in place, and then the +sawmill was started. The process of turning out lumber with the saw was +marvelous. Every part of the shop was filled, as the boys set the +grindstone, the lathe, and the gristmill into motion. + +When a log was finally secured to be cut into shafts for spears, and +they saw the wood-turning lathe make the shaft round and true, their +enthusiasm knew no bounds. + +"Tell them, Muro, that is what we want them to do," said John, and they +opened their eyes at the possibilities. + +There was still quite an amount of barley which had not been ground, and +the willing warriors helped the boys bring a lot to the mill and the +production of the flour before their eyes was such an amazing thing that +they could not even give vent to their expressions. + +Early in the day one of the bullocks had been killed by John's order, +and a roasting pit dug out, and this was now being prepared for the +principal meal of the day, and many of them were interested in this new +way of roasting an entire carcass. + +A quantity of vegetables had also been gathered by the parties detailed +for the purpose, and George was the busiest of the lot, as he +personally attended to the cooking of the various dishes. He had most +willing helpers, each one trying to lend a hand, so that he did little +more than direct. + +[Illustration: _Fig. 2. George's Old Dutch Oven._] + +But he was determined to have bread, and it did not take long to +improvise an old Dutch oven with the firebrick, and in this a fire was +built, so that the bricks were heated up intensely, and the fire then +withdrawn, and a cover put over the chimney. The heated brick, +therefore, did the baking. Loaf after loaf was put in, and while the +dough had not risen as it should have done, owing to lack of time, still +the bread produced was something so unlike anything the natives had ever +seen, that the making of it in their presence was a joy, to say nothing +of the eating of it when the meal was served. + +It was not only a picnic; it was a feast. None there, excepting Uraso +and Stut, had ever tasted such things before. They knew what honey was, +but sugar was a novelty, and this was supplied without stint. George +had no opportunity to make any delicacies in the form of cakes, but he +made a barley pudding in which was a bountiful supply of sago. + +After the meal, John called the boys together and said: "Before +dismantling the place here it has occurred to me that there are some +things which we ought to make, because it will take some time to set up +the parts, even after we get them in the new locality. I believe we +still have quite a quantity of the cast-steel bars, from which we +intended making gun barrels." + +"In looking over the stock to-day," said Harry, "I find we have +sufficient to make at least fifty barrels, and I have prepared the lathe +to do just what you have suggested." + +"Good boy," responded John. "You and Tom keep at that, and don't mind +about anything else. If we can once get the barrels bored out, and the +fittings made, we can put them together without having the shop in +running order." + +"In talking with Harry yesterday," said Tom, "we made up the scheme of +putting a small bench in the wagon, with the vise, so that we can put +together some of the guns on our way." + +"All that is in the right direction. And now, another thing. The wagon +we have is not at all adequate for what we have to take with us, but we +have plenty of people to carry things, and they will be glad to do it, +but some things are very inconvenient to carry, so that it will be of +material assistance if we build another wagon." + +The boys looked at John, merrily laughing at the suggestion. + +"Just the thing," said Ralph, "and it is easily done. We still have the +old wheels that were used before we built the last set." + +"Quite true; I had entirely forgotten about that. Uraso will help, and +will be just the fellow to direct his men. Now let us start at this with +vigor. We must return as early as possible. The hostiles may attack the +Professor at any time, and the weapons are necessary articles." + +As they were about to separate, Harry remarked: "We have a quantity of +the iron which we made, and instead of carrying it along in the wagon, +it occurred to me that we ought to forge out some spears and bolos." + +"I had counted on doing that myself, but many thanks for the +suggestion," answered John. + +There was one thing noticeable in all the warriors, and that was the +universal tattoo. This was something practiced by all. Referring to the +custom, Ralph asked: "What is the cause of the tattooing habit?" + +John looked at him with a smile, as he answered: "People who wear few +clothes want something with which to decorate themselves. The idea +always was and always will be, to improve on nature. That is one of the +reasons. The other is, that it was an original way of distinguishing one +individual from another. You will notice among these people, that the +chiefs have a different tattoo from the others in the tribe." + +"Do you mean that the name of each man was tattooed so he would be +known in that way?" + +[Illustration: _Fig. 3. The Tattooed Arm. Antelope._] + +"Yes; and also to designate his rank. The names of great warriors and +wise men of the tribe are generally descriptive. The North American +Indian adopted that course, and it was a very sensible thing to do. You +have heard of Sitting Bull, Rain in the Face (that is, a pock-marked +individual), Antelope, and others of like character, could be drawn, and +thus convey the name without difficulty. Uraso and Muro mean some +particular things or objects which can be depicted, and thus one tribe +can communicate with the other, even though they do not understand each +other's language." + +"Then clothing is also another way of showing rank or title?" + +"In countries where people are compelled to wear covering as a matter of +comfort, the clothing was adopted as a means of expressing the person's +position in life." + +After John and his party left the Brabos' village, the Professor called +Blakely into consultation, and advised him to organize the remaining +warriors into some cohesive form, and provide a definite and orderly +plan of carrying out the scouting and picketing tactics necessary to +keep them advised of the movements of the hostiles. + +Blakely had already acquired a fairly good knowledge of the rudiments of +the native tongue, so that he was able to get along well in giving his +orders and disposing of the warriors. He was ably seconded by Ralsea and +Sutoto; and especially, the latter, became one of the most important +factors in the organization of the tribes in making a strong and +intelligent fighting force. + +Two days after John left, it was announced that the old Chief Suros was +on his way from the southern part of the island, and the Professor +headed a party of thirty picked men, accompanied by Sutoto, to welcome +him. The warriors were taken from the four tribes. + +They met the litter, bearing the Chief, fully five miles from the +village, and Suros was visibly affected at the honor shown him. The +Professor extended every act of courtesy, and when they arrived at the +village, the Professor was quick to give him the full details of all the +happenings since their last interview. + +"We have talked over the plans to make you and all of your people happy +and strong. I have sent a number of the warriors to my village, and they +will bring all our things with them, so that we may put them up in your +country, and teach your people how to build and to make useful articles, +and beautiful ornaments." + +"I have heard the wonderful things which you have done, and what you +have promised, and we will try and follow your words," he answered. + +"I have told the people that you must be here, as we value your wisdom. +We would go to you, but we still have powerful enemies to the north, and +they are waiting to attack us. Until we are safe from them we cannot go +to you; but when my people return we will be better prepared to resist." + +The chief was visibly affected at this consideration for him, and he +thanked the Professor for sending the messengers. + +The boys, Jim and Will, were interested observers in all that was taking +place, and the Professor had them about him at all times, and to them he +communicated his orders. Their ready understanding of the native tongue +was a great help to the Professor. + +It was for this reason that the Professor was glad the two boys were +content to remain with him. Speaking about the savages, to the +Professor, Jim remarked: "There is always one thing which seems singular +about these fellows. They are awfully quick at learning. Now, what I +can't understand is, that, quick as they are, they do not seem to +advance very much, but stay in the same rut right along." + +The Professor smiled at the observation, as he replied: "Sir John +Lubbock, a noted English naturalist, sums up his estimate of the savage +mind in the following statement: 'Savages unite the character of +childhood with the passions and strength of men.' Their utter simplicity +is their weakness. When that is aroused, if properly done, they become +men." + +"But what is the great difficulty in the way of their advance?" + +"The greatest writers seem to agree that the primary want of the savage +is a rigid, definite and concise law. The idea of order does not appeal +to him, except to a limited extent. Like children, they do not go beyond +the immediate thing. The reasoning faculties are not impaired, but are +undeveloped." + +But Jim's observation was true. Blakely early discovered this in +treating with the natives, and it did not take long to make them +understand that by working together for the common defense they could be +made far more effective than by permitting each to do as his own impulse +dictated. + +Thus, by constant association with the head men in the different tribes, +he early learned who were the best runners, and the most skillful +scouts, and who were particularly reliable for the different branches of +the service. + +Sutoto, as stated, was the most valuable factor, and the Professor grew +to love him. One day he came in great haste, and said: "I have news for +you. The tribes are directly north of us, and appear to be moving to the +east." + +"Do you know how large a force they have?" + +"Fully three hundred." + +"Have you any theory why they have not attacked us before?" + +"I think they are sending for more warriors." + +"How many more can they depend on from their tribes?" + +"Not more than one hundred and fifty or two hundred." + +"Do you think it is possible, Blakely, that they have learned of the +force which we have sent to the Cataract?" + +"This movement to the east seems to indicate it." + +"In order to satisfy yourself it would be wise for you to ascertain +their actions at once." + +"I have selected a hundred picked men, and shall take the field this +afternoon. I have suspicions that they are delaying on account of +reinforcements, or waiting for reports from the runners which they have, +no doubt, sent to the Cataract." + +"I was rather stupid in that matter," exclaimed the Professor. "I had +overlooked the fact that the Kurabus were the ones who attacked us at +the Cataract, and as they know its locality it is but natural they +should make an advance in that quarter." + +Blakely and his men were on the way within a half hour after this +conversation. This was now the fifth day after the departure of John. + +The Professor, and the chiefs, Oma and Suros, were in daily +consultation, and together were developing a plan by which the different +tribal interests could be welded together, and to establish a form of +government which would be agreeable to all. + +On the morning of the sixth day, after John's party left the Brabos' +village, three of the hunters who were of the party delegated to bring +in game, and one of whom had been instructed in the use of the gun, +captured two Kurabus within a mile of the Cataract. + +These were brought to John at once, and there was high glee at the +success of the hunters. Harry was the first to see the captives and he +rushed in to John with this information: + +"The hunters have captured two Kurabus, and who do you suppose is one of +them? He is the fellow we wounded and brought here with us. Don't you +remember the one we carried out at the time I put an inscription on his +litter?" + +John smiled, as he recalled the litter. His association with the +different ones made him fairly well acquainted with the language by this +time; but Uraso and Muro were present. As they were brought in, John +looked at them and his brow darkened, as he addressed them sternly. + +"Why are you here?" + +They cringed before his piercing look. + +"Answer me! Do you want us to kill all of your people? Did you tell your +chief when we let you go, that we did not want war, but peace?" + +Neither of them answered, but shrank back. John assumed a terrible +anger, as he continued: "We healed you, and tried to show our +friendship, but you tried to kill us. Is that what you people believe +in?" + +Tama, who was the warrior alluded to by Harry, soon recovered his +speech, and after glancing around at the chiefs, said: "The chiefs would +not believe what you said." + +"What are you here for now?" + +"I was sent here to see what you were doing." + +"How many were sent?" + +"No one but Reto and myself." + +"Lock them up," said John, "and keep a good guard over them. So that is +their game, is it? So much the more important for us to get the weapons +ready." + +The new wagon was now ready for the top, and this was completed in short +work. John started on the bolos immediately, and also forged out a +number of spears. The boys were set to work preparing the stocks for the +barrels, and these were cut out in the rough at the sawmill, and several +more knives prepared. The most skillful of the warriors were then +instructed to dress them up and get them ready for the barrels. + +The work was prosecuted not only during the day, but at night, as well. +It was fortunate that during the time the yaks were lost, some months +before, they had trained a pair to drive, and these were now again yoked +up to give them experimental training for the coming journey. + +Meantime John consulted Muro and Uraso, and the three picked out the +most trustworthy scouts. Giving them explicit instructions to proceed +westward, and discover, if possible, whether their enemies were making +any movement toward the Cataract, and if, on the other hand, the +movement was toward the Professor and the Brabos' village, to send one +runner to the village and the other back to the Cataract. + +In less than ten days' time Harry had turned out thirty-two barrels, and +John had given a great deal of attention to the preparation of the +ammunition. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +INTERCEPTING THE MARCH OF THE CONFEDERATES. + +THE TREASURE + + +Blakely started north with the picked warriors, and before evening came +in sight of them, headed for the east. It was evident that they were +about to go to the Cataract. + +Sutoto begged to be permitted to go there and inform them of the danger +of attack, and Blakely consented, and without waiting for the morning, +was on his way. He traveled most of the night, reaching the place in the +afternoon, and was received by John and the others with the most +effusive welcome. + +"What are you here for?" asked John hurriedly. + +"The tribes are coming this way." + +"I have just learned from one of our runners that they went far to the +north of you, and assumed that the intention was to attack us." + +"The Professor should be warned at once," was Sutoto's response. + +"I have instructed that to be done," answered John. + +The scenes around the Cataract were intensely interesting to him. He +wandered around with the boys, and asked questions on every conceivable +subject. Blakely had given him one of the guns, and he was taken to the +workshop and told how they were made. These things so fascinated him +that, hungry as he was, he could hardly be induced to take time for his +meals. + +The boys admired him immensely, and together they acted like boys. The +water wheel; the sawmill; the two stones which served as the gristmill; +the grindstones; the lathes; and the little foundry were entrancing. + +When the boys took him to the blacksmith shop, and he saw the forge, and +the numerous spear heads which John had turned out, as well as the +bolos, his eyes showed the intense delight the sight afforded him. + +The next morning one of the runners appeared and stated that the tribes +were still waiting, and also imparted the further information that +Blakely and his party were at a safe distance, and unknown to the +hostiles. + +It was obvious now that they were awaiting the arrival of the two scouts +who had been captured before advancing. Several scouts and runners were +again sent forward, with instructions to return with information the +moment an advance was made. + +When Blakely reached the vicinity of their confederated enemies, he +thought it wise to keep in the background, and was at a loss to account +for the delay during the entire day, but before evening one of the +Berees, who had been sent by John, arrived in camp. + +"I have just come from the white man's village, and they know that the +tribes are moving in that direction." + +[Illustration: "_Meantime John consulted Muro and Uraso, and the three +picked out the most trustworthy scouts_" + [See p. 35]] + +"How did they discover it?" + +"We captured two spies and have them as captives." + +This information suggested the cause of the delay. He immediately called +a runner, and indited the following letter: "I am keeping on the watch, +and am not afraid to attack the whole of them, if need be. If the guns +you are making are not completed, do not worry about it, as I shall keep +them interested here for several days longer. I will not appear unless I +find they have taken up the march in your direction. Blakely." + +The following day the scouts informed Blakely that the allies had broken +camp and were about to move to the east. Calling the warriors together, +he addressed them as follows: "My friends; we are about to meet your +enemies, not for the purpose of fighting them, but to prevent them from +attacking our friends at the white man's home. Our friends there are +preparing the fire guns for us, before they come to us, and we must now +stand together to prevent them from going there until we are ready to +meet them." + +The warriors all crowded around, and showed by their attitude that they +could be depended upon. + +"We have with us eleven fire guns, and I will now tell you how we must +fight them, if it is necessary. I will stand in the center of the front +line, with the guns, and on each side of us will be the ones I shall +select. All those in front will have bows and arrows, but you will not +need them, unless they come up too close. We must now march to the +right, as fast as we can, and get between them and our friends." + +The column started out on its mission, and made its way with the utmost +speed to the east, and before noon turned to the north, being thus +placed directly in the path of the oncoming forces. The allies moved +along deliberately, entirely unaware of the existence of any force. + +Before four o'clock the first signs of the advance were observed. +Blakely had selected a strong position on a slight elevation, on the +east side of one of the little streams which flowed into the Cataract +River, that commanded an open front. His entire force was placed between +two natural objects, the right resting behind a rocky projection and the +left to the rear of a heavy chaparral of wood. + +Entirely unsuspecting, the allies marched along the stream, and crossed +not a hundred yards below. When they were within hailing distance, John +and Ralsea suddenly appeared in front of their concealed column, and the +latter, at the instigation of Blakely, addressed them as follows: + +"The white men do not want war, but peace. They have come only to rescue +their own people. You must give them up, or there can be no peace. The +white chief tells me that if you injure or kill the white men you now +have he will hold you responsible, because he is powerful, and is now +ready to destroy you and your wives and children, but he does not want +to do that. We are here to prevent you from going to the white man's +house." + +The consternation on the faces of the savages, at the appearance of +two, was easily discernible. They listened in silence while Ralsea +spoke, and, then indicated that they would hold a council and give their +answer. + +It was evident that the allies were taken by surprise, and it must have +been obvious that they had no idea of the force which was in their +front. Blakely had wisely stationed pickets to the right and the left, +in order to observe their movements, after the first surprise was over. + +The conference lasted until night fell, and thus the first object was +gained; delay. In the morning one of the chiefs appeared, and Blakely +and Ralsea again went to the front. + +"I will give you our answer," he said. "The white man attacked us, and +we fought him back. He has killed our warriors, and we will not treat +with him at this time." + +Ralsea replied: "You have done the same that we have done toward the +white man; we were always the first to attack them. They tried to be +friendly, but we would not listen to them." + +"We will let you know in two suns what our answer is." And he withdrew. + +"That means," remarked Ralsea, "that they are waiting for +reinforcements." + +"So much the better. We will be reinforced much better than they by the +time their reinforcements come to hand." + +"We must send a runner to the Great White Chief, and tell him to stop +the Kurabus from coming to their assistance," said Ralsea. + +"That is a wise suggestion," answered Blakely; and without delay one +was selected and made his way to the Brabos' village. + +When the Professor received Blakely's note he called in the Brabo chief, +Oma, and said: "The forces we sent out are preventing the allies from +going to our village, and have sent a runner here to inform us that the +Kurabus are about to send more warriors to aid our enemies. Select one +hundred warriors and let us go to the Kurabus' village and capture the +warriors who are there, and also put the villages in our power. This may +make them understand that they have no homes to go to unless they come +to us." + +This information delighted Oma, and he hurriedly gathered the warriors, +and the Professor concluded to accompany them, as he did not want the +warriors to commit any excesses against the villages and inhabitants of +their former enemies, or exact any reprisals for the past indignities +that some of them had suffered from the Kurabus. + +A day's march brought them close to the main village, and scouts were +sent to the front to ascertain whether the warriors still remaining in +the village had gone forward. Before the scouts could return fully fifty +warriors emerged from the village, and were taking up the march to join +the allies. + +The Professor instructed the warriors under his command to divide into +three parties, one to remain with him, and the others to go to the right +and to the left, so that the Kurabus would thus be entrapped. + +The party marched forward unsuspectingly, directly toward the position +occupied by the Professor, and he instructed Oma to show himself and +inform them that they were surrounded and that resistance would be +useless. + +Some, more venturesome than others, started to retreat, but the +unexpected appearance of the Professor's warriors drove them back, and +without firing a shot or loosing an arrow they submitted. When the +Professor appeared they were the more surprised. The whole were marched +back to the village, and, although the women tried to escape, all were +soon rounded up and brought back. + +The captured Kurabus warriors were taken to the Brabos' village, and the +women informed that they would not be injured, as the white man did not +believe in making war. + +The Professor at once sent a runner to Blakely and also to John. Two +days afterwards the runner appeared at the Cataract with the following +message from the Professor: + +"We captured the Kurabus' village to-day, and all the warriors left +there, as they were about to leave to join the forces now before +Blakely. We have taken all of them to the Brabos' village, where they +will be held. Make the utmost speed with the weapons. In the meantime, I +have sent a force to the north to intercept any reinforcements that the +Tuolos may forward." + +The message from Blakely was as follows: "We arrested the movement of +the allies yesterday, and asked why they were determined to attack us. +They refused to give an answer, and they are, probably, awaiting +reinforcements. My forces are between them and the Cataract, and they +will give their answer in two days." + +All this news was imparted to the people, and the knowledge was received +with enthusiasm. It gave the warriors the first glimpse of the value of +cooperation, and the benefits of a directing hand in their affairs. + +At the Cataract matters were progressing favorably. Reports from Blakely +and the Professor assured them that they would have no difficulty, in a +few days, in getting at least thirty of the guns ready. Stut proved +himself to be the most apt pupil, and nothing interested him as much as +the forge and anvil, and John, noticing this, set him to work on the +small anvil to forge out arrow heads. + +The arrows used by the natives were uniformly of stone, but the metal +ones were perfect, and so arranged that, with the ramie fiber, could be +readily attached to the shaft. The most deft workers in the making of +the native arrows were selected, and together they made up a large +quantity of arrows, and Stut seemed to be indefatigable in turning out +the heads for the workers. + +During this period the larder was not forgotten. The hunters brought in +every day an immense quantity of taro, which seemed to be their favorite +vegetable. + +This is a stemless plant, which has heart-shaped leaves, about a foot +long, and the leaves and stalks are prepared by them in the same way +that we use spinach and asparagus. + +But the tuber, or root, of this vegetable is the most valuable part. It +is larger than the common beet, and sometimes grows to a foot or more in +length. This was beaten into a pulp by the natives, and made into a +bread or pudding. + +[Illustration: _Fig. 4. The Taro Plant and Bulb._] + +"I like the taro," said George. "It can be used in so many ways, and I +want to try it in the different forms as soon as we have an +opportunity." + +"In the Sandwich Islands, and in many other places it is the vegetable +from which the well-known Poi is made," said John. + +"Do you know how it is made?" asked George. + +"It is beaten up, just as you see them do it here, and then set in the +sun to ferment for about three or four days. It is afterwards boiled +with fowl, and makes a very pleasant dish, most appetizing and +nourishing. The fermented Poi will last for weeks. It is the same as the +well-known kalo of the Pacific Island, the yu-tao of China, the sato imo +of Japan, and the oto of Central America. A fine dish is made of it by +boiling and then covering the leaves with a dressing of cocoanut oil." + +Harry and the other boys had been in consultation for several days +concerning the cave, and a day or two before they were ready to start +had a talk with John about the treasure there. John listened +attentively, and when they had finished, said: + +"You are quite right in wanting to take care of the valuables there. You +are entitled to them." + +"But they are yours, as much as ours, and we shall not touch them unless +it is with the understanding that you shall share with us," responded +George. + +"I could not consider it for a moment." + +"You cannot help yourself," said the boys in chorus. "We have arranged +all that matter, and you have nothing to say about it." + +"But," protested John. "I do not deserve it." + +"Well, do we?" asked Harry. + +"But you and the Professor discovered it." + +"Before you or Ralph and Tom came we arranged the division, so that the +Professor has one-third of it, but we own two-thirds, and that we +propose to divide equally among all of us," added Harry. + +"Really," said Ralph, "Tom and I are in the same position as John, and +we feel it is not right to take a share, but the boys insist on it." + +"Well, if you consider that a settlement, I must say that I am going to +make good more than my share and the shares of Ralph and Tom." + +"We don't want you to make it good," insisted George. + +"But you can't help yourself in that. The cave in the Tuolos' country +has something in it that will make you wonder as much as the treasure +you have here, and it will be fully as interesting to get at and recover +as anything you have experienced here." + +"When do you think we ought to start for the west?" asked Harry. + +"Day after to-morrow will see everything ready. We shall then have all +the ammunition sufficient to last us until we can reestablish the plant, +and as the new wagon is ready, it should not take us more than a day, +with all the help we have, to load and apportion the different loads +among the warriors." + +"Then why can't we take to-morrow for the expedition to the cave?" + +"That will suit admirably," he replied. + +On the following morning the boys had the yaks yoked up, and taking with +them a number of the copper vessels, and a quantity of the ramie cloth, +drove over to the side of the hill opposite the Cataract house, so as +to reach the land entrance of the caverns. + +"It is not desirable to have any here know of our visit nor our purpose. +It would not make any material difference, as the treasure there is of +no value to them; but our motives will be misunderstood," remarked John. + +Under the circumstances John and the four boys were the only ones in the +party. + +"We are going to have some pretty tough work this morning. That gold +weighs something." + +"Wasn't it a good thing you suggested the making the wagon?" + +John smiled without saying anything. + +The boys eyed him sharply, and finally Harry said: "That is what you +suggested the new wagon for, was it not?" + +John nodded an assent. + +"Did the Professor say anything to you about bringing it along?" + +"He did say it might be taken if you thought so." + +"Didn't he suggest that we should do so?" + +"No; he said the matter was left entirely to your judgment, and that I +should not say anything about it, unless you proposed that course." + +"Well, I am thinking we shall have a pretty good load for one team with +what we get out of the place," said George. + +"It will make a good load, but we can add to it the lightest parts of +the stock we have at the Cataract." + +Before reaching the mouth of the cavern, a messenger hurried over from +the Cataract with the information that two runners had arrived from the +Professor and from Blakely, and they drove back as quickly as possible, +and reached there to learn that another had just arrived from Blakely. + +The two runners first to arrive conveyed the information stated in the +previous chapter, but the last carried the additional news that there +had been a fight between Blakely and the tribes, and that he was slowly +moving back to the Cataract, but there was no occasion for alarm. + +The latter part of the note read as follows: "Do not be alarmed and +continue your work, and if the matter should be at all serious I will +advise you by runner in ample time, and shall in any event send another +in the next four hours." + +John called in Muro and said: + +"The forces with Blakely are having a fight with the tribes. I want you +to take fifty men, and also twenty-five guns, and assist Blakely and his +warriors, and keep me informed of the progress of events. Tell him that +by day after to-morrow we shall be on our way. In the meantime you +should draw them this way, as we do not want them to go back. For that +purpose keep up the show of retreating, and hold them until day after +to-morrow." + +Within an hour the column was ready and moved toward the scene with +celerity, equipped with the new guns, and an ample supply of ammunition, +together with the new arrows which had been made. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE SURRENDER OF THE KURABUS + + +It was late that afternoon before John and the boys again drove over to +the hill, and lost no time in entering the cave. The first care was to +bring to the steps at the entrance all the vessels in the first recess. + +Some of them were so heavy that it was necessary for four to carry each +load. They then proceeded to the inner recess, and here a search was +made for every trace of the treasures there, the time required thus +making it almost dark before they were able to carry out all the +different lots. + +These were all stored in the bottom of the wagon. It was dark as they +started for the Cataract. As they were leaving they heard the night cry +of a bird which had often been noticed before, and Ralph shuddered, as +he said: + +"It makes me tremble whenever I hear that doleful sound. It was above +our head all of the night before the Tuolos captured us, and since that +time it always sounded like an omen to me." + +John turned to him, as he replied: "That is the voice of the bird called +by the Spanish, Alma Perdida." + +"Well it isn't a pleasant sound, to say the least," added George. + +"It is very significant at this time, however," remarked John. + +The boys all turned to him, as he continued: "It is the 'Cry of the Lost +Soul'; that is what the name signifies." + +And the boys thought of the terrible tragedy in the cave they had just +left. The silence on the way home was significant. + +The next morning marked the greatest activity in and about the +buildings. The wagons were first loaded with the things contained in the +shop, the laboratory and the home. Numerous packages were made up in +form for the warriors to handle conveniently. Nothing was permitted to +remain, as it was felt that the things they had made were too valuable +to leave behind. It was past noon before the last articles were secured +in bundles. + +"You should explain to them, Uraso," said John, "that we shall have to +give them pretty heavy loads for the first part of the journey, as the +different things can be distributed to the others when we reach them." + +"It will not be necessary to do this," he answered; "they are only too +glad to carry the heaviest loads." And he refused to apologize to the +warriors. This is referred to for the purpose of showing the spirit in +which all of them worked to bring the things to their own country. + +After the loads were all provided for, and the different ones instructed +as to the parts which should be taken by each, John said: + +"There is one thing which must now take our attention, and that is the +bringing in of the flag." + +The boys had forgotten this. "You may tell the warriors," said John, +addressing Uraso, "that we intend to go to the hill and bring in the +flag, which must be taken with us." + +As Uraso interpreted this to the people it had a remarkable significance +to them. Uraso begged permission to take all of them on the expedition, +and this was readily assented to. + +The warriors all armed, as though going forth to battle, ascended the +hill, with the boys in the lead. Arriving there John formed the column +in a circle around the staff. Angel was present, and he shambled toward +the pole and mounted it. He remembered the little wheel at the top, +which had afforded them such an amusing incident when it was erected. + +This time he came down without much solicitation on the part of George. + +"As George and Harry were the ones to hoist the flag, I shall delegate +them to lower it," said John. + +The boys went forward, and at the quiet suggestion of John took off +their hats. At this signal John took off his, and Uraso followed suit, +and the hint was sufficient for the warriors, who stood with uncovered +heads while the boys reverently lowered it. + +The wonder and amazement depicted on the faces of those who witnessed it +was a spectacle. What an impressive thing it was to them; it was the +mystery, which to the savage mind is always an important factor, and +John knew it. + +The flag was folded with the greatest care, the natives watching each +move with intense interest, and was then wrapped in cloth, as though it +was the most valuable treasure in the world. + +"We want them to feel that it is something they must love and protect. +It is safe to say, that after this exhibition, everyone of the warriors +would have fought to the death to preserve that emblem of power, like +the Israelites of old, who regarded the Ark of the Covenant as their +fortress and strength." + +The last night at the Cataract was a sad one for the boys. For a year +and a half it had been their home. They had built every part of it. Each +portion had some delicious memory connected with it, and all must now be +left to the ravishes of time. Only the water wheel would be left. + +It hardly seems possible that the accumulations at the Cataract would +make over one hundred packages, aside from the contents of the wagon. +When the entire stock of material was arranged the next morning, it was +an interesting sight. + +The two wagons were driven out from the yard, Harry and Tom in charge of +one, and George and Ralph of the other team. Twenty-five light loads had +been made for the advance warriors, so that in case of scouting work, +one could take the loads of two, and thus leave at least a dozen free +for that duty when required. + +A quantity of lumber had been cut over six months before, and this was +well dried, and would be very valuable to them in beginning operations, +and the loads on the wagons were so great that but little of it could be +taken in that way. Uraso saw the utility of the material and insisted +that it should all be taken. + +Besides the packages thus arranged the most expert of the warriors +carried the thirty-two guns, and they had been instructed in their use. +Each also carried a bow and set of arrows, and some of them were +provided with spears. + +During the preceding day no message had come from Blakely, but he knew +that the party would leave the Cataract on this day, and they felt no +apprehension on his account. + +One of the runners from John reached the Professor on the day the train +left the Cataract. While the latter tried to prevent the knowledge of +his occupation of the Kurabus village from reaching the ears of the +warriors, the scouts sent out by the Professor intercepted and tried to +capture the messengers which were sent to inform the allies, but failed +in their efforts. + +When John and his party left, Blakely had drawn the allies to a point +within eight miles of the Cataract, and with the reinforcements, headed +by Muro, he made a stand. During the night, after a consultation with +Muro, the latter, with fifty of his warriors, made a wide detour to the +north, and swung around to the west, thus taking a position behind the +allies, and this was effected without their knowledge, as they believed. + +The object of this movement was to protect the Professor, as the force +from the Cataract, joined to that of Blakely's, would be ample to drive +them forward, and it was desirable to effect a capture of the allies, +and thus at one operation place them in their power. + +Unfortunately, the messengers from the Kurabus' village reached the +allies before Muro started on his trip. The effect on the allies was +startling, and the Kurabus were determined to protect their homes. The +latter believed that the object was to destroy the village and carry off +the women and children, and it was but natural that they should go to +their assistance. + +As a result the allies during the night quietly stole to the south, +which was in the direction of the Illyas' territory, intending to march +thence west, and thus attack the Professor from the south. + +Their departure was not discovered until morning had been well advanced, +and Muro's runner did not reach Blakely until the train from the +Cataract came in sight. + +This was most discouraging news, as it meant danger to those left with +the Professor. + +"There is but one alternative now," said John. "We must make a forced +march to the relief of the Professor. Uraso has the matter of +controlling the force well in hand, and Blakely, you and I will take all +the men excepting the one hundred in charge of the material, and go +forward rapidly." + +The first news the Professor had of the new situation was gleaned from +the messenger which Muro had dispatched the moment the escape of the +allies was discovered. + +"Has the Professor been notified?" asked Blakely. + +"I sent two messengers early this morning," was Muro's response. + +"That was a wise thing," remarked John. "You are to be commended for the +step. We must make a forced march at once, and you must lead the advance +with your best men." + +Muro was much gratified at this position of trust, and called up the +warriors selected and spoke a few words to them. Without waiting to make +any other preparations than to provide a day's provisions, his party +sallied forth, and headed straight for the southwest. + +The following day, the scouts sent out by the Professor to the +southeast, discovered the allies rapidly moving toward the direction of +the Kurabus' village, but he knew that he had not a sufficient force to +meet them, and he also deemed it wise to permit them to reach their +village, so that they might be able to learn for themselves that, while +he had their homes in his power, he had not despoiled them. + +This was surprising news to the allies. Such a course meant, either that +the Professor and the tribes with him, were afraid of them, or, that +Blakely's message to them was in reality true. + +Muro's column reached the Professor the following day, and before +evening John and the main body came up. The allies were still at the +Kurabus' village, and without waiting for the wagon and the remaining +part of the force to come up, all started on the march for the south. + +The scouts reported commotion in the village, but its cause could not be +determined. Undoubtedly they knew of the presence of the force from the +north. Camp was made for the night, and when morning came it was evident +that the Kurabus had been deserted by their allies, the Tuolos and the +Illyas. + +Early in the morning the advance was begun, and before ten o'clock a +messenger from the Kurabus was taken, and he was brought before the +Professor. + +"Why have you been fighting us?" asked the Professor. + +"My people thought you were trying to kill us." + +"Why do you come to see us now?" + +"Because my chief has been deserted by the Illyas and the Tuolos." + +"Does he wish to surrender?" + +"Yes; if the White Chief will not punish him and his people." + +"Have any of your warriors gone with the two tribes?" + +"No." + +"You may tell your chief that we do not want war, but peace and +friendship, and that we will not injure him or his people and that if we +desired bloodshed we would have killed the warriors we took three days +ago, and also would have destroyed your villages and taken your women +and children captive." + +The messenger was conducted to the front, and within two hours he +returned with the message that the terms were accepted. + +"Then tell your chief that all his weapons must be brought to this +place within two hours, and he must come here with them, and surrender +to us in person." + +Within the stipulated time, the Kurabus, with their chief, appeared in +their front, and Muro, with his warriors, went out to receive them. It +must be understood that Muro's tribe, the Saboros, lived in the +territory adjoining the Kurabus to the southeast, and that for years +there had been bitter enmity between the two, but the Professor did not +affect to know this. + +When the chief, Tastoa, entered the camp, he glanced around at the +warriors, but did not exhibit apparent alarm. He marched direct to the +Professor, with arms folded, and showed a dignified attitude, +notwithstanding his humiliation. His mien plainly showed that he +surrendered to the White Chief, and not to his late allies or enemies. + +In explanation of this, it should be said, that in a previous expedition +against the Professor the Kurabus and the Saboros had been allied, and +on the way, while they were surrounding the party of whites, had a +disagreement which resulted in a separation and enmity. + +"I have come to surrender to the White Chief. The Tuolo and the Illyas +would not agree with me that you meant no harm, and that you would do as +you said, and have left me." + +"Then you have surrendered only because your allies left you?" + +"No; but because we believed you did not want revenge." + +"What made you think so?" + +"When we saw that you did not destroy our villages, and did not take our +women and children, when you could have done so, we believed you. We +believe the Great White Chief, but we do not believe the different +tribes." + +"Then I cannot accept your surrender. You may take all your weapons and +return to your village, and if you choose to do so, join your late +allies. We will not make a movement against you until you have done so. +You must believe Suros and Uraso, and Oma and Muro, as well as myself." + +He cast a curious glance about him, as the Professor spoke. This was a +new species of warfare. What! allow him to return and continue the war, +after he was in their power? The savage mind could not comprehend its +meaning. + +"Why does the White Chief offer me such terms? I am in his power." + +"Because the white man does not believe in taking advantage of an enemy +who has entrusted himself in his hands. As long as he is here he will +not permit it, and the chiefs who are with me will not ask me to do it." + +"I do not understand this. Does Suros say so?" + +"The White Chief says the truth. He brings us a message from the Great +Spirit. That message is different from the ones we learned. He has told +me why our message is wrong, and my people will never again attack +another people." + +This declaration bewildered Tastoa. He had heard the words of the wise +Suros. But Oma arose and said: "I have been your enemy and you have +been ours. The White Chief has been good to us, and I could not +understand why. He has told us new things, and how we may live in +happiness, and we believe him. When we took your warriors and captured +your villages three days ago, he ordered that no one should be hurt, and +he has given the warriors the best of food, and treated them as he +treated his own warriors. We will follow his ways." + +Muro's eyes glistened as he arose to speak. "I and my people love the +Great White Chief. I have come from their village, and all they have in +the village is now coming to all of our people, and we are to learn the +new way of living. From the time the White Chief rescued me from you, he +has said to us, 'Do not kill; do not kill; but you have a right to +defend yourselves.' They have made the weapons which talk with fire, and +there are so many of them that they could quickly kill all of your +people, if he would permit it. Now we are going to live like the White +Chief tells us." + +"Then, if the White Chief tells me I must believe the Chiefs I will do +so." + +"There is another thing which you must do. The Illyas have some of the +white people in captivity. You must send a messenger and say that if +they injure the captives I will visit them and destroy them and their +villages, and that they must at once return to us, and if they do not, +we will go there and take them by force." + +"It shall be done." + +"Muro, you may restore the weapons to the Kurabus." + +While the foregoing proceedings caused the utmost wonder in all of its +phases, the restoration of the arms was one which so completely +astonished them that the Chief could hardly speak. He finally approached +the Professor, and grasping him by the hand, said: + +"I have never heard of such things before." + +"You must have your weapons, because your people must have food. Go to +your villages now, and take with you the warriors we took three days +ago. We have given them back their weapons, as you see." + +Ralsea, Oma and Suros then pressed forward, and held out the hands of +friendship to him. He then turned to the Professor and said: "I do not +see Uraso." + +"No; he is with the people who are coming from our village, but he will +be the first one to go to you and tell you what the others have said." + +The first act of Tastoa was to select the fleetest runner, to attempt +overtaking the Illyas, in order to deliver the message which the +Professor had instructed him to communicate. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE NEW TOWN SITE. THE WATER WHEEL AND THE SAWMILL + + +The Professor and his party immediately left for the Brabos' village, +and before noon of the next day, Uraso, with the wagons and package +train, came in sight. The warriors, together with the chiefs, and the +two boys, Jim and Will, rushed to meet them, leaving the Professor and +Chief Suros almost deserted. They smiled at the eagerness of all. They +were just like boys. + +When the procession from the village came up they surrounded the wagon +and Uraso's warriors, and took the packages from the carriers, bearing +them in triumph to the village, and passed before the Professor and +Suros. The boys began the dancing, and the warriors took up the +suggestion, and improved on it. The hilarity knew no bounds. + +Uraso was the first to tell the warriors who were with him of the +surrender of the Kurabus. This acted like a stimulant to the assembly. + +Later in the day, when peace and order had been restored, the Professor +addressed them as follows: "Suros and I have enjoyed the dance and the +joys you have had as much as you who have taken part in it. We are both +so happy to know that you have become brothers. When we leave this +village the Brabos will know that they are safe from all harm, and that +their enemy is our enemy, and that if anyone in either of the tribes is +injured it is the duty of all the tribes to come to his aid. + +"You must also know that everyone has a right to his own property. If I +should take anything from one of you I ought to be punished. Everyone +should be made to know this. If a Saboro takes anything from an Osaga +without his consent, the Saboros should be the first to punish him, and +if they do not then the other tribes should punish him. + +"We are bringing all the tools from our village, so that we can teach +you how to make many wonderful things. We must find a suitable place to +put up the machinery. Each tribe will send some of their people there to +learn, and then the same things will be put up in your own lands. +To-morrow we will go south to establish this place." + +There was one thing which was a source of grief to the boys, and that +was the herd of yaks, which had been left behind. John spoke to Uraso +about it, and Sutoto, who always considered the boys first, suggested +that he and Muro would take two dozen of the warriors and bring the herd +back. + +The boys would have enjoyed this outing with him, but the necessity of +utilizing their services in the erection of the workshop and installing +the machinery, was too urgent to permit it. The boys made it a +condition, however, that Sutoto should be with them in the active work, +as soon, as he returned. + +The Brabos regretted the leave-taking, but were delighted to learn from +the Professor that he expected them to contribute a number of their men +to accompany the expedition. + +They passed through the Kurabus' village the next day, and the Professor +called the Chief to him. "We want some of your men to accompany us, +because we want to teach them the same as the other tribes." + +This announcement was a most gratifying one, and he answered: "The White +Chief has made us give him our hearts. My brother and my son will go +with you." + +Could anything have been more expressive of the intention of the Kurabus +Chief? The lad was about the same age as the boys, and they led him out +to the wagon, and showed him the wonderful things, and then began the +efforts to find words to express their meaning, and enable them to +understand each other. + +It was an amusing thing to see the struggles of Blakely, who was +whipping the warriors into a fighting force. Whenever Blakely was around +the warriors would give him the military salute, as though they had been +trained up to it all their lives. + +"I have often wondered where the military salute of raising the hand up +to the eyebrows comes from," said Ralph. + +"Its origin dates from the commencement of the English army. During the +tournaments of the Middle Ages, after the 'Queen of Beauty' was +enthroned, the knights, who were to take part in the sports of the day, +marched past the dais upon which she sat, and, as they passed, shielded +their eyes from the rays of her beauty. Thus the habit continued, only +in a modified form, to this day." + +[Illustration: _Fig. 5. The Banyan Tree._] + +Uraso had charge of the advance, and when they halted that day it was +under the spreading shade of a tree that was a marvel to the boys, +although Blakely said there were plenty of them in the southern part of +the island. + +This was a tree, with a large central trunk, the branches of which +spread out in all directions, to distances which were fully fifty feet +on each side, and at irregular intervals were straight stems which shot +down straight to the earth, the lower ends of which took root and thus +served as supports for the long branches. + +The boys went around, examining it from all sides. "What is it?" asked +the boys. + +"It is the banyan tree," answered John. "This is not the only kind which +exhibits this peculiarity. What is called the screw pine also sends down +shoots in the same way." + +"Well, does each of these vertical stems become a tree of itself?" + +"In the case of the mangrove these aerials, as they are called, carry up +the sap, and form leaves at their upper ends, long after the main trunk +dies." + +"Do you mean that these drooping branches carry up the sap in the +opposite direction, after they take root?" + +"Yes; but that is not so remarkable, when it is understood that the buds +of all trees are, in a measure, roots, and perform the same functions as +roots. The plum tree, and many others, will form roots out of the buds, +if the latter are buried in the earth." + +"I have heard about the orchids, as I believe they are called. Do they +act in the same way?" + +"Not altogether; there are certain plants which live on other plants and +get sustenance from them, just as some insects attach themselves to +animals and live on them." + +"There is one thing I could never understand," remarked Tom, "and that +is, why the sap of the trees goes upwardly." + +"I shall try and answer that question by asking another. If you put the +end of a piece of blotting paper in water, what causes the water to +travel along to the other end?" + +"That is just as much a mystery," he replied. + +"But as you know that to be so, because you can see the process, it will +enable me to explain the principle of the movement of the sap. A wick in +a lamp becomes saturated and the oil travels upwardly as long as the +upper end is burning; but as soon as the light is put out the oil ceases +to creep toward the burned end." + +"But in the case of a tree there is nothing to do that same thing." + +"That is what the sun does. It shines on the leaf, and absorbs the sap, +or portions of it, and the sap tries to move upwardly to again moisten +the dried pores of the wood." + +"I always thought the sap moved upwardly, because the tree was alive." + +"The blotting paper and the wick are not alive, are they? Still, you see +the same process going on. This is due to what is termed capillary +attraction. Suppose you take two tubes, one larger than the other, each +open at both ends, and stand them in water. The water will rise in the +tubes above the surface of the water outside, and the height it rises +depends on the inside diameters of the tubes. The smaller the bore the +higher will the water go up. So with the pores in the wood. They are +very small, and thus the water moves to the greatest heights." + +It was now a question of the greatest importance to set up their home at +the most desirable point. The Chiefs, together with John and Blakely, +had numerous conferences with the Professor, on this subject. Many +things had to be taken into consideration. + +First: It should be located at a point convenient to all the tribes. + +Second: It should be on or near the seacoast. + +[Illustration: _Fig. 6. Showing Capillary Attraction._] + +Third: Everything else being equal, the most desirable place would be in +a section which had the richest soil. + +These considerations were suggested to the Chiefs, and all agreed that +the river separating the land of the Osagas and the Berees would be most +suitable. + +"I know a place," said Uraso, "where there is a running water like you +have at the Cataract, and it is a little river that flows into the big +river." + +"Does the water go down steep as we had it?" + +"Yes," answered Uraso. + +"Let us go there at once," responded the Professor. + +Within two days the spot was reached, and at the sight of it all were +pleased beyond measure. + +"It is an ideal spot," exclaimed John. "The falls would be much better +for our purpose than the Cataract, and it is close to the river. As the +latter has ample depth for good-sized boats, and the sea is not more +than three miles away, I judge, we are near enough to carry out the +purpose of building the large vessel." + +No conferences were required to make the decision. "Your judgment is to +be commended," said the Professor to Uraso. "I do not think there is a +better spot on the island." + +"It suits me," said Blakely. "See the forest to the northwest? That is +where I used to live. I know the boys will enjoy exploring it, and if +they want excitement at any time, it is near enough to give them plenty +of exercise." + +The boys' eyes glistened with excitement at the news. "Won't we have fun +over there, when we are fixed up!" said Will. + +The Professor, addressing the Chiefs, said: "We do not need all the men +we have here, as they will no doubt be needed for a time at their homes, +in order to take care of the women and children. For the present I +suggest that one-half of them be sent home, and the others remain here, +and get the work started. This will take several moons, and we must then +meet, unless we hear from the Illyas sooner, and march against them." + +The chiefs selected the ones which were to remain, and those instructed +to return home were advised that later on they would be brought to the +new village, to take their part in the work, and thus give an +opportunity to all. + +The greatest enthusiasm prevailed, and each tribe tried to outdo the +other in generous acts. The example set by the Professor was, indeed, a +lesson to these poor, ignorant creatures. + +"Professor, what shall we do when the herd arrives? I think we had +better fence in a field for them until they get used to the people and +learn, to remain in this part of the country." + +"I am glad that you suggested that, Ralph. You may build a fence to hold +them, and I suggest that you use the space in the forks of the river." + +"How many men shall I take for the purpose?" + +"As Sutoto will likely be here to-morrow, or on the following day, you +should take enough to do it quickly. Use at least fifty of them. Stut +would be the one to call in for help." + +"What kind of a fence shall we build?" + +"I will make a sketch of the best form for the present. Have some of the +men cut posts that have several forks like the sketch shows. Cut these +off at lengths so that one fork will be about two feet up out of the +ground, and the other five feet or a little more above. Set others to +work cutting the long poles, which you will find along; the river +bank." + +"How long should we make the poles?" + +"Get them as long as you can; but make them, say, nine, eighteen or +twenty-seven feet long. Then, at the same time, others can be digging +the post holes, and make those eight feet apart and two feet deep. When +the posts are set, the men with the poles can go along and lay them in +place, just as I show." + +[Illustration: _Fig. 7. Sample of Island Fence._] + +The warriors took the bolos and sallied down to the stream. Ralph had +made a mental calculation that at least one hundred posts would be +required; the line of the fence was laid out and the holes marked. Muro +took charge of the digging of the holes, and the men showed a wonderful +aptitude for the work. During the afternoon the Professor wandered down +to the line, and went among them, speaking words of cheer and +commendation to all, so that he impressed his wonderful personality on +every man. + +Meanwhile Harry, with the other boys, was at work preparing a new water +wheel. In this he had the aid of Uraso, as the director general of the +men. Many hands make light work. In a single day the wheel was ready +for mounting. The dried lumber which had been brought over was a great +advantage in making it, and in preparing the bridge below the falls on +which the wheel was mounted. + +This was completed on the evening of the second day, just as Sutoto came +into view with the cattle. It was an amusing sight to see how they had +brought over the herd. + +Apollo was the name of the bull which had the terrific fight with the +old bull. The first thing Sutoto did was to catch Apollo, and firmly +secure him with hobbles. He was led in front, and the others driven +along after him, the rest following meekly. + +When Apollo was finally loosened, and allowed the freedom of the corral, +he gave a roar, pawed up the ground and shook his head at the indignant +treatment. + +Their appearance meant milk and butter. There were thirty-five in the +herd, of which ten were young animals, from four to six months of age, +and six calves, the latter of which retarded the movement of the drove +on the route. + +Early in the morning the wheel was put up, and it began to turn, to the +delight of the men. + +"It would be better, Harry, to set up the sawmill at once, as I have +directed a number of men to go to the forest with John, to cut the logs, +and they will take the two teams along, so that by the time you are +ready, the material will be here for you." + +"What shall I cut first?" + +"Get out the scantlings for the house and shop, as the latter will be +the first to receive our attention. We must have some place to put the +things we have in the wagons." + +It is remarkable how quickly a set of men, working under intelligent +directions, can carry out a purpose. The logs began coming in shortly +after noon, and in the morning the saw was at work, and it did not cease +its operations for many a day. + +The natives were so fascinated with it that they considered it a grief +to leave it. But the Professor had other purposes in view. George and +Tom were selected to make several looms, similar to the one brought from +the Cataract. In this work, as in everything else, some particular ones +were selected and instructed to do the work. + +Ramie fiber was found in abundance, along the streams, and after a set +of men had been instructed how to cut and gather it, they were kept at +that work, while others were directed how to wet it down and rot the +woody fiber and taught the manner in which the fiber was freed of the +stalks. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +BUILDING UP THE NEW TOWN + + +Within a week most disquieting rumors reached the new village as to the +attitude of the Illyas and Tuolos. The former sent an insulting message +that if the White Chief wanted the captives he should come for them. + +The Tuolos had returned to their country, but John was determined that +they must have a visit. Thus far no bands from the warring tribes had +molested either the Saboros, who were nearest on one side, or the Brabos +on the other side. + +Their silence after a peace message was sent them could only be +interpreted to mean one thing, on the part of the Tuolos. + +"The Illyas will not dare to injure the captives they have with such a +warning as we gave them, and if they intended to destroy them it is +possible that has been done already. Under the circumstances a little +patience on our part may show them that we mean business." + +Muro, who understood the Illyas' character better than the others, was +of the opinion that the Professor's views were most likely to accomplish +the purpose without bloodshed. On the other hand, he was of an entirely +different opinion with respect to the Tuolos. + +A few weeks of active work, first, in completing all preparations for +defense, and second, in organizing the tribes into a working unity, +would be of the greatest importance to the community. + +The shop and the laboratory were completed, and most of the things in +the wagons were now in place. The important thing was the disposition of +the treasure. For the safe keeping of this a large pit was dug beneath +one end of the shop, and an underground vault constructed, the brick for +this purpose being made from a natural silicate found in the hills near +by, and which hardened without burning. The interior was also plastered +with the same material, and a strong door, small, but thick, was +constructed to close the opening. + +During the night John, the Professor and Blakely, with the boys, +carefully stored the treasure there, so that the different tribes had no +idea of the use to which the vault had been put. + +Two of the simple looms had been made, so that there were now three +ready to turn out goods, and the fiber was in such shape that it could +soon be utilized. In the meantime the boys concluded that as the weaving +process was the slowest operation it would be well to construct several +additional looms, and two of them capable of making goods four feet +wide. + +One of the first acts of the Professor was to scour the hills to the +north for minerals. He was in search of copper, and taking a half dozen +of the natives with him, and one of the teams, a load of copper ore was +brought in. + +The furnaces and smelters had been set up by the boys, previous to this, +and within ten days a hundred pounds of copper were run into clay +receptacles, to be used for the various purposes. + +"What do you suppose the Professor wants with so much copper?" asked +Ralph. + +"You can make up your mind he has some scheme or other," answered +George. + +The Professor really did have a scheme, for the first thing he consulted +Harry about was a plan to make some small molds in two parts, out of +brass, from a plaster paris disk which he had carved out. + +[Illustration: _Fig. 8._ THE ONE-CENT COIN] + +"What is that for?" asked Harry, laughing. + +"That is to make one of the first coins from our mint," he answered, +smiling. + +A sample of the coin is shown. + +"What is the hole in the middle for?" + +"So they can be strung on a cord, and thus provide a means for keeping +them." + +"That is the first time I ever heard of that plan." + +"It is not anything new. The Chinese adopted the plan years ago, and +Belgium is a country which has followed the idea. It has been found +very convenient for shoppers, as they can string them on vertical pieces +of wire, and in that way they are always kept in columns before them, +and can be readily taken off in making change." + +[Illustration: _Fig. 9._ THE FIVE-CENT COIN] + +In making the molds, the molten brass was first poured around the paris +plaster disk, so that the metal was level with the top of the disk, and, +after it was thoroughly cooled, an additional amount of metal was poured +over this, so that the two parts would separate. The disk was then taken +out, and two holes made on opposite sides through the top. The copper +was then poured in one hole until it appeared at the other hole. In this +way the print formed by the disk was cast in the coin. + +Harry made a half dozen of these molds, and the mint was ready for +operation. Tom and one of the natives set to work making the coins, and +the first day cast two hundred of them. Within a week they became quite +expert at the business, and when they took stock at the end of the week +over twenty-five hundred of the coins were in the treasury. + +A large-sized coin was turned out, which is also shown, the smaller +being for one cent, and the larger five cents. The stock of coins within +ten days amounted to fifty dollars in value, but it was a good +beginning. + +During the evening the coins were shown around and admired, and John +said: "We have plenty of silver, when the time comes, which can be +worked up in the same way." + +This idea had not occurred to the boys. "But how," asked Will, "shall we +use these? The natives won't give anything for them?" + +"That is what we are trying to teach them. They are of no value except +as a medium of exchange. Money is of no value, except as it enables us +to buy something with it. When you have a five-cent piece and a taro +root before you, and are hungry, which will you take?" + +"The taro root, of course." + +"So it isn't the coin itself, but only its value in what you want. It is +want that gives money any value." + +"But I still don't see how we are going to make the natives want the +coins." + +"We do not intend to make them want them. But we may soon have some +things they will need. Now it is immaterial whether they give money for +it, or if they furnish us something we wish in exchange." + +"Then of what use is it to have the coins?" + +"Simply because we must have something to measure by. If you buy a yard +of cloth you must have a yardstick. If you want a certain quantity of +grain you must have a quart or a bushel measure. Now that yard or +bushel, each, is worth so much, and they are measured by a coin or +coins, of which both know the value." + +"I understand now. You are simply trading a certain marked coin for a +bushel of grain, instead of giving something else for it." + +"Exactly; money in itself has no value. You cannot eat it, or make it +serve as an article of clothing, or drink it. You can only measure the +needed things with it." + +The practical operation of the use of coins as money had its first trial +on the following day, when the Professor had two hundred cords prepared, +on which were strung five one-cent coins and a five-cent coin. + +The warriors were told to file along the wagon, and George handed out +one of the coin sets to each as he passed. They looked at the bright +disks curiously, at first, and were informed that they were being +rewarded for the work they had done. This was a singular way of +requiting them for their services. They had obtained food in plenty, and +therefore this way their pay; but now, in addition, they were being +rewarded. + +Uraso explained the new proceeding. They had conspicuously displayed the +ramie cloth, made in different colors, which had been woven during the +past two weeks. Not a word was said about that. The goods displayed +seemed to be of more value than the coins. It was something they could +wear, and they envied the manner in which the white people clothed +themselves. + +John went up to Jim, who had the fiber cloth in charge, and asked him +for a piece, indicating the length of the yardstick, which he held, and +when he was told that it was worth one of the small coins, John made a +great show of taking one of the coins from the cord and paying for the +goods which Jim cut off. + +Tom did likewise, and this was very soon repeated, some taking two yards +or more. The natives regarded this as a new species of barter, and it +did not take them long to see the peculiar features of the transaction. +Before night fully half of the coins were again back in the hands of the +treasurer. + +The next day the boys, at the instigation of the Professor, began a +species of trade with the natives, purchasing some trinket or other +article, for which coins were offered in exchange. This spirit began to +take possession of the natives. Regularly each week the pay for work +performed was given, and as the weaving of cloth went on, the sale of +the goods began to increase. + +Soon the Professor called the chiefs, and said: "We ought to send some +of these men to their homes, each week, and bring others here, so that +all may have an opportunity to work and to learn, and also be able to +buy the goods we make." + +There was a twofold purpose in this: The warriors would, he knew, take +their purchases home, and thus give their families the benefits of the +cloth, and it would incite a desire for them to again return and work +for the purpose of acquiring more goods. + +This was the first object lesson. In the following week, the second one +was quietly brought to their attention. The workers had been fed from +the common table. It was desirable to stimulate individual effort. + +For this purpose the Professor, John and Blakely, as well as the boys, +went to the different workers, and made bargains; some offered a coin +for the bringing in of a brace of fowl; others for a certain amount of +vegetables; and some for particular quantities of fruit and for barley. + +The sawmill was turning out a certain amount of lumber, and the main +house was erected, and then began the building of a number of small +two-and three-room dwellings, all put up cheaply, but in a substantial +manner. + +This proceeding was looked on with wonder by the warriors. Before long +the women and children of some of the workers appeared, and their coming +pleased the Professor immensely. + +It was evident that the two warring tribes were in communication with +each other, and as the affairs of the little colony were moving along in +a very satisfactory way, it was determined to bring them to terms. This +was brought about by two incidents, which will be related. + +The Brabo territory extended the farthest north of any of the inhabited +lands, and adjoined the portion occupied by the Tuolos. + +In a previous book the history of John was related, in which he +described an immense cave, near their village, occupied by the medicine +men of their tribe, and where he took refuge when pursued. There he +discovered a large amount of treasure. He and the boys had long wanted +to go there. + +When the report was brought to the new village that the Tuolos had made +a foray into the Brabo territory, and killed several warriors, carrying +some of the women into captivity, it was a warning that could not be +disregarded. + +Immediately, on the heels of this news, was the report of two runners +from the Saboros that depredations had been committed by the Illyas. + +The Professor called John, Blakely and the chiefs Oma of the Brabos and +Muro of the Saboros into consultation. + +"We are now in condition," he said, "where we must undertake to call +those tribes to account. The outrages reported are probably only the +forerunners of others which may be much more serious, and I want your +views on the course to follow." + +"It is fortunate," answered Blakely, "that the tribes referred to are +separated by the sections of the island inhabited by our allies. This +gives us an opportunity to treat with each separately. It seems to me +that we should attack the Illyas first, as they are the most powerful of +the two." + +"I do not altogether agree with you," responded John. "My view is that +we should proceed against the Tuolos, as they have committed the most +serious offense, in killing the Brabos." + +"You speak wisely," said Muro. "The Brabos are not as well protected as +my people." + +This observation, coming from Muro, was a most pleasing one to John and +the Professor, and Blakely was instructed to muster a force of two +hundred. Notices were sent to all the allied tribes, and within a week +they arrived, all eager to engage in the expedition. + +"While engaged in that work the business must not cease here," observed +the Professor. "It will be your duty, Blakely, to thoroughly drill the +men, and instruct them in the uses of the weapons. For reasons which you +will understand, John will accompany the expedition." + +During all this time there was not a day but the Professor, as well as +George, Ralph and Jim, whenever opportunity offered, scouted about in +various directions, and brought in new specimens of woods, flowers, +vegetables, and samples of ores. + +The Professor's eyes were gladdened many times at the odd parcels left +on his table, that excited the curiosity of the boys. Jim was an +indefatigable gatherer of vegetable products, and one thing which +attracted him immensely was the branch of a tree which bore a number of +star-leaved clusters, each leaf being feather-veined, and the stems +carried numerous yellowish purple-spotted flowers, and also nuts about +the size of pigeon eggs. + +"Down near the large river the banks are full of these. Can we make any +use of them?" asked Jim. + +"Why that is a variety of Chica," he answered. + +"What is Chica, anyhow?" + +"The seeds are good for making burning oil. The inner bark furnishes a +fiber which resists all moisture; and the nuts possess a substance +which is well known all over the world as mucilage. It is recognized in +commerce as gum tragacanth." + +"I saw different kinds there. Are they all useful?" + +"Some species contain nuts which are very fine, but are never eaten raw. +They must be roasted." + +[Illustration: _Fig. 10. Chica The Gum Plant._] + +"When Jim and I were down there this morning we saw at least a dozen +different kinds of plants growing together in a space not three feet +square. We both wondered why each kept on growing in its own way, from +the same kind of soil. Now, don't the plants get all they are made of +from the same soil? And if that is so, why don't they grow to be the +same things?" + +"Of course, like the animal kingdom, the germ of each is different, but +each takes the identical substances from the same soil, and converts +them into entirely different products. One will make a gum; the other +produces a kind of milk; others will turn out a hard substance, like the +outer portion of the nut; some will make a vegetable good to eat; others +will yield a poison, and yet all are from the same soil." + +"That is what I mean. Even though the plants are different, why is it +that one will extract one thing and another something else?" + +"It is due to what is called irritability or sensitiveness in plants. +One plant is sensitive to the flow of certain juices, and is irritated, +so that it is set into activity when different kinds of substances are +carried along the pores or deposited in the cells. As a result, this +irritation causes the plant to take only certain ones and reject others, +and its tissues are thus built up only by such elements as its +sensitiveness selects." + +The training of the warriors with the new guns was a stirring sight for +the boys, who could not help but be present during most of the time +during the two days preceding the departure for the country of the +Tuolos. + +Ralph and Tom begged permission to accompany the party, and this was a +natural request, because they had been rescued from this tribe the year +before. + +It thus happened that the party of warriors, equipped as they had never +been before, left the village, with one of the wagons, which was loaded +with provisions and ammunition, and the boys took charge of the team. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE EXPEDITION AGAINST THE TUOLOS + + +It was decided to go north until they reached the level country, which +would afford easy travel, and then move to the west and cross the large +river which separated the Brabos from the Tuolos, as it would be better +to meet them on the extreme western side of the ridge which they +occupied. + +"Do you remember, Blakely, what kind of country is to be found directly +west of their principal village?" asked John. + +"I have been over that entire country," responded Blakely. + +"When I recovered, the morning of the wreck, I went inland at once," +remarked John, "and I never saw the sea again. When you related your +story about seeing a certain tribe offering up victims you must have +been on the western side of the village." + +"Yes; I came up from the sea." + +"Well, you see I came down there directly from the north, and I reached +the village on the eastern side, and I saw the sacrifice of the captives +at the same time you did, but on the opposite side of the village." + +"That is very probable. On the western side the country is high, but not +difficult to travel across." + +[Illustration: "_The act was such a startling one that they threw +themselves on the ground in terror_" + [See p. 95]] + +"That is the exact point I am aiming at. I know that all the way down, +from the place where I struck into the interior, it would be almost +impassable for the wagon." + +This settled the route to be taken, and they moved westwardly, after +crossing the river, and before night the boys caught the first glimpse +of the broad ocean. + +In the morning they put out scouts, which went well in advance of the +column, and Muro was in charge of them. His instinct as a trailer was +inimitable. + +Before evening of the second day the scouts announced the first signs of +the Tuolos. The village could be reached within two hours' march, but +John advised waiting for the following morning before approaching. + +During the early evening, however, Muro returned on a hurried trip from +the front. "They are having a great feast at the village, and it appears +that they will make sacrifices to-night, or to-morrow, so that we should +approach as close as possible, and if we find that is their intention, +prevent it." + +This news stirred all into activity. The column went forward with the +utmost caution, although it was dark, and the wagon had to be guided +along with great care. + +The movement proceeded until nine o'clock, and during the night march +Muro had arranged a constant line of communication with John, through +his runners. A festival was in progress, and the two victims were +plainly seen by John when he and Muro went through the grass and +inspected the village. + +The inaction of the whites had entirely disarmed the Tuolos. Indeed, as +afterwards learned, they began to think that fear prevented an attack on +their village, and no sentinels were posted to warn them of any +approaching foe. + +While waiting for the return of John and Muro, Ralph and Tom also +wandered around the section surrounding the camp. They were in a valley, +on both sides of which were ridges running north and south. The moon +came out before ten o'clock, and they remembered some of the scenes +about them. They had been brought from the south through this identical +valley when they were captured by the Tuolos. + +They were on the hillside, not five hundred feet from their camp, and +were about to descend the hill, when Ralph started back, and grasped +Tom's arm. + +"What is that dark object directly ahead?" + +The dark object was an opening into the hill, but as it was by the side +of a projecting rock, it had the appearance of an object. They looked at +each other for a moment in silence. + +"I wonder if this is another cave, or the one John spoke about?" asked +Tom. + +"No, that is on the east side of the village. We are below the village. +Do you think we had better make an investigation?" + +"Yes; but I wish John was here. Come on; we have plenty of help here if +we need it." + +The opening was approached as noiselessly as possible. It showed a +typical cave entrance, through solid rock, or, rather, through what +appeared to be a cleavage which had been spread apart. They had no +light of any kind, but the discovery was one which interested them, +because they knew of the treasure caves existing on the island, and two +of them, at least, were within their knowledge, and contained immense +hoards. + +"Can you strike a match, so we can get some idea of it?" asked Tom. + +"I am going to try it at any rate." So saying, the match was lighted, +and its beams penetrated the interior. In their eagerness the match was +muffled, and went out, but they caught sight of a huge white cross, far +beyond, and it seemed to be moving. + +"Did you notice that?" asked Tom excitedly. + +"Do you mean the cross?" + +"Yes." + +"It seemed to move up and down." + +"I thought so, too." + +"I don't care about going any farther without we have some one with us +and can have a decent light." + +The boys hurried to the camp, and waited for John. When he came they +hurriedly related the experience. + +"That will do to investigate." + +"We saw a cross in there, moving up and down." + +"Have we any of the candles with us?" he asked. + +"Possibly; I can soon tell." + +Tom came back with the news that he had found a box of them. + +"As the village is quieting down, we shall have plenty of time to make +the examination to-night. We must wait until Muro returns, so as to get +the latest news, and can then start out." + +Muro returned shortly after, and together with the boys, went up the +hill, and entered the mouth of the cavern. Three candles were lighted. +The great cross was before them, but it was such a different thing, now +that they were face to face with it. The end of the chamber, which the +light penetrated, had four openings to the chambers beyond, two above +and two below. These openings were separated from each other, and the +white walls between the openings appeared to form the white cross. + +It was wonderfully realistic, this fanciful and fantastical carving of +nature through the rocky structure. + +"But I saw it move; that is sure," said Tom. + +"Did you see that move, or was it the light of the match that moved?" +asked John. "Imagination plays many a trick, during the excitement of +the moment." + +John took the light, and by moving it up and down showed how the beams, +shining past the glistening walls, would cause the illusion of the cross +moving. + +The cavern was found to be much broken up as they advanced, and reaching +the second set of chambers, it was evident that some one had lately +occupied it. Penetrating farther into the interior, they were surprised +to see articles of savage clothing, and long reeds, that had been burned +at the ends, together with utensils for cooking. + +"We have entered one of the homes of the medicine men of the Tuolos. I +have no doubt they are now at the village attending the festivals, and +we had better leave as quickly as possible." + +Before the entrance was reached they heard a great commotion outside, +and their own people rushing to and fro, and as they were emerging three +fantastically garbed natives met them. John ordered them to halt in the +native tongue, and they stood there irresolute. The boys also leveled +their guns at them, and they submitted as Muro and his men rushed up. + +The appearance of John and the boys startled Muro beyond expression, as +the latter said: "These are the medicine men of the tribe." + +"I knew it," responded John. "We have just been investigating the place +they live," and he pointed to the mouth of the cavern. + +These were the men who performed the sacred rites of the Tuolos, and +were called the Krishnos, as they learned from Muro. + +"Take them to the camp," ordered John. + +Without more ado, they were hustled down to the wagon. It seems that +when the Krishnos returned from the village they found themselves in the +immediate vicinity of the camp, and in the effort to escape aroused the +sentries, who rushed upon them. + +If they could have reached the cave, not one of the warriors would have +dared to enter it, as their superstitious fears would have prevented +them, but outside the cave they had no such feelings. It was fortunate, +therefore, that John and the boys were there to prevent them from +entering. + +As they were going down the hill, John exhibited a curious cross, He had +found it in the cave, just before he advised the boys to go out. It was +made of stone, and one of the limbs had a hole near its end, which +indicated that it had been carried as a charm. + +"Isn't that singular? Why should the natives have the Christian sign of +the cross?" + +[Illustration: _Fig. 11. Stone Cross found in Cave._] + +"That is one of the earliest symbols that the world knows. Its use goes +back beyond the earliest period of history. It was the favorite figure +used by the astronomers and astrologers of the ancient Babylonians, +fully four or five thousand years ago. The clay tablets and stone +monuments of the Persians contained them; the Hittites, in the earliest +Jewish times, used them; and the ancient Egyptians decorated the High +Priests officiating in the temples with figures of the cross." + +"It seems to me that if it was used by peoples in different parts of the +earth, there must have been some reason for it." + +"One of the well-known forms found in the inscriptions shows the cross +within a circle. This seems to be the meaning of the phrase in Isaiah +which says the 'four ends of the earth.' In Bible times the earth was +known to be round, so that the expression used in the Bible about the +'circle of the earth,' and the four ends, seem to point clearly to the +cross within the circle, to indicate the four points of the compass." + +[Illustration: _Fig. 12. Ancient Crosses._] + +"So the Christians took an old form and made it their symbol?" + +"Yes; the Roman cross, used at the crucifixion, had the lower stem +longer than the other, and from this fact that form became the Cross of +Christianity." + +The uproar created by the pursuit attracted the attention of the +warriors in the village, who ran to and fro, and soon learned the cause +of the disturbance. + +The camp was kept quiet, however, but the scouts watched the excitement +created, and reported the results at frequent intervals. Muro knew they +would not desert the village, as they would not be likely to leave it at +the mercy of their enemies, at least without a fight. + +John confronted the medicine men as soon as the wagon was reached. + +"Why do your people make war, and refuse to treat with us?" + +"Because you have no right to come and try to kill us." + +"Why did you imprison our people, and offer up some of them as a +sacrifice?" + +"Because your people fought us." + +"You lie; you took those who were defenseless, and had no weapons. You +do not tell the truth." + +"The Great Spirit told us to kill you." + +"Why do you try to lie to me. I do not believe you. The Great Spirit +never told you so. He would not speak to you." + +"The white man does not know. He speaks to us." + +"Where does he speak to you?" + +"In the sacred cave." + +"How does he tell you?" + +"With wonderful signs." + +"Tell me some of the wonderful signs." + +"He makes a great light, and we read it in the light. He makes a great +noise, and we know what he says." + +"Does he make a great light and a great noise up there?" and John +pointed up to the heavens. + +"Yes." + +"Then why did you lie to me when you said that he speaks to you in the +cave?" + +"We can understand it only in the cave." + +While they were thus speaking John held the stone cross in his hand, and +the Krishnos eyed him curiously. He finally saw the movement, and, quick +as a flash, he reached down in his pocket, unobserved by them, and drew +forth one of the wooden matches, which they had made at the Cataract. + +"What is this?" he asked sternly, pointing to the cross. + +They raised their hands and rolled their eyes upwardly, as though about +to pronounce a malediction on John. He deftly drew the match along the +rear side of the stone, and as it blazed forth into light, he thrust it +forward into their faces. + +The act was such a startling one that they threw themselves on the +ground in terror. + +"The Great Spirit told me that you lied, and he is about to come out of +the stone and consume you. He will follow you everywhere unless you go +to the Tuolos at once and tell them that the Great Spirit has told you +to give up the captives, and to never again kill any of them. You must +tell them we have been sent to make them our friends, and that if they +do not follow this advice we will punish them." + +The Krishnos cringed before John. It was obvious to the surrounding +warriors that the words they had heard had an ominous import, and they +saw how feeble were the devices of the so-called wise men when pitted +against the knowledge of John. + +John assumed a most tragic attitude, as he slowly raised his arm and +pointed with his finger to the savage village. "Go," he said, "and bring +back to me the answer before the morning sun comes up." + +They hesitated. "Do you fear to go? Are the wise men cowards? Did the +Great Spirit tell you to fear the Tuolos? Shall we go and sacrifice all +your people?" + +"They will not believe us; they will kill us." + +"Then they, too, know you have lied to them. If you remain here you will +not be safe, because the great light might destroy you." + +Then turning to Muro he said: "Take these men to their village, and see +that they are forced to meet their chiefs," and with an imperious air he +turned from them. + +Muro's warriors were not too gentle with them. The spell of savage +witchcraft had been broken. John and all of them knew it. They were +hustled forward in the darkness, and as they approached the village Muro +told them to advise the chiefs in his presence what John had said. + +Muro and the warriors, with the loaded guns, remained at a safe +distance, and the Krishnos entered the village. They waited in silence +for more than an hour, and then a commotion was noticed, which grew more +intense as the voices increased in volume. + +In the meantime John with the rest of the warriors came up quietly in +the rear, and, after consulting with Blakely and Muro, the village was +surrounded. + +The boys saw the large hut where they were confined, after being +captured, and from which they were rescued. Calling John's attention to +it, Ralph said: "That big house is the place they kept us, and that is +where you found us." + +John looked at them in surprise. He did not know this, as at the time +the boys were rescued he was in mental darkness, and did not recall the +incident. + +It was obvious that some tragedy was being enacted. While awaiting the +result of the conference Muro was away instructing the pickets who were +around the village. He soon appeared, bringing with him two Tuolos whose +dress betokened them as belonging to the same order as the individuals +who had been sent into the village. + +Calling John aside he said: + +"The Tuolos have two rival sets of medicine men. These belong to the +other set, and are the ones who perform the religious rites." + +"Where did you find them?" + +"Directly east of the village." + +"Were they going to the village?" + +"Yes." + +"Did they come from the hill on the east side?" + +John mused for a while, and then said quietly to Muro: "They came from a +cave on the hill, where they perform their rites, and it is a place I +want to see. It is one of the reasons I insisted on coming to settle +matters first with the Tuolos." + +Muro was astounded at the information, as he asked: "How do you know +there is a cave in the hill?" + +"Because I have been in it, and I know what it contains. They are having +trouble in the village with the Krishnos we sent there." + +"Yes," responded Muro; "and they have sent for the others, as they do +not believe what they have told the chiefs." + +"I will question the ones you have brought in." + +The two captured were brought before John. They stood before him in +defiant attitude, and some of the Brabo warriors cringed at their +frowning mien. + +"Why were you going to the village?" he asked with a severe frown. + +At this question they scarcely deigned to move their heads, and were +silent. The question was repeated, but they refused to answer. This was +carrying out the very line of conduct which Muro had advised John would +be the case, and in concert they had mapped out a course of action. + +"Tell me, Muro, have any of your people the same fear of these Krishnos +as the others possess in the various tribes?" + +"It is the universal belief in the various tribes that to offend them +means death. The only ones who are supreme are the chiefs, who often +imprison them, but even the chiefs dare not kill them." + +"Will your people carry out our command if we do not order them killed?" + +"My people will do whatever I say, even though it be to kill them. They +saw how the other Krishnos quaked when you made the fire come out of +the stone." + +"Then, if they refuse to answer me, I will order them to be beaten. You +will understand." + +"That will be done with pleasure," he answered. + +It was obvious to all that the Krishnos considered themselves immune +from the threats of John, as they stood there and seemed to breathe +imprecations on the heads of their captors. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE SUBMISSION OF THE TUOLOS + + +The situation was a tense one to the entire party, and John moved +forward, placing himself directly in front of them. + +"Do you think the Great Spirit can prevent us from punishing you? If you +do not answer immediately I will call on him to lay stripes on you. Do +you answer?" + +He stepped back slowly, and then suddenly spoke out the warning signal +that he had arranged with Muro, and instantly six of the most powerful +Saboros sprang upon them and bound them together face to face. John +stood there with arms folded. He raised a hand, and two of the warriors +raised the supple and toughened twigs, and brought them down on their +bare backs. + +It was all done with such wonderful celerity and precision that it +astounded the circle of warriors beyond measure, and the effect was +doubly so to the two Krishnos. John had staged this to produce the +greatest effect. The Krishnos were bound with their heads side by side, +and a cloth put over their heads, so that they had no knowledge who +their tormentors were. + +They danced about, and in their shrieks called out imprecations on their +enemies, but soon, as the blows continued, begged for mercy, and Muro +signaled them to cease. + +The cloth was removed and John again addressed them. They again +persevered in their silence, and at a motion the cloth was again placed +over their heads. + +Before the second chastisement began they yielded and the cords were +released. + +"You see the Great Spirit did not come to your assistance. Why were you +going to the village?" + +"To tell the chiefs not to yield to you." + +"The Great Spirit has told me to tell you that the Tuolos must give up +their captives, and cease war. Will you tell the chief so?" + +"The Great Spirit did not tell you so," they defiantly answered. + +At a signal from John the cords were again brought into play, and the +cloth exhibited. At this sight they pleaded for mercy, and promised to +do as John requested. They were released and conducted to the outer line +of pickets, and quickly disappeared within the village. + +It was now nearly four in the morning, and the first streaks of light +began to show in the east. Muro knew the Tuolo character. They regarded +themselves to be the superiors of all the tribes, and hitherto had +treated the others with contempt, excepting the Illyas, whom they +respected only because they were the most powerful. + +"They are having a warm time discussing the situation," remarked John, +as he noted the surging inhabitants. That there was indecision became +apparent, and the condition of the Krishnos more precarious, as light +began to give them a more decided glimpse of the activities in the +village. + +Soon warriors were noticed rushing to and from the large circle within +which the Krishnos sat. Bows and spears were hurriedly grasped. + +"What does it mean?" asked John. + +"It is likely they know they are surrounded, and have decided to defend +themselves," answered Muro. + +A warrior of distinguished appearance emerged from the circle, and +advanced toward the position occupied by John. Muro beckoned to John, +and together they moved into the open. The warrior saw the two +approaching, and he halted. + +Turning to his band he spoke a word, and another no less distinguished +stepped from the rank and moved toward him. + +"The first one is the chief, and the other one he called to follow is +the next in rank. As there are two of us, so must there be two on his +side." + +John and Muro advanced without halting, and as they neared each other +the chief, in the most haughty manner, addressed Muro as follows: + +"Why do you come to make war on my people?" + +Muro, taking his cue from John's previous attitude, rose to his full +height and replied: "You have always been the aggressor against the +other people, and you have within the last moon killed and taken two +Brabos in captivity, and we demand their return." + +"That I will not do." + +"Then the White Chief will speak to you." + +John advanced and began the conversation. "The white people do not +desire war. You captured two of my people and I took them from you with +only four men. All the tribes but you and the Illyas have united to +compel you to submit, and you shall not again be free to murder and +injure other people. + +"If you want war, we are prepared to fight you. Your village is +surrounded, and we have the fire guns which will compel you to yield. If +you will surrender, we will see to it that you and your people shall not +be harmed, but if you resist you will be killed. You cannot escape." + +The chief was stunned, and could not answer. John saw the impression the +address had made, and proceeded: "What did the Krishnos tell you? Did +they not tell you to surrender? Did they not tell you that they lied +when they said the Great Spirit wanted you to kill us?" + +The chief was silent. Was he debating the matter in his mind? John +continued: "When this speaks," he said, pointing to his gun, "all of the +fire guns about your village will speak." + +"How shall we know you will keep your word?" + +Muro held up his hand, as he spoke: "Ask the Kurabus whether the White +Chief keeps his word." + +Before he could reply, John added: "The White Chief keeps his word. He +believes the people here will keep their word if they know the others +will do so. He has armed the tribes who have allied themselves with him, +because he believes in them, and we do not want to make you captives, or +offer sacrifices of your brave men." + +"The White Chief speaks wisely," said Muro. "He does not believe in +making sacrifices. The Great Spirit has told him that is wrong." + +Still the chief pondered, and, slowly raising his head, said: "I believe +the white man, and what he says. I will tell my people." + +He turned and moved toward the village, John and Muro remaining there, +as an indication that they expected an immediate answer. + +"He will yield," said Muro, "and according to custom, will first tell +his people what his decision is." + +Muro was right. Within a half hour the chief advanced at the head of his +warriors, the latter of whom had left their bows and spears at the +circle, and the two stood ready to receive them. + +As the two chiefs appeared the warriors lined up behind them. + +"I have brought my warriors here to show you that we will be friends." +And John advanced and took the hand of the chief. + +"In my country we become friends when we take each other's hands, and I +am glad to see that you have wisdom to accept us as your friends." + +At a signal from Muro, the warriors advanced from all sides, and +together they marched into the village, the different ones telling the +Tuolos the wonderful things the White Chief was doing, and how they were +bringing all the tribes together, and making them stop war. + +The first act of the Tuolo chief was to liberate the two Brabo warriors. +When the wagon was driven into the village, the people gathered around +the curious contrivance. Some of them remembered it when it was there +nearly a year before, but under quite different circumstances. + +The boys, Ralph and Tom, soon attracted the attention of the chief. He +went up to them, and simulating the act of John, held out his hand. The +boys understood it, and respectfully responded and saluted the chief, in +regular military fashion. + +Then, climax to the foregoing events, Blakely gave a word of command to +the fifty who were armed with the guns, and for the benefit of their new +allies, put them through a manual of arms. The precision with which this +was done, and the remarkable manner in which the subsequent evolutions +were performed, astonished the Tuolos. + +While this was going on there was little time to notice the condition of +the Krishnos. They had been bound; and were now lying in disgrace at the +place where the circle had been formed, trembling at their fate. + +Before preparations had been made for breakfast, the chief gave a +command, and a number of warriors rushed up to the poor fellows, and +began to drag them to the large hut. + +Muro motioned to John, and quietly said: "They will probably torture +them." + +John appeared before the chief and said: "The Great Spirit will be +offended if you injure the Krishnos." + +"What would you have me do with them?" + +"Give them to me." + +The chief ordered them to be brought forward, and spoke to them: "The +White Chief has asked me not to injure you, and at his command I have +given you to him." + +This announcement seemed to stun them, but Muro was quick to assure them +that the White Chief meant no harm. + +The boys took complete satisfaction in going over to the large hut, to +again witness the place where they had spent two weeks in terror, +expecting that each day would be their last. + +But we must return to the Professor and the colony. Two days after the +departure of John and his force, the second insulting message came from +the Illyas, in which the statement was made that they and the Tuolos had +united to drive the White Chief from the country and to destroy the +tribes who were allied against them. + +A messenger was sent after John, but this was not necessary, as the +Tuolos were in their power before the messenger came. + +The Professor had ordered the building of a number of small houses, each +containing two or three rooms, and these were plainly fitted up for +comfort. Some of the natives became quite expert at putting up these +structures when once directed. + +George and Jim were set to work, with a half dozen of the men, at +building chairs and tables for the houses, and the work of weaving the +cloth goods was not interrupted for a moment. As stated, the women began +to drift in, and the Professor welcomed them. When they arrived, many of +them with their children, the Professor assigned them and their husbands +to these cottages. + +This was an intense delight to them. Each cottage had a small patch of +ground surrounding it, and the first care was to advise them how to lay +off and plant flowers about the place, to make the surroundings +attractive. + +It must not be thought that the houses were gifts. It was not the +purpose to instill the idea that this work was one of charity. Instead +each head of a family was made to understand that he must pay for the +home, and this was done in as simple a manner as possible, so it would +be appreciated and understood. + +Individual effort was stimulated on the part of the different workers. +As fast as the members of a worker's family arrived, they were installed +in houses, and then began a new system of providing for their keep. +Hitherto, they had boarded at the expense of the common fund; but now +this was gradually changed, and they were informed that each family must +provide its own food, and that those who did so would receive a larger +number of coins. + +This resulted in each one trying to find some new direction in which +they could get the coins. It is curious how this new phase of living +brought out traits common to humanity everywhere. Some more eager than +others, and having less honesty than the common run of natives, sought +to get their sustenance by resorting to trickery and thievery. + +In their native state this was not considered a crime. It was +commendable, unless detected. But by constant talk, on the part of the +Professor, and by example, he instilled into the policemen, which he +had installed, the principles of honesty. He awarded those who were +vigilant, and the result was that they were most acute to detect the +rogues. + +The first thief was caught the day after John's party had gone. He was +immediately brought before the Professor. The arrest of a thief was such +a new proceeding that the workers could not be kept at work, and the +Professor suggested that they should all be present at the trial. + +The inquiry was conducted with decorum, Harry being appointed to +prosecute him, and George to defend the prisoner. George did it +vigorously, too, but it was a plain and palpable case, and he was found +guilty. This proceeding was another entirely new manner of treating an +offender, and the people marveled at the attempt to defend the thief. + +The Professor saw the cause of the wonderment, and said: "We do not +defend the wrong, but we believe that each man who is charged with a +crime should be permitted to defend himself. If he does not know how to +properly defend himself, then it is our duty to see that he is protected +in all his rights, for he is not a criminal until it is proven." + +"He has tried to explain why he took the goods, but you know what he has +said was not true, and he must be punished for it. He must work two +moons without getting any of the coins, and if he repeats the crime, he +must work until he restores the value of the goods taken, so that each +one will know that a thief cannot take things from another without +paying for it." + +The incident for a long time deterred anyone from repeating the offense. +It was an object lesson, because it instilled a respect for a law which +was fair to all. + +Suros, the chief of the Berees, was the most impressed by the scene, and +could not express himself too forcibly at the wonderful effect which the +principle would have on the tribes in their dealings with each other. He +was really an intelligent native, far ahead of the others in his +comprehension of the duties of one to the other. + +The fact that he was regarded with reverence by all but the Kurabus, and +was even respected by them, was a strong factor in determining the +Professor to set in motion a form of government which it was hoped would +forever terminate all bitterness of feeling between the tribes, and +which will be detailed hereafter. + +During the day on which the Tuolos submitted, the two chiefs, together +with John, Blakely and Muro, were frequently in consultation. + +"The Great White Chief, who rules all of us, wishes to see you, and you +must bring fifty of your warriors with you to his village," said John. +"He will show you how you can be made strong, and your people happy. He +will tell you what our purpose is, and what the Great Spirit asks you to +do. We will start in the morning." + +The chief, to the surprise of all, did not demur at this. That night +John called in Blakely, Muro, Ralph and Tom. + +"I want you to go with me to the cave on the hill to the east. There are +some things which belong to us. We shall take them, since they are of +no use to the people here, and we may be able to put some of the things +in such a condition that they will be of value to the people on the +island." + +The wagon was taken along, and the people wondered at the strange +proceedings. Many of them followed, but Muro warned them to remain +behind. It was evident to all, however, that they were going to the +Krishno cave, and its purport was a mystery to them. + +John's sense of direction did not deceive him. He soon found the +entrance on the village side, and, lighting the candles, immediately +entered the cavern. John led the way, as his experience in its hollows +enabled him to point out the direction to be taken. + +The interior, lighted up by the candles, was most weird and beautiful. +The stalactite hangings were not massive, but showed the most delicate +tracings, in the first chamber reached. This was the western wing of the +great interior cross which John had previously described. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +PLANS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE NATIVES + + +Directly beyond this chamber, and on a line with the entrance passage, +was an extension which led to the other side of the hill. The chamber +formed an immense cross, in its plan section, and the two lateral +extremities were the points of interest. + +The party first went to the left, and there found the habitation of the +Krishnos. Peculiar implements and instruments were discovered, and all +of these were taken, and placed together, Muro and the boys looking on +in wonder. + +Among them were found a number of crude crosses and numerous charms or +amulets, the kind that they vended, and which the natives gave their +souls and bodies to acquire. + +"The possession of these will be of great service to us, as the people +reverence them, and we must not expect to change their beliefs in a +fortnight." + +"You said there was a lot of treasure here," remarked Ralph. + +"That is in the other wing of the chamber. As we have everything from +this place that is serviceable, we will go to the south wing." + +The recessed part of the chamber at this place had the appearance of +being carved from the rock, and decorated with the universal calcium. +The floor was covered with stalagmites, rough and uneven, showing that +the place had not been trod, perhaps for centuries. + +"What are those curious things?" asked Tom, gazing at the square-shaped +objects, which were arranged in one corner. + +"By opening them we shall see." + +"Here is one, partly opened," exclaimed Ralph in great excitement. + +"Yes; that is the one I tried to get into," answered John. +"Notwithstanding it was a hazardous thing to do at the time, I took the +risk. The Krishnos were at that very time at the other wing which we +just left." + +The receptacle was brought out and examined. The wealth of gold and +silver was amazing. Blakely could hardly believe the testimony of his +eyes. + +"Your ship, the _Adventurer_, is floating around in pieces on the +Pacific, but I imagine there is enough here to compensate you for the +loss of the vessel," remarked John, as he noticed Blakely's wondering +look. + +"How can we ever get all this stuff on the wagon?" asked Tom. "The boxes +are all falling to pieces." + +"The Krishnos have plenty of copper vessels, as well as others, which +they have gathered up from the wrecks on the coast. You know the best of +everything goes to them, and the chiefs are not strong enough really to +prevent them on account of the superstitious fears they inculcate." + +True enough, the eastern wing had a hoard of vessels, some of them of +the greatest value, which were arranged about the chests of treasure, +and the work of filling the receptacles was industriously undertaken. +This occupied them for fully three hours, and the greater task of +carrying them to the wagon was begun. + +When they emerged from the cave at four in the morning they were tired +beyond all description, but they had a mass of treasure, that did not +pale in comparison with the amount taken out of the caverns near the +Cataract. + +In the morning the Tuolos were selected, and the chief invited to enter +the wagon. John went to the large hut, and released the Krishnos. They +were unbound, and directed to follow the marching column, surprised at +being free from the captive bonds. They could not understand such +treatment, and this was heightened when John ordered the aged Krishno, +who walked with difficulty, to take a place in the wagon. + +The natives saw the warriors and their chief depart, not as prisoners, +since all had their weapons, but conducted in state, if the appearance +of the chief in the vehicle was an indication of the proceeding. + +Two days thereafter the cavalcade approached the village, and the chief +strained his eyes, as he peered at the multitude about him, and saw a +village of a most remarkable character, where two moons before was a +virgin tract of land. + +The venerable appearance of the Professor attracted him. He was startled +at the sight of Suros, and then, glancing about, he recognized Oma of +the Brabos, Uraso of the Osagas, and lastly, Tastoa, chief of the +Kurabus, lately his ally. + +The Professor welcomed him with outstretched hand. "You are wondering at +the sight of your late enemies, and of your friends. We have nothing but +friends here. They can tell you that we welcome you as a friend, and +will explain why we do so. We will show you what the people are doing +for themselves, and how happily they live, and the White Chief brought +you here so that you might see these things for yourself." + +"We welcome you, Marmo, as one of our friends," said Suros. "I tried +many moons ago to tell you that the Great Spirit did not want us to kill +each other, but the wise men told you differently. We do not believe +them any more, but listen to the White Chief." + +"He has told us the most wonderful things, and taught us how the white +men live, and how different tribes live together in peace." + +After the welcoming functions and the explanations were concluded, he +was taken to the different works, and everything explained to him. He +saw the water wheel, and how it turned the sawmill and the grindstone +and lathes, and the mill for making the flour. + +The looms interested him the most of all. It is singular how the various +tools and machinery affected the different ones, and this was +particularly observed by the boys. + +"I have watched the several tribes," said Harry, "as they first looked +about them at the strange things, and it is curious how the different +things impress them. I have noticed that the Osagas are particularly +interested in machinery. The Saboros like anything connected with the +soil, and they would make good agriculturists." + +"Don't you remember when Uraso came to the Cataract he never took any +stock in the guns, but Stut couldn't keep his hands off them?" responded +Tom. + +"The old chief Marmo thought the loom was the finest thing in the whole +lot. He is over there now, and has been watching it for the last two +hours." + +For two days the chief wandered around, paying no attention to anything +but the machinery, and the products turned out. The coins were a +novelty, and a string was presented to him. He noticed the friendly +attitude of all the warriors to his men, and marveled at the change. + +He could not understand why the men would work for the coins, and then +give them up for something else. The Professor tried to explain this, +and it must be confessed that it was a hard thing to do. It seemed that +nothing but a practical application would make it plain. + +The Tuolo chief was a ready listener now, and was unusually quick to +grasp a situation, although he could not learn the ethics of the white +man. The Professor had him present at one of the trials for theft of a +petty nature, which occurred a few days after his arrival. + +He was surprised to find that any notice should be taken of such a +trivial affair. The Professor, commenting on it at the trial, which he +did particularly for the benefit of Marmo, said: "It is not the amount +of the theft, but the act itself, which we must condemn. If you could +have taken a larger amount you would have done so, and you must learn +that the property you took did not belong to you but the some one else, +and that is just as much a crime as though you took all the man +possessed." + +That was sufficient for his first lesson in justice. "But," he asked of +the Professor, "can all men be guilty of doing wrong?" + +"Can you do wrong?" + +"Yes." + +"But you are a Great Chief, and how can you do wrong in taking things +from your people?" + +"Because the people own the things, just as much as you own the things +which you have properly obtained." + +"Then if you do wrong, will you be punished?" + +"Yes; just the same as the people who do wrong. My punishment should be +greater, if I do wrong, because I should set them an example to do +right." + +"But how can I do wrong if I take anything from my people? I own +everything." + +"Who gave everything to you? By what right should you or I own +everything? Because we are chiefs does not give us the right to own +everything." + +"Then how can the chiefs ever own anything?"' + +"They should work for it like everyone else does." + +"Do you work like the others do?" + +"Yes; I oversee the work of others and try to make them happy, and see +that no one is idle and that the laws are obeyed. For that work I am +paid, just as the others are paid for the work they do. I do this work +because my people ask me to do so, and they pay me a certain number of +coins for the work, the same as the man is paid for the particular work +he does." + +This doctrine, so entirely new, could not be grasped at once, and he +continued with his questionings: "But the people may not want me as +their chief, and take some one else, and that would cause trouble, and +no one would know who was chief." + +"Then it becomes your duty to so conduct yourself that they will not +want some one else to be chief. If a man works for me and he does not +know or care how he does the work, or is careless, and I cannot depend +on him, I get somebody else in his place. Would you keep such a man?" + +"No; but I would have the power to send him away." + +"Then the wise chief must know that if he acts as a true father to his +people they will not try to get another chief." + +Blakely had been a man of affairs at home, and was a sharp, shrewd +business man. To him the Professor entrusted the arranging of the +affairs of the town, impressing on him the importance of directing the +natives into a wide and diversified character of enterprises. + +The business was one admirably suited to his temperament. He had long +ago spoken to the boys and John about the promotion of the island, by +the establishments of various industries, and particularly agricultural +pursuits, which would require workmen to cultivate coffee, cocoa, the +spices, and the numerous vegetable products which grew in a wild state +in great abundance everywhere. + +These various articles, if grown systematically, would mean an immense +source of wealth, and should afford employment for all the natives, and +thus mean their advancement. + +The hills were full of mineral. He knew this, and had the testimony of +the Professor as to the valuable character of the various ores. Sooner +or later communication could now be established with the outer world. +All were contemplating the preparation of a suitable vessel which would +enable them to return to the United States. + +One evening, while the conversation was on this absorbing topic, he +remarked: "I don't know how you gentlemen feel about this place, but as +for myself I feel that from a business point of view this is the ideal +spot. I am just as anxious as you are to see my home again, but the +possibilities are so immense here, that, as soon as possible, I shall +come back." + +"For my part," replied the Professor, "if a ship should appear in the +harbor to-morrow, I would not for a moment consider leaving these +people. The work of their redemption is not even started in such a way +as to permit me to safely leave them. The boys may well be pardoned and +commended for wanting to go home, but my work is here." + +"That expresses my sentiment exactly," said Harry. "I want to go home, +it is true, but what a wonderful experience we have had here, and when I +think of the remarkable progress we have made it astonishes me more than +I can tell you. If I do go home it will be to come back again, because I +want to be where the Professor is. I like this work, and the excitement +it affords." + +"You won't have any more savages to fight," responded the Professor, +"and it might not be so interesting for you." + +"Making guns is much more pleasant than using them against people." + +George's face was a study. He was the sentimental one of the lot. He was +by all odds the most emotional, and the greatest lover of home. But +withal that he reechoed the sentiments of Harry. "If I could only see +home again, I would be content, and when I came back it would be to know +that I could return whenever I wanted to." + +All the boys were enthusiastic about the trip home. Many plans were +projected, and talked over. + +"Won't it create a sensation," remarked Ralph, "when it is announced +that three of the _Investigator's_ lifeboats were wrecked on an island, +and that the survivors arrived after an absence of--" + +"Yes," broke in Tom. "How long?" + +"That will depend on several things," said John. "First, to bring the +Illyas to terms, and second, to build a boat big enough to take us +safely to the nearest harbor which is in communication with America. As +for myself, this life and the hopes for the future are too alluring for +me to even try to get away." + +With characteristic energy Blakely consulted Harry and the working force +in the shop. + +"Do you think we could turn out some plows?" he asked. + +Harry smiled. "This establishment is prepared to turn out anything it +has orders for." + +"Then put down my order for a half dozen plows, to be delivered as +quickly as possible." + +The new town was located within the territorial limits of the Osagas' +country, and it was now necessary to make immediate provision for some +sort of laws or regulations with respect to the land. The savage theory +was that the chief owned all the land, and this was a condition that +well might breed trouble. + +Osaga was the chief. He was the first to receive the full understanding +of the new doctrine. It was proposed that he should receive as full +compensation a certain stipulated sum, and in return make a transfer of +all his rights to the State. + +"But what is the State," he asked, "and who will he be?" + +"The State will mean all of you." + +"Then I will own a part of it just the same as everybody else?" + +"Yes; let me explain that still further. When your people begin to raise +coffee and cocoa, and all the other things which the people in the world +will come here for and buy of you, the lands all about you will become +very valuable, and many will come here to buy them. The money will go +to the State, which means you and everyone else here." + +"Will it be done the same with the Berees, and the Kurabus and the +Saboros?" + +"Yes; each will be a State of its own, and will be governed in the same +way, and a Saboro will come here and buy some land, and you will protect +him, and when one of the Osagas goes to the Berees he can buy land +there, and they must protect him and his wife and children." + +"Yes; I see what you mean. I am content. I will do this whether the +others do or not." + +"But I assure you," continued the Professor, "that the others will be +compelled to do as you do." + +"How can we compel them?" + +"No one will want to buy their land, and they will not become valuable +for that reason, like yours, because the people who come here will buy +only where they know there is a law and where they know they will be +protected." + +Uraso grasped the wonderful import of this statement, and became its +most enthusiastic advocate. He had many talks with Marmo and Muro, and +he presented the matter in such a way that most suitably appealed to the +savage mind. + +The all-absorbing topic now was the proposed expedition to the Illyas. +Marmo, the Tuolo chief, had sent a message to their chief, in which he +set forth the advantages which would accrue to them to quietly submit, +and also stated that he did so willingly, in the belief such a course +would be of the greatest and most lasting benefit. + +Marmo had received no response, and the outlook boded no good. +Preparations were begun, and Marmo insisted that his warriors should +form part of the force, and that he himself would accompany the +expedition. As the boys, by the aid of their helpers, had been at work +on the guns from the time the factory was set up, they had a hundred and +twenty guns completed. This was ample for any requirement. + +Two new wagons were also made, and several smaller ones, designed for +single steers, the latter being used by the Professor and the chiefs in +going to and fro. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE PECULIAR SAVAGE BELIEFS AND CUSTOMS + + +The chief Marmo had now an opportunity to learn another lesson he was +not prepared for. Many of the warriors objected to going on the +expedition. The work at the factory and in the various occupations so +fascinated them that they begged to be excused. + +At the request of the Professor many were excused from going, care +having been taken to consult the boys who had charge of the various +parts of the business as to the ones which could best be spared. + +Marmo mused over these things. He saw the great cordiality that existed +between his warriors and the other tribes. He was also gratified to see +some of his men making things which were novel to him, as they were +fascinating to the men. + +The Krishnos were all about and were the personal charges of the +Professor. He had them, daily in the laboratory, and all seemed to be +pleased and happy. Marmo wanted to know whether they desired to go home, +but all declined. There seemed to be a fascination about the place he +could not understand. + +One evening the Professor saw a Tuolo worker stealthily coming up the +pathway leading to the laboratory, and after looking about with a +curious air, pushed open the door, and in the most subservient manner +begged permission to speak. + +The Professor took him by the hand and led him to a chair. "What is it +you want, my man? Can I do anything for you!" + +The hearty manner and smiling face of the Professor emboldened him to +speak. + +"I have a wife and three children in the Tuolo village, and I want +permission to bring them here." + +"Don't you want to go back there?" + +"If I do then I will have no more work. I like the work. I can make many +things now, and I want my family here." + +This was an appeal which could not be neglected, and he responded in +this manner: "You do not need to ask me to bring your family here. You +have a right to do so." + +"But my chief will not let me do so." + +"Did you ask him?" + +"No." + +"Then I will send for him." + +"When Marmo appeared the Professor told him the desire of the man, and +when he had concluded the chief was puzzled for a moment, and, turning +to the warrior, said: + +"I cannot understand why my warriors do not care about going to war. +They like the machinery, and the way the little things are made, and to +learn how to make them. The White Chief says you have a right to bring +your family here. That is well; but you must not forget your people, and +when you learn these wonderful things you must come and teach the +people at the village how to do them." + +He was extremely gratified at this permission. A half hour afterwards +the Professor called Tom and told him of the incident, and suggested +that he should be provided with a quantity of food for the journey. But +he had already gone. That was certainly sufficient to show the intense +eagerness to bring back his people. + +George and Ralph were the ones who were always on the alert for new +things, and Jim made a good companion for them in this respect. The +latter was the first one to actively canvass the subject of a name. + +There had been too much to do even to think of this before, and if it +occurred to the Professor he had never mentioned it. Jim went over to +see the Professor as soon as the idea occurred to him. + +The Professor smiled when he saw Jim's eagerness. + +"Yes, the idea is a good one, but that is something which you boys will +have to decide. It has not occurred to John and Blakely, I know." + +"I thought it would be a good thing to call it Industria, or something +of that kind," responded Jim. + +"I like that name, but you settle it among yourselves." Jim was back +very quickly, and rushing in to the boys, cried out: + +"The Professor said it was up to us to get a name for it." + +"Name for what?" asked Harry. + +"For the town, of course." + +"Well, what shall it be?" asked Tom. + +"Call it America," shouted Will. + +"Oh, that's too big a name," roared Ralph, with a scornful touch in his +voice. "Just imagine how this would sound: 'William Rudel, Esq., +America, Wonder Island?' What would the postmaster think of such an +address?" + +It did look a little out of proportion, as the boys laughed at the +sally. + +"Let's call it Independence; everybody seems to be pretty independent +here," was Tom's suggestion. + +"I have the best name in the lot." + +"What is it?" + +"Industria." + +"There you are again with your Latin," answered Harry. "This is going to +a real American town. None of your Latin endings, or any other dead +language. This is a live town." + +"Here is John; let's get a suggestion from him." + +He heard the merry laughter, and as he approached wonderingly inquired +about the cause of the hilarity. George said: "We have been holding a +convention to find a name for the town. We have decided to leave it to +you." + +"Name of the town? Let me see. I suppose you want a stunning name? +Something that will make people sit up and take notice. Eh? Well, if it +turns out all right it doesn't need a name, and if it is a failure +everybody will be calling it names." + +The boys laughed at this first attempt that John had ever essayed to +treat a subject in a jesting way, but he continued: "If this convention +hasn't enough wit about it to select a name I don't think you ought to +get an outsider to make a suggestion. But seriously, Unity would be a +good name; and so Hustletown." + +"Unity is just the thing," suggested George. There was not a dissenting +voice. + +"Now that we have the name, I suppose we shall have to christen it to +make it hold," remarked George. + +"Considering the trials and tribulations we have gone through to put +this town on the map it doesn't need any christening. If we work as hard +to make it a success as we did to get it started we needn't be ashamed +of it," said Harry. + +"Probably, the same principle will apply in this case as the sentence +uttered by the Hindoo priests at the christening of an infant." + +"What is that?" + +"Thou hast come into the world with all around thee smiling; so live +that when thou departest thou mayest smile while all around thee weep." + +"That is a beautiful sentiment. Hurrah for Unity!" and George raised his +hat to start the shouting. + +As the expedition against the Illyas was about ready to start, the time +for the departure was set for the following day. Two of the wagons were +brought into requisition, and loaded with sufficient provisions to +prevent the necessity of foraging too much. + +George and Harry begged to be taken along, as they had put in some +strenuous times during the two months at Unity, and this was readily +granted. The other boys were to remain and take charge of the active +work. John had command of the expedition, and Blakely had now too much +work at the new town to enable him to take part. + +Over three hundred warriors were mustered for the expedition. One +hundred of the picked men had the muzzle-loading guns, and an ample +supply of ammunition was stored in the wagons, and each gun bearer had +twenty-five rounds. + +The Professor said, on the eve of their departure: "I have every +confidence in the ability of Mr. Varney to make it unnecessary to give +him any advice, but I must say a word to all the warriors. You are going +to the tribes, not for the purpose of revenge. We know they have +captives in their possession, and we have demanded their return. They +sent us an insulting message. + +"Notwithstanding this, we must consider that they have sent us this +reply out of ignorance of our true purpose. Each man must conduct +himself as the chiefs dictate. There must be no killing except in +self-defense." + +Muro and Uraso, as well as Ralsea, were to accompany them, but the other +chiefs were kept at home, this arrangement having been made because the +others really preferred to continue the work in the factory and field. + +It was a glorious day to begin the campaign. George and Harry were in +their element. + +"What a wonderful thing it is to look at these people now, and recall +what our situation was a year ago," said Harry, as they drove down the +road which had been made from the village to the east. + +"Yes; a year ago, we were having some troubles, as it was about that +time we got the first intelligence that these people were on the +island," answered George. + +"I had particular reference to the trip we made by sea, when we were +wrecked the second time." + +The entire column marched out past the Professor and the chiefs Oma, +Suros, Marmo and Tastoa. The six tribes had contributed to the +expedition, which they hoped would end all future wars, and put the +island in a condition of peace, and thus enable them to carry out the +great work planned by the Professor. + +Before evening of the second day the main Saboro village came in sight. +Muro was in a heaven of delight. Many of his warriors were in the +column, and some still remained at Unity. But the women and children +were still there, and they rushed out to meet the advancing column. + +The news of the uprising of the Illyas was confirmed. A large party of +them were less than a day's march to the east, and the appearance of the +fighting force was a welcome one. There was no reason to apprehend that +they had any knowledge of the surrender of the Tuolos. + +The night and part of the day spent at the Saboro village was a period +of feasting. Uraso met his sister, the wife of Muro, and the boys were +lionized by the chief's family, who took particular pleasure in +entertaining them. They had heard so much about the remarkable boys, +and their capacity to make the beautiful things. + +Harry and George brought with them a number of the mirrors, and those, +with other little trinkets, were presented to the women. The boys were +particularly impressed with Muro's eldest son, a boy of their same age, +and George won Muro's heart when he asked if he could not accompany +them. + +Speaking to Harry he said: "Wouldn't Lolo enjoy the work at the factory? +I hope he will let us take him with us when we go back." + +"I am going to ask Muro," replied Harry, and he sought him out at once. +"We want Lolo to go back with us to Unity." + +Muro was delighted at the proposal, and he answered: "Yes; Lolo shall go +back with us, because all of my family are going with us and we shall +live there." + +This news was a source of the greatest pleasure, you may be sure, and it +was most gratifying to Muro, because he admired the boys. + +"Lolo will like to work in the shop with you. He can now make the best +bows in the tribe, and he makes fine arrows." And Lolo exhibited some of +his handiwork, which, from the standpoint of the native weapons, was +really creditable. + +Returning now to Unity, we shall have to relate some very singular +thing's which should be mentioned, as it shows the peculiar beliefs and +practices of the natives. + +On the day the force left the village occurred the first death in Unity. +This was one of the warriors, who had been wounded during the last +fight with the Tuolos and Illyas, and he had lingered along until he +finally succumbed. He was one of the best men, and was mourned by the +Osagas, of which he was a member. + +[Illustration: _Fig. 13. Ready for the Happy Hunting Grounds._] + +Singularly, another of the same tribe died the following morning, who +was the exact opposite of the warrior. Within six hours of the death of +the latter his friends carried him away, and he was buried. The warrior, +however, was not buried, but, instead, his body was carried to an open +place, fully a half mile beyond the town, and placed on a hanging cot +suspended from two trees. + +The boys witnessed the ceremonies, and could not understand the meaning +of it. + +"Why do they bury one so soon after death, and keep the other for +several days, and then suspend his body in the air?" asked Tom. + +The Professor, who attended both ceremonies, responded: "This action on +their part has a great significance. In most savage countries there is +no more noble thing than to die on the battlefield. Usually those who +die in that way are not accorded a burial, generally, because, in case +such a warrior belongs to a defeated party, his friends do not have the +opportunity to inter the body. + +"Sir Samuel Baker, in his book, 'The Explorations on the White Nile,' +relates an incident where he came to a village which had two graveyards, +on opposite sides of the road. On one side were the scattered bones of +the dead, and on the other side mounds to indicate burial plots. + +"On questioning the chief, he said: 'Yes; our honored dead have their +bones exposed, as you see, but those who were of no use are put out of +sight underground.' + +"So the object seemed to be to keep them where the people could see +them?" + +"That appears to be the reason the chief gave to Baker. But there may be +another reason for this custom, and I shall get Suros' views on that +subject." + +"Isn't there some religious meaning connected with it," asked Ralph. + +"I do not think so. Here is Suros; let us question him." + +As Suros approached the Professor said: "I notice that one has been put +underground and the other not; why do they observe this difference?" + +"We cannot honor the dead by allowing them to go back to the earth." + +"Why will it do any good to honor the dead?" + +"If we did not honor them, no one would want to be great. No one would +like to be a great warrior." + +"Is that the only reward a man has, to be honored after he is dead?" + +"What other reward has a man?" + +"Do you not think man will live hereafter?" + +"When? After he dies?" + +"No; how can man live after he dies, and his body is given to the winds +or to the earth?" + +"The white man believes he will live again?" + +"Does the white man believe the yak will live again?" + +"No." + +"Well the yak is stronger than a man, and if the yak cannot live again, +then how can man, who is not so strong, expect to do so?" + +This was a bit of philosophy which sounded curiously to the boys, and +the Professor, noticing it, said: "Singularly, this is the same answer +which Sir Samuel Baker obtained from certain African tribes, when he +questioned them in like manner." + +But the Professor was interested in Suros' statement that they would not +permit the body of the honored dead to go back to the earth, and he +continued: + +"You said that you did not want the honored dead to go back to the +earth. When you give his body to the air, does it not go back to the +earth?" + +"No; the earth and the air are entirely different, The Great Spirit is +in the air; not in the earth." + +"Then you give him to the Great Spirit?" + +"Yes; the Great Spirit takes his body." + +"Don't you believe that man has a spirit also?" + +"No; because we have never seen it." + +"But you have never seen the Great Spirit, and yet you say there is +one." + +"We have seen the Great Spirit. He comes when it rains, and we can see +him and hear him. We can feel the wind that he blows, and we can see the +great light which he makes every day, and the smaller lights at his +villages every night." + +Two things were thus impressed on the boys--namely, that they considered +the air entirely distinct from the earth, and that the Great Spirit made +the thunder and lightning, and that the sun was the Spirit's light by +day, and the moon and stars the lights of his villages by night. + +Notwithstanding Suros' limited knowledge, it must be said that in his +further talk with the Professor he showed himself to be possessed of +qualities which placed him far above the common run of the natives. When +he was asked why honor was such a prize to them, he answered: + +"Our good men are happy to know that they are so placed that the Great +Spirit can take them. What greater happiness is there for him?" + +"Don't you believe that trying to make your people happy and contented +will please the Great Spirit?" + +"We do not know that. We do not know why the Great Spirit should want +the bodies of our great warriors and good men. We cannot understand +it." + +"The white man believes that if you do good to your fellow-man it will +please the Great Spirit." + +"That may be; but I do not see why. There is no reason why he should +care how I treat my people. That is not what he is up there for. What +good will it do him? How will it help him? I do not believe many of the +things I have been told by the wise men, and I have never sacrificed the +captives I have taken, although my father before me did. I try to make +my people happy, because when I see the Great Spirit giving us the day +and the bright light and the rain, so that the things about us may grow, +it seems to me that he is trying to be good to us, and I believe that is +what we should do to each other." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +EXPEDITION TO SUBDUE THE ILLYAS + + +The occupation of the little houses by the families of the natives gave +the boys the first close view of the people in their home lives. They +were exceedingly primitive. The leaf of the plantain tree was the +greatest boon to these people, and the women were engaged most of the +time in removing the beautiful fiber and in laboriously weaving cloth +from the strands. + +They were exceedingly deft in this, and it is singular how quickly they +grasped the idea of the loom, as a means to make a better article. The +loom used by them was a very crude affair, and an idea may be gained of +its form by the accompanying illustration, which shows the fork of a +tree branch (A), which serves to hold the ends of the warp threads (B). +To weave the goods, the woof thread (C) is threaded back and forth, and +as they had no needles for the purpose, a thorn was used. + +This thorn had no eye, but its large end was split, and the end of the +thread held in the cleft thus made. Every family had this primitive +loom, and the whole time, outside of their other household duties, was +given to the weaving process. + +The size of each woven piece was about twelve by fifteen inches, and the +different sections were afterwards sewn together. When they saw the +more modern looms at work it interested them intensely, and the +Professor, noticing their eagerness and natural talents in this +direction, concluded that this was a good field to encourage the +industry. + +[Illustration: _Fig. 14. Primitive Weaving Frame._] + +Most of the looms made goods thirty inches wide, and it was not long +before several of the women were instructed in the art of using the +looms. Like all of the low order of people, they were extremely fond of +colors, and that is one of the things which attracted them to the +fabrics which had been previously made and exhibited. At the end of the +week they were paid for their work, the same as the others who were +employed. The Professor now considered it time to make a change in the +system of providing supplies. Under the direction of Will, a store was +set up, which had on hand a supply of vegetables and game. As many of +the warriors were away, and the others were generally employed in the +workshop and fields, some systematic effort had to be made to gather +food supplies and hunt. + +By offering certain sums for such articles the Professor induced +individual effort in that direction. The provender thus provided was +placed on sale in the store, and by every art the heads of families were +encouraged to purchase those things and take them home for consumption +there. + +Gradually, the workers were made to understand that a certain sum would +be expected in return for their board, so that, in course of time, each +one became accustomed to know the values of certain things all of which +were measured by the coins now in circulation. + +The kitchen utensils were very limited indeed. They had no metal vessels +of any kind. Any article of that kind was worth a fortune, and it was +only the chiefs who had such things, and they were obtained from the +wrecks of vessels which had reached them from time to time. + +Under the direction of the Professor, considerable time was given to the +bringing in of ores, particularly iron, and the process of recovering +the metals from the ores was undertaken by a considerable part of the +force. + +Charcoal and coke were turned out, as a preliminary to the smelting of +the ores, and as fast as the metal was in shape, cooking vessels of +various sizes were manufactured, and these were placed on sale at the +store. It was thus possible for each family to acquire several articles +of this kind, which heretofore had been considered the most valuable of +all treasures. + +Such a thing as a chair or a table was unknown on the island. The beds +were made of the native grasses, strewn on the floor. It will be +understood, therefore, that the manner of furnishing the houses occupied +by the whites was a marvel; and when the families of the various workers +moved into their new possessions, it naturally dawned on them that +chairs and tables, as well as properly arranged beds, should accompany +such luxury. + +The Professor was at the homes of these people daily, suggesting ideas +for comfort and convenience. One of the things which interested him most +was the subject of cleanliness. People living in the manner to which +they were accustomed, made the sanitary part of the domestic arrangement +an exceedingly difficult problem. + +The necessity of cleanliness was impressed on them very forcibly when, +later on, he was called to administer to many of the children, who were +attacked by diseases, brought on directly by carelessness in thoroughly +removing all dirt and decaying matter. + +To a certain degree the natives understood this, and the subject has +been referred to previously, where they had the habit of anointing their +bodies and those of the infants with various oils, which were obnoxious +to insects and germs. + +That knowledge made the task of using disinfectants much easier to +instill in their minds. It was impressed on them that properly caring +for the home was a daily task, and must not be neglected. + +The women used combs made from the fins of fish. These were constructed +in the following manner: The entire fin was removed, and the bony +structure at the base of the teeth was bound between two strips of +bamboo, and tied around by fibers, as shown. The whole was then placed +in a vessel containing boiling water. The result was that when taken out +the meat of the fish, being glue-like, would act as a cement to hold the +teeth in place. + +[Illustration: _Fig. 15. Comb from fin of Fish._] + +Such combs are anything but sanitary, as might be surmised, and the +inhabitants were subject to pests arising from articles so made. Their +only salvation was, in fact, the daily habit of using oil, and, from a +sanitary point of view, there was nothing objectionable to this +excepting the odor which naturally followed, due to the oil becoming +rancid. The boys then began to make combs from a specie of bamboo, and +from the ironwood tree. + +During one of the fishing trips the boys brought home an immense turtle. +The Professor's eyes sparkled when he saw it. + +Will related their experience in capturing it. "Is it good to eat?" he +asked. + +"Yes; all turtles and tortoises are good to eat." + +"What is the difference between the two?" + +"The turtle is a sea animal, and the tortoise a land and water animal. +You must have caught this near the sea, as it is a specie of turtle +called the Testudo." + +"What a beautiful mottled top it has!" + +"That is why it interested me so much," replied the Professor. "You now +have something that is far better than the wood for making combs and +other like articles." + +"Isn't that fine! Will it be difficult to make them up from this?" + +"It is the simplest thing in the world. The outer shell, which is all +that is used, is put into boiling water, and this softens it so that it +can be worked easily." + +"It seems singular that it is called a 'tortoise' shell if the land +animals are called tortoises." + +"When the shell first became a matter of commerce, it was supposed that +the turtle and the tortoise were the same, and the name tortoise being +much older than turtle, the former appellation remained in designating +the shell." + +The day and night of festivities of John and the warriors, at the Saboro +village, was ended, and the column took up its march for the country of +the Illyas. + +Several of the scouts, sent out two days before, returned during the +night, and reported that there was a strong force directly ahead and +that the lower villages were also sending up a body of men, but that the +latter were still two days away. + +Calling Muro, John asked: "What is the nature of the country to the +extreme south, or next to the sea?" + +"I have never been there, but it is elevated, and is a fine country. One +of my men has been there, and he may be able to tell you something about +it. I will call him." + +The warrior alluded to was tall, handsome and fully tattooed, as was the +custom with the most distinguished of the Saboros. + +"Can you tell me," asked John, "what the nature of the country is south +of the mountains, and near the sea?" + +"It is the country of the wise men of the Illyas. They will not allow +others to go near there." + +"Do you know why?" + +"It is said there are wonderful things there." + +"Do you know whether there are any big holes in the ground there?" + +"Yes; and in some of them they keep their captives." + +"Do they sacrifice their captives in those places?" + +"No; they take them from those places to the villages." + +"At what times do they make the sacrifices?" + +"When the night is dark." + +John understood from this that the sacrifices were during the period +when there was no moon. + +"Why do you suppose that they wait for that time?" asked George. + +"Because the Great Spirit out of anger has hidden the light and to +appease him the sacrifices are offered at that period. This is one of +the tales that the wise men give out as the excuse for the ceremony." + +John had another motive for these questions, as will appear later on. +The main Illyas village was far to the north of the caves mentioned. +Besides the main one were three others, all ranging along the western +base of the mountain. + +"How long will it take us," asked John, "to reach the main village?" + +"Osaga knows about that, as he was near there, and was detained for +several weeks before he escaped." + +"I had forgotten about that." He was, however, at this time, one of the +scouts, and when he returned later in the evening, said: + +"We can reach there in two days, unless we should be met by the Illyas +on the way. I do not think they will retreat without making a show of +fight, as they will have all their warriors in the field, when they know +we are marching against them." + +At the rate they were going, the main force of the enemy would be +reached during the day, unless they should retreat. The opinion of both +Uraso and Muro was that they would not permit too close approach to the +village before offering fight. + +The entire route from Unity, and through the Saboro country, was one +continual stretch of immense undulating plains, covered at intervals +with magnificent forests, and it was evident that the soil was rich and +capable of yielding any products in profusion. + +The weather, too, was magnificent. Indeed, it was at a time of the year +when there were few storms, the moisture being sufficient to support +the growing vegetation and keeping it a beautiful green. What a paradise +this part of the island would be made, if it could be maintained in +peace! + +The march was a continued and steady one, the warriors appearing happy +and acted as though they were going to a festival, instead of to war. +Early in the afternoon the advance scouts reported the first sight of +the savages, but only detached bands, which indicated, however, that +they were not far away. + +Several hours before they had entered the Illyas' country. There was no +strict dividing line between the different countries, but it appeared to +be tacitly agreed that certain water courses, or other natural lines, +marked the territorial limits of each. + +These divisions were so little understood, in fact, by either, that they +caused frequent disputes. A party from one tribe in hunting would, +incautiously, venture too far, and if the other party happened to be +near, and in sufficient force, would attack on the plea that the +territory had been invaded. + +This was a matter which the present campaign would settle, because the +Professor saw the necessity of accurately prescribing the limits held by +each tribe. + +It was five o'clock in the evening before reports came in that the main +body of the enemy was in sight. John went forward with Uraso and Muro, +fully a mile beyond the main force, and on the way selected a good +camping spot, leaving several there to order the main body to encamp +when they arrived. + +With the scouts now returning, and which were picked up, a fairly +adequate idea was obtained as to the number, which was variously +estimated at two hundred and fifty, which did not take into +consideration the warriors from the other villages, because they now had +knowledge of at least one party from the south, on the way to reinforce +the Illyas. + +John gave strict orders that no one should fire a gun during the night, +and that a double line of guards should be maintained. The course +pursued during the campaign was as follows: Thirty pickets were selected +for the watch, five from each tribe. These formed fifteen posts, two +warriors being at each post, and it was arranged that the two should be +of different tribes, and as all were in supporting distance of each +other, in case of an alarm, one of the two watchers would thus be in a +position to quickly alarm the camp. + +An advance set of pickets was also thrown out, under the personal +command of Muro, to watch the enemies' camp. Fortunately, there was no +alarm during the night. Early in the morning the forces were put in line +for approaching the Illyas' camp. + +When the first advance came within sight of their camp, the utmost +consternation and confusion resulted, showing how carefully John had +concealed their movements. + +Muro's scouts had the fortune to capture one of the Illyas, who was +evidently one of the hunters, and the captive was brought in at the time +when some of his own men had advanced uncautiously too far. + +He was brought before John at once, who addressed him as follows: + +"Why have your people started out on the warpath against us?" + +"Because you killed our warriors in the last battle." + +It is singular how the natives in all their interviews of like nature, +always found it convenient to refer to the last and most immediate act +as a particular reason for their enmity. In this respect they were +veritable children. + +They might have been, as they were in this case, the original +aggressors, but if an attempt is made to repay them the original cause +of the strife is forgotten, and the last act only is considered. John +knew it would be of no use to argue the matter with him. + +"You may go back to your chief and tell him that we have come to get the +captives he has. You must tell him that we have no desire to injure him +or his people. Tell him that all the tribes are now united, and that if +he does not give up the white people and all others, we will take him +and his villages, and give his lands to the other tribes. + +"You must further tell him that we must have his answer at once, and if +he does not answer by the time the sun is above us (noon), we will +consider him our enemy, and shall attack him." + +The captive received full instructions from Uraso, who warned him that +if he failed to convey this information in the manner given it would go +hard with him. + +John went forward with the prisoner, and he was released within sight of +the Illyas' camp. The enemy was at that time in great commotion, as they +were, from all indications, preparing for defense. + +They occupied a naturally strong position. The camp was on the western +side of a hill and at the bottom was a small stream. + +Directly behind the camp was a heavy forest, which, in case of retreat, +would afford them shelter. There was a bend in the river, where the camp +was located, so that the position was impregnable as against the native +weapons. + +The Illyas were not counting on meeting a foe armed with guns like the +allies possessed. They did not conceive how their enemies could possibly +make a sufficient number of guns to count against their numbers and +their skill. + +In the talks which John had with Uraso he learned the history of this +peculiar tribe. Originally the tribe had practical sway over the entire +island. They were bitter and vindictive, and this intense feeling was +that which acted against them in the end. + +The result was that in times past a constant tribal warfare was in +evidence among the heads of the leading families. The Kurabus and the +Tuolos were originally Illyas, or offshoots from this great tribe. This +was also shown by the characteristics of those three tribes, and by +their dress as well as language. + +John had noticed that the Berees were the whitest people on the island, +and that the Osagas and Saboros were much lighter in color than the +other tribes. Uraso confirmed Suros' statement to the Professor, that +there was white blood in the veins of many of the people of these three +tribes, brought about by castaways who had been adopted by the people in +earlier times. + +The Illyas kept themselves aloof from the others, excepting the Tuolos +and Kurabus, and these three tribes were the only ones who still adhered +to the custom of offering up captives as sacrifices. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE PERILOUS TRIP OF THE WAGON + + +Affairs at Unity were moving along at marvelous speed. Suros, chief of +the Berees, announced to the Professor that he did not intend to return +to his country, but would send for his family and the families of all +his chiefs. This was, indeed, a pleasant surprise for the Professor. + +Oma, of the Brabos, was the next to fall into line, and we have already +stated that such was Muro's intention. The bringing together of all +these interests, to form one common family, was really the intention of +the Professor, and it was now being carried out without any suggestion +on his part. + +Each day brought to the village accessions from some of the tribes, +mainly the women and children of those who were employed, or who were +with John's forces. + +Four days after John's departure the Professor saw one of the Tuolos +approaching, carrying an infant, with his wife and two other children. +The Professor went out to meet them, calling Will, as he saw they were +in a famished condition. It was the native referred to previously, who +had begged permission to bring his family to Unity. + +Several of the little cottages had been completed, and the surprise of +the Tuolo and his wife was complete when he led them to one of these +homes, and installed them in it. + +Food was brought, and the native cooks ordered to prepare it for them at +once. The act so astonished the Tuolo chief, Marmo, that he could not +express himself. For a day he sat pondering. The Professor noticed the +act, but he said nothing. The next morning Marmo called, and said: + +"I can see why the White Chief told me it was well to act so the people +would not want another chief." + +"But I am not acting in this way so that the people will want to keep me +as their chief." + +This reply puzzled him. + +"But why do you treat my people in this way?" + +"Because he is a man just like myself. I have no right to treat him in +any other way." + +"But he is only a ravoo (common) man." + +"Why is he only a common man?" + +"Because he is not a warrior, nor were his people warriors before him." + +"But he is a man, the same as you and I are. Because he is not a +warrior, or was not born of some one who was a warrior, or if he does +not belong to the family of a chief, makes no difference to the white +man. His children may become chiefs, or great men, and if we show them +that they may become like we are, it will make all of them better, and +it will not injure us." + +This philosophy was too deep for the chieftain. He could not comprehend +it, nor could he find words to express his opinions of the new light +which it gave him. + +"Is that why you teach the people to make so many things?" + +"No; that is for an entirely different reason. We teach people to make +these things so they may be able to help themselves and make their wives +and children happy. We try to teach them that it is wrong to be idle. To +let them know that there is a better way to live than by fighting each +other or injuring their neighbors." + +"But why do you act so kindly to one of my people when we tried to kill +you?" + +"That makes no difference to us now. You acted that way because you did +not know any better. You would not try to injure us now, would you? Do +you think that man would be my enemy? When he tells his friends what I +have done, will they be my enemy?" + +"These things are all so new to me. There will be no more Tuolos, or +Osagas, or Berees." + +"Yes; there will be the same tribes always. In the white man's country +there are still the same tribes in the different countries. They love to +think of their own country and their own people, even though they may +live with the other tribes, and when a man goes from one tribe to live +with another, the people protect him just the same as though he was one +of them." + +The Professor was not yet through with his lesson, and suggested that +Marmo should accompany him. They wandered through the town, and called +at the cottage of the newly arrived Tuolo. The children were playing +about, and the wife was supremely happy, but awed when the Professor and +chief appeared. + +The Professor took up the little one and affectionately caressed it, to +the astonishment of the mother. She knew the Chief Marmo would not +condescend to such an act; but to think that the Great White Chief +should do such a thing was something beyond her comprehension. + +Marmo looked on in amazement. It was another thing which was unlike any +teaching or belief that he had ever known, that it made a powerful +impression on him. + +This is but one incident in the history of the village which tended to +instill in the minds of the people, the cardinal duty of man to man. It +was a practical example, and the knowledge of it went from family to +family. It became one of the topics of conversation among the men. Equal +and exact justice was meted out to each, irrespective of what their +tribal relations might be. + +In the absence of Harry and George, Ralph and Jim had charge of the +factory, and were busy each day turning out plows and other agricultural +implements. At the suggestion of the Professor, eight more of the steers +had been trained to work, and he gathered together a dozen of the best +men, and gave instructions to secure as many of the yaks as could be +found. + +He offered certain sums for this purpose. It was known that, to the +west, and north of the great forest, were large herds running wild. The +proposal stirred them to activity. The party prepared for the hunt, and +in this were assisted by Blakely, who gave them many timely hints as to +the best method to lasso them. + +The first expedition started the day after John left, and within a week +the first installment of ten animals arrived, and they had returned for +more. These were tamed and broken to work. The scenes about the town +were assuming the proportions of a vast beehive of the most earnest and +enthusiastic workers that it was possible to imagine. + +Fields were now laid out, and certain money offers made for the +production of seeds of various kinds. Coffee-tree shoots, nutmeg plants, +cocoa cuttings, and many other like species of vegetation were +apportioned to the newly plowed fields. + +Every kind of vegetable known to the island, and which now grew in a +wild, but scattered, state, was sought for, and distributed in small +patches over the plowed area. Fruit trees were set out, and these +latter, with a view to make them the home sites which were to be the +next lines to be developed. + +It will thus be seen that there was enough to tax the energies of +Blakely and the Professor, to keep the laborers employed, and prevent +any drones from getting into the hive. + +When the captive Illyas which John had sent with the ultimatum did not +return, nor did the enemy show any symptoms of complying when the sun +neared midday, it was concluded that the only plan to pursue would be a +quick and a sharp assault. + +The moment the sun reached its height, John ordered Muro to take one +hundred of the men by a detour to the right, and Uraso with a like +number to the left. + +"Cross the stream and close up behind them in the woods. I will make the +attack, and you remain at a distance. If they should attempt to retreat +I will follow them up rapidly. We must, if possible, force their +surrender." + +The two forces were off promptly, and within a half hour John judged +that they must be in position. The Illyas were still on the hill in +force, apparently not suspecting that two flanking columns were in their +rear. + +As John gave the order to march forward there was the crack of a half +dozen guns to their right, in the position occupied by Muro's force. +This startled the Illyas, as it did John. The latter interpreted this at +once. It was, undoubtedly, a reinforcing band which Muro had +intercepted. + +This was indeed the case. The knowledge of this force coming to their +assistance, was probably the reason why the Illyas were so defiant. +Muro, at the head of fifty of his men, charged the band, to prevent them +from uniting, but at the same time it brought down on him a large +portion of the Illyas. Uraso, suspecting the truth, and knowing that the +excited movement of the Illyas indicated a rush to assist, broke through +the woods and thus struck them on their left flank, which so surprised +them that they broke in confusion and, fled before John and the main +body could come up. + +The entire Illyas force was now in confusion. John was in possession of +their camp, and Uraso's warriors were hurrying through the dense woods, +so that between the three forces, a number were captured in the effort +to escape to the east and south. + +Within an hour, not an Illyas was in sight, except those captured, but +the main force, unfortunately, escaped. The wagons were brought up, and +now came the problem, how to get them through the forest, without making +too much of a detour. + +Uraso suggested that Stut should take a sufficient number of warriors to +afford protection, and descend the stream to a point below where the +country was clearer, and then trail to the east and meet the main column +five miles west of the main village. + +The pursuers, under the leadership of John, followed the trails of the +disorganized Illyas, in the hope that they would be able to be close on +their heels when they emerged from the forest four miles beyond. + +They found this forest maze the most remarkable of any wooded area on +the island. The trees were not only immense, but the undergrowth +exceedingly dense. It is not often the case that the two growths are +found together, and it would have been impossible to get the wagons +through the mass. + +This forest was in reality the great barrier, which kept the Illyas in +such a protected position against the inroads of the other tribes, even +though they should have combined, and they counted on this bulwark to +protect them in the present case. + +It took the pursuing force over three hours to push its way through, and +they had the satisfaction of seeing the main body of the Illyas beyond, +and brought together in a compact organization. As soon as the opening +was reached, they halted for the noon meal, and instructions were given +to follow up as hurriedly as possible. + +"We should move our force to the south, and attack them from that side," +said John, "for the reason that their only hope of reinforcements is +from that quarter." + +The villages were lying along the base of the mountain range, the +general altitude of the great plain being fully two hundred feet higher +than the other level portions of the island. The mountains to the east, +while not high as mountains go, were by far the greatest of any on the +island, and John was anxious to know their character, for reasons +heretofore explained. + +In two hours more they would reach the vicinity of the main village, and +the great struggle for the mastery would begin. In the distance could be +seen the main portion of the town, and it was far more imposing than any +other in the island. There was more or less a mystery about the place. + +Uraso said: "The place we are now going to is the oldest village in the +country. Many, many years ago it was a great village, and had big +houses. They were built by some people that no one knows, but they were +not built to live in." + +"Do you know what they are like?" asked John. + +"Nobody can tell, because they do not keep captives there, and only take +them to that place for the sacrifices." + +"How do you know that the place has the wonderful buildings you speak +of?" + +"This was learned from the only captive who ever escaped from them at +the place. I was kept at the village to the north, and it was from that +place I escaped." + +As the village was neared the sight of the buildings astonished John. +While not massive, they were of a type entirely distinct from the native +huts. It was built on an elevated plateau and amidst most magnificent +trees, the most prominent of which were the great redwoods. + +Some little indications of ground cultivation were found, as they passed +the deserted huts on their way. Small patches of yam and cassava were +the principal vegetables noticed. + +It was nearly four o'clock before they crossed a stream of water, +flowing to the south, and beyond which a good glimpse of the village +could be seen. John surveyed the scene and was astonished at the +character of the spot, since it had evidently been chosen by design, and +for some particular reason. + +Its location at an altitude which commanded a view to the north and +south, and also afforded a view to the west, betokened some reason not +compatible with the savage idea of a town. All villages thus far found +were close to streams, and were located apparently by chance, but here +was a town which was more like a civilized place, since it was so +located that it afforded the finest opportunity for drainage. + +But another surprise was in store for John. "What are those peculiarly +formed hills which run to the right and left?" he asked. + +Muro had noticed them, but was unable to answer. + +"I have heard," said Uraso, "that they have earth-houses to protect the +town, but I do not know how they are made." + +This information was sufficient to inform John that the town was +actually provided with a chain of defensive works, and this greatly +added to his astonishment. + +"We are certainly getting at the heart of this mystery," he said, +musingly, as Muro came up. The latter informed him that they had +captured two Illyas who were making their way to the village from the +south, and within ten minutes they were brought before him. + +John questioned them, but they refused to impart any information. The +direction from which they had come occasioned some uneasiness because +the wagons were en route from that quarter, and they might be runners to +the main village for the purpose of informing the chief of the fact, or, +they might be from one of the villages announcing reinforcements. + +As night approached, and no word was had from the force with the wagon, +John directed Muro to take twenty-five of the best men, and go directly +south in search of the convoy. + +George and Harry accompanied the teams, and when they left the main +column the forest was skirted in their trip southwardly. It was known +that the forest was less dense in that direction, and after traveling +thus for nearly four hours, the men delegated to beat the forest to the +east, announced that they might safely turn to the east, which meant two +hours more of struggling through a country which, without the warriors +to aid them, would have been impossible. + +Most of the men were ahead of the team with their bolos, cutting down +and dragging away the trees and bushes, and thus forming a trail which +would allow the wagons to pass. It was past six in the evening when the +river was reached. + +In order to gain as much time as possible, Stut and the boys concluded +to push across, and move northwardly along the eastern bank, as it was +evident the eastern shore afforded the best route. + +Before the plan could be put into execution a body of Illyas appeared in +force before them. They hastily drew back, and after consulting, +concluded to proceed north along the western bank. + +They had not proceeded a quarter of a mile before they ran into an +ambush of Illyas, and two men were struck by arrows. Stut gave the order +to fire, and the bush was cleared. Immediately a force appeared in their +rear, but Stut advised an advance, as such a course would bring them +closer to relief. + +Another mile was traversed, but the first lesson was heeded, and the +enemy did not come close enough to enable the gunmen to get an +opportunity to shoot. But now an unforeseen obstacle presented itself. +They had been marching along the more or less elevated bank of the +stream, and directly in their path was a stream flowing into the main +one, with steep and rocky sides, so precipitous that it would be +impossible for the wagons to cross them, heavily laden as they were. + +The Illyas appeared in force behind them, and apparently none were to +the front, thus indicating that they did not believe the wagons could +cross, and in this they were right. It was growing dark. Harry suggested +that they make camp and arrange for protection during the night. + +This was done, the two wagons being placed thirty feet apart, and the +fort sections were used to connect the rear ends of the wagons, so that +a U-shaped fort was thus provided, the open end of the fort being toward +the river, which was the side they had no fear of, so far as the savages +were concerned. + +While these preparations were going on no attempt was made to attack +them. "They are either waiting for morning, or for reinforcements," was +Stut's comment. + +"Do you think it would be possible to get a messenger through to John?" +asked George. + +"Yes; but it would be better to send two." + +"We can easily spare them," responded Harry, "and you had better select +them at once." + +Two intelligent warriors, one a Saboro, well known to Stut, and an +Osaga, were delegated to run the risk, and they started to the north +along the river. + +The night was intensely dark, but notwithstanding this Muro pushed +forward to the south, and the utmost speed, under those conditions, was +not more than a mile or mile and a half an hour. + +It was known that reinforcements were on the way from the south. They +might meet such a force, and the utmost caution was necessary. It was +fortunate that the two messengers from Stut heard Muro's warriors, and +for the purpose of determining who they were, approached closely, and +made themselves known. + +This intelligence was sufficient for Muro to act. The scouts guided them +back, and as it was beginning to grow light the cracks of several guns +were sufficient to indicate the direction of the wagons, and the fact +that the attack had begun. + +Muro was a tactician. The scouts stated the situation, with the +impassible ravine to the north, and the attackers to the south of their +position. His force was on the eastern side of the river, and moving +back a sufficient distance to prevent knowledge of his presence from +reaching the Illyas, went to the south, and crossed the river in their +rear. + +The attack of the savages was in force against the wagon, and the +spirited cracks of the guns showed Muro that he must make haste if he +would have a part in it. + +Harry and George were seasoned fighters, but in this case they were +entirely in the dark as to the numbers which opposed them. This lack of +knowledge was the only thing which gave them any concern. They knew that +sooner or later John would rescue them in force. The problem was to +resist and gain time. + +The Illyas had heretofore proven themselves wonderful fighters and +remarkably tenacious. This attack was a more determined one than they +had ever witnessed. There was no cessation in their forward advance, and +they were most skillful in seeking cover. + +The boys looked at each other, but neither spoke his fears, if he had +any; to say the least, it was the most businesslike of anything which +they had witnessed. + +Suddenly, they heard the noise of a volley behind the Illyas, and the +latter made a concerted rush for the underbrush to the west, as Muro, +with his men, sprang forward through the clearing; and the boys, with +Stut, sprang from the wagon and started the cheering, followed by the +warriors. + +Muro rushed up and embraced Stut and the boys. A hurried breakfast was +prepared, and the fort sections replaced. There was no time to lose. +They must get back to John and be prepared to take part in the capture +of the great village of the Illyas. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE REMARKABLE DISCOVERY AT BLAKELY'S MOUNTAIN HOME + + +It was the custom of the Professor to take the boys each week for an +outing in some direction from Unity. The most attractive part was toward +the great forest, west of the large river. Several boats had been made, +which were used principally for fishing, and one of these was usually +taken. They would then sail down the little branch stream, on which the +town was located, and cross the large river. + +During the entire time they were at the village Blakely had not gone +across the river, although he frequently indicated a desire to do so, +particularly to look up the location of the home on the hill at the +forest's edge, where he found seclusion from the savages for nearly nine +months. + +The Professor and the boys insisted on his accompanying them on this +occasion, and having given instructions to the men, they manned the +large boat and were soon on the western shore of the river. + +The large quantity of driftwood, which was in evidence here, as +elsewhere, attracted the attention of Jim, as he turned to the +Professor. + +"I have often wondered why it is that there is so much driftwood on the +western shore of this stream, and hardly any on the eastern shore." + +Blakely, his attention having been drawn to it, remarked that he had +found this to be the case in a number of streams, not only on the +island, but elsewhere. + +"That is a singular thing," replied the Professor. "It is accounted for +by the rotation of the earth, which is from west to east. The rotation +of the earth in that direction also accounts for the prevailing trade +winds which are from the east to the west." + +"In what way should the rotation of the earth cause the drift to move +westwardly?" + +"There are two forces which act on a free object on the surface of the +earth, namely, centrifugal and centripetal. The first named is that +action which tends to throw an object outwardly, like dirt flying out +from a rapidly moving wheel; and the latter action is that which draws +inwardly. Thus the spokes might be likened to centripetal force. The +attraction of gravitation in the earth is the centripetal force, and its +rotation produces the centrifugal force. When an object, like a plumb +bob, or an article floating on the water is free to move, it is found to +lag behind the movement of the earth surface, this retarding movement +being sufficient to cause it to creep to the west, with the result you +have noticed." + +The hill pointed out by Blakely was fully three miles west of the river. +The four boys, Ralph, Tom, Jim and Will, with Blakely and the Professor, +all armed with guns, made a party strong enough to enable them to +successfully withstand the attack of any animal, and it was proposed to +make a trip through a portion of the forest, so as to get some idea of +its character. + +To carry out this plan, their course was directed to the west, and +within an hour and a half were well in the thick of the wood. The first +thing that attracted the attention of all were the magnificent trees, +among them a species of pitch pine, together with immense redwood trees, +and numerous oak species abounded. + +Before they had penetrated a mile the first animals were seen. They had +never been hunted, as the natives kept away from the forest fastnesses, +and it was singular to see the familiarity of the animals. An immense +panther, or tree leopard, fascinated the boys, and they maneuvered to +get close enough for a shot. He was very wary, however, and Blakely and +the Professor kept in the background while the boys stalked him from +tree to tree, and finally Ralph had him in range and fired. + +He crashed down but alighted on his feet, and without waiting for any +explanations bounded over to the spot where Ralph and Will were crouched +behind a fallen tree. Will saw the movement and called to Jim and Tom, +and the latter, taking careful aim, fired, without, apparently, checking +the animal. + +With a powerful spring he landed on the tree, not five feet from the +boys, and Jim shot the moment he landed, the shot taking effect in the +left eye, and he dropped his head and lay still, hanging over the fallen +tree. + +This was exciting, while it lasted, and gave them something to talk +about for the rest of the day. Blakely dragged the animal down, and +Ralph and Will, trembling as they were, had their knives out when +Blakely commenced to skin the panther. It was a fine trophy, made doubly +valuable, as it had been their first attempt to secure big game. + +[Illustration: FIG. 16. THE MARMOSET] + +The boys regretted that Angel had not accompanied them, as they saw +numerous orang-outan; and here for the first time they came across whole +tribes of monkeys, particularly the marmoset, an interesting little +creature. The most striking ones were the proboscis monkey, the face +being not unlike that of an old man with an extremely long nose, with +whiskers around the neck. + +Blakely and the Professor made many notes of the trees, and discussed +the uses to which they might be put, and the boys had their eyes open +for the wonderful display of animal life on all sides. + +It was fully two o'clock before their steps were turned toward the +north, so that the hill could be reached, and when they emerged from the +forest, Blakely pointed out the spot and the best way to reach it. The +boys went forward with a rush, and mounted the hill, but while they +searched in every direction could not locate the rocky recess occupied +by Blakely. + +[Illustration: FIG. 17. PROBOSCIS MONKEY] + +The latter came up smiling. "I told the Professor you would have some +trouble in finding it. Look directly above you." + +About twenty feet from where they stood was a projecting rock, and to +the left of it another, extending out at right angles. + +"But how are we going to reach it?" asked Ralph. + +"Go around farther to the right, and you will find a vine. I used that +as a ladder." + +Around to the right the boys scampered, each trying to get there first. +There was no vine in sight. Blakely was coming up, as the boys turned +back, disappointed. + +"Not there?" he inquired. "It ran up this tree. What is this? Some one +has cut it off and dragged it up to the shelf above; do you see it +there?" and Blakely pointed to the vine stump, hidden by the grass and +weeds. + +The boys saw the plain evidence of the cuts. + +"This is decidedly interesting," exclaimed Blakely, as he turned to the +Professor. "This was done since I was here." + +The only way to reach the ledge was to climb the tree and try to drag +the vine from the ledge, and Ralph volunteered to do this. + +It was not much of a task, and when the vine had been drawn down he +moved out on the limb and easily stepped on the ledge of the nearest +rock, and then drew over the vine so the boys could readily reach the +main ledge. + +Blakely was the last to gain the top, and he led the way around the +first projecting rock. The view from this point was a charming one. + +"Look to the east," cried Ralph; "see Unity beyond; isn't this fine?" + +The boys now understood why this was a desirable place for Blakely. It +appeared to be absolutely safe from either animals or man. + +"How did you ever happen to find this place?" asked Tom. + +"Simply by accident--the fact is, I stumbled on it. I mean that +literally. You see there is only one point higher than this. That is +directly above this ledge. I went up the hill from the forest side, and +came out to the point, and, missing my footing, fell down to this ledge, +and discovered that the only way I could get out was by the vine +ladder." + +"What is that?" exclaimed Will, springing back, and pointing to an +object in front. + +Blakely started forward like a shot, and moved around the main point +from which Will came. The boys followed. Directly ahead, and on the +ledge in front of the recess were two skeletons. The boys were shocked +at the sight, and the Professor stopped and intently examined them. + +"Some one made this his home after I left it, that is sure. Here are +things I never saw." + +"Was this your gun?" asked Jim, as he picked up a rusty weapon. + +"Yes," replied Blakely, in great excitement. "But how did it get here? I +had it with me when I was captured the first time." + +He looked at the Professor in amazement, and then began a minute search +of the articles scattered about, and lying in the little coves within +the main recess. Here were found a sextant, several knives, some coins, +a bunch of keys, a package of letters, written in German, a revolver, +but no ammunition, various articles of clothing, all in the last stages +of decay and eaten with holes by insects. + +But the condition of the skeletons caused the greatest speculation. They +were lying near together, and there was no indication of a struggle +between them. One was lying with the head resting on a mass of molding +leaves, and this was drawn aside and examined. + +[Illustration: _Fig. 18. The Mysterious Message._] + +Here was the first real clue. A bit of paper, evidently a page from a +scrap book, which showed faint traces of writing. Parts were entirely +eaten away, and after a time the following words were deciphered: + + "Escaped during the night miles wes + tains lyas have Rogers right + faithful + (Signed) roman" + +The German letters contained no information, excepting the name "Johan," +to which they were addressed, and were signed, "Matilda," all dated +during the year 1911. + +"One of these men was a white or Caucasian, and the other was, +undoubtedly, an aborigine, as the skull formation clearly indicates. I +am satisfied that this one was a native," remarked the Professor, after +he had made an extended examination. + +"This letter may be an interesting one to decipher," said Blakely, as he +went over the contents again and again. "It seems to me that the part of +the word 'lyas' has reference to the 'Illyas,' and 'tains' is part of +the word 'mountains.' Probably, it would read, if properly +reconstructed, 'west of the mountains.'" + +"Yes, and the space between 'night' and 'miles' refers to the number of +miles," added Ralph. + +"It is remarkable that we should find evidences, of the work of the +Illyas at the extreme western part of the island, when they are living +near the eastern border," remarked the Professor. + +"I take it," answered Blakely, "that this letter was transmitted to the +man here, and was written by some one, and conveyed, in all probability, +by this native." + +"That is a reasonable supposition. The word 'faithful' may have +reference to him," responded the Professor, after some reflection. + +"Well, we can do no more than give them a decent burial," said Blakely. + +"It will be a difficult task to do that, as we have no tools, and it +would be necessary to carry the bones a distance in order to inter them. +If the boys will gather up a quantity of stones we can make a covering +for them against the wall, within one of the coves." + +This suggestion was carried out, and the bones deposited beneath a +mound, and after gathering up the various articles they descended the +vine ladder and made a hurried trip to the river. + +Unity was reached as it was growing dark to learn that two messengers +from John had reached them during their absence, detailing the sighting +of the Illyas' village, which was estimated to be five miles west of the +mountains. + +It was singular how this information seemed to supply the missing word +in the mysterious message found with the skeleton on the hill. The +Professor at once made a copy of the letter, and forwarded it by +messenger to John. In the letter he detailed the information of the +finding of the message, and he had hopes that they might be able to find +some traces of the people mentioned in the letter. + +While awaiting the return of Muro, John made a complete examination of +the Illyas' village, encircling it to get its full position, and thus +enable him to devise the best mode to attack, if it should be found +necessary to do so. + +He was astounded to note the character of the buildings. They had been +the work of white men, it was evident. + +Muro, with the boys, and the wagons came in sight before ten o'clock, to +the intense relief of John. He suspected the cause of the delay. + +"We had a lively brush with them, for a while," said Harry, "but we had +no fear at any time." + +"Harry is right about that, but I want to tell you we have a different +class of fighters to deal with than anything we have experienced so +far," added George. "Why our fire didn't seem to frighten them a bit, +and they adopted the regular Indian plan of getting behind trees and +brush." + +"What kind of a town is that!" asked Harry, as he took the first glimpse +of the place through the trees. + +"Something different in that line, too, as well as in the fighting," +answered John, as he smiled at the question. + +"How big a town is it?" asked George. + +"I judge, from its size, that there must be fully a thousand natives +there, but they are keeping pretty close. Do you see the line of +breastworks all around the place!" + +The boys were astonished at what they saw. No wonder the other tribes +hesitated to attack them. + +The two warriors captured by Muro were brought before John, after he had +made a survey of the place, and by the aid of Uraso one of them was +instructed to carry information as to their intention to the Illyas. + +This was to the effect that in the event no reply was received before +noon no other effort would be made to open communications. It was +distinctly impressed on the warrior that the Illyas must give up all the +captives, and that an agreement must be entered into by them not to +leave their own boundaries in the future, and John also offered +protection and a safe return of any messenger who might be sent back +with the answer. + +The captive was released, and, bounding forward, was soon within the +line of earthworks which surrounded the village. The message gave a full +two hours for them to decide. There was not a sign of an Illyas until +near the time limit, when the same one which conveyed their message was +noticed approaching the line of the allies. + +He came directly to John, and conveyed this information: + +"The chiefs do not intend to do as the White Chief says. They are +entitled to the captives, and intend to keep them. If the village is +attacked the white chiefs and the tribes will be destroyed. We do not +fear him and his fire weapons." + +John motioned to the warrior to depart. For a moment he looked at John +in amazement. Judging the actions of the white man by the ethics of the +savage, such a message would have meant his death. He glanced around +stealthily. + +Uraso saw why he hesitated, and remarked to him: "You are free to go. No +one will injure you, because the White Chief has given his word to +protect you. He is not like the Illyas. He does not lie." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE SURPRISE AND CAPTURE OF THE ILLYAS' STRONGHOLD + + +John smiled, as he saw with what satisfaction Uraso gave him this +parting shot. Still he hesitated. + +Uraso went up to him, and he started back. "You need not fear me because +we will keep our word. Say to your chiefs that Uraso tells them they are +fools. The Illyas cannot succeed. They will be crushed and their +villages taken. Your village is surrounded, and you cannot get aid from +your other villages. Go and tell them that we shall not again ask them +to treat with us." + +This address assured him and he first marched along carefully, and soon +made his way with celerity to the village. The Illyas were, +unquestionably, as much surprised as the messenger at the treatment he +had received. It was so unlike all former experiences. + +During John's investigations he had discovered that the approach to the +village on the east side offered the best chance for a rush, as the +character of the ground was better suited to go up close to the line of +works, and from that point a better view was obtained of the interior of +the village. + +A movement during the daytime would disclose his motives, and he +therefore advised Uraso and Muro of his plans, and suggested that as +they would be able to mass the troops better during the night, the +attack should be delayed until early morning. + +"During the day we will make a great show of putting up a line of works +to deceive them into the idea that we intend to attack from this side. +During the early morning we will take three-fourths of the force and +steal around to the east, and attack them with a rush." + +"But suppose they rush out in this direction?" asked Muro. + +"We must keep a sufficient force here to hold them in check, and, if +necessary, to rush in from this quarter; and I would like to have you +hold the ones left for that purpose." + +Muro was delighted at the position assigned him, and thought he saw the +slightest bit of feeling on the part of Uraso; but this was soon quelled +when John took Uraso aside and said: "I want you with me, as you know +how to handle and direct the men." + +"I have no right to feel offended because you have given Muro this post. +He is the best man." + +"He is no better than you, but you are better than he for the position +required when the charge is made." + +This was, really, true. John knew the capacities of each. Muro was a +better tactician, but Uraso had a much better hold on the affections of +the warriors, and he was a fearless and intrepid fighter. + +The boys could not help admiring the fine situation of the village, and +the imposing appearance of the town. + +"See that building facing this way? It has pillars different from the +building to the left. Why do you suppose they made them unlike?" was +George's query, as they sat in the wagon with John during the afternoon +waiting for night to come. + +"I suppose they wanted to put in the different kinds of architecture, +simply as a freak, or for some other purpose that I have not yet settled +in my mind. If I am not mistaken there are at least three different +orders of architecture represented in the buildings. On the other side +of the town you can see another building, somewhat smaller than the one +to the left, which has still different columns." + +"I imagine the one fronting us is the main building. What order does +that belong to?" + +"That is a Doric front. It had its origin in the log hut, which was +called Dorus." + +"How many kinds of architecture are there?" + +"There are five distinct orders, as they are called." + +"What are those besides the Doric?" + +"The Ionic, the Corinthian, the Tuscan and the Composite." + +"What is that building to the left?" + +"That is distinctly Ionic." + +"I don't see much difference from the Doric," remarked Harry. + +"The distinction is very marked. The Ionic is proportioned to the +dimensions of a man, and has the delicacy of the human figure." + +"Yes; I can see that now. Has the proportion anything to do with the +order?" + +"The Tuscan is distinguished by the fact that the column is usually made +seven times the diameter of the lower part of the shaft in height." + +"But I notice that the ones shown in the two buildings don't appear to +be very much different in proportions." + +"No, for the reason that the distinctive features between the Doric, +Ionic and Corinthian pertain to the capitals. Notice how exceedingly +simple the Doric is. I am sorry there are not other examples present, +but I shall make some sketches to show the differences which are +marked." + +"I have heard more about the Corinthian than any other kind." + +"That order is the most beautiful of all, and for that reason is so +frequently referred to by writers. It is designed to represent the +delicacy of a young girl. The capital is the most ornamental of all the +orders, and it is also larger and much more showy." + +"But you have not yet described the Composite." + +"The Composite or Roman, is the Ionic grafted on the Corinthian. From +this you will see that not only the general form, but also the +proportion and the ornamentation, go to make up the various orders. To +illustrate: The Ionic has, as one feature, two scroll-like ornaments, +called volutes, and it has more moldings and is much more slender than +the Doric. To make the Composite there is borrowed the quarter round +molding (A) from the Tuscan; the leaves (B) from the Corinthian, and the +volutes (C) from the Ionic." + +[Illustration: _Doric. Ionic. Corinthian. Tuscan._ + _Fig. 19. Orders of Architecture._] + +During the night all preparations were made for a quick transfer of the +main force to the east. Works were thrown up very ostentatiously during +the afternoon, in their position on the west of the village, and it was +obvious to the trained eye of John, who was constantly observing the +movement in the village, that they were bringing the warriors to the +side facing these preparations. + +John, together with Muro and Uraso, crept up close to the line of +breastworks, during the night, and satisfied themselves the Illyas were +deceived as to the point of attack. + +Shortly before four in the morning the warriors marched out, making a +wide detour to the right, and within an hour were close to the east +line, and carefully concealed. The plan was for the men under Muro to +commence the attack, as soon as it was light enough to see plainly, and +the firing of four guns was to be the order for the rush on the part of +the main force. + +All awaited the signal with impatience. Soon the firing was heard, and +instantaneously, as though expecting it, the Illyas were seen rushing +through the village to the western line. + +John gave the word. To approach close to the breastworks without firing +a gun, and not to discharge a single piece until they were well within +the fortified line. + +The entire force moved forward at the shots. The line of entrenchments +was reached, and John, with Uraso by his side, was the first to leap +over. They halted fifty feet beyond the ridge, to allow the warriors to +come in and form the line, those having the guns in front. + +With a shout, the allies bounded forward, withholding their fire until +the command should be given. The Illyas up to this time were principally +arranged along the western wall, discharging their arrows at the force +under Muro. + +The appearance of the allies within the walls was such a terrible +surprise that all semblance of order was lost in their ranks. They +began to scatter. Uraso shouted out in stentorian tones: + +"Throw down your arms, or we will fire. Surrender and you will not be +killed." + +John and the front line were now alongside of the second building, the +one described by him as having the columns of the Ionic order, which had +interested the boys so much. + +Notwithstanding the excitement of the moment, Harry could not help +looking at the building with its tawdry and crumbling columns, and in +doing so espied a half dozen peculiarly garbed Illyas rushing out and +attempting to escape to the north along the narrow street. + +Calling a dozen warriors, he, with George, made a rush after the +escaping fugitives, and before the limit of the village was reached they +were surrounded and carried back. + +The Illyas warriors were now in a panic. There seemed to be no one to +order a surrender or a retreat. John ordered Uraso to have his men +spread out to prevent escape in either direction, and as he turned to +execute the order, Harry and George returned with the prisoners. + +At the sight of the captives Uraso shouted the order to his men, and +quickly turning to John, who was slightly in the advance, cried out: +"Here are the chief and his principal advisers." + +John turned to look and noticed that they were surrounded by the men in +charge of Harry and George. + +"Good work," he said. "Demand that he tell his men to surrender." And +Uraso repeated the message. + +The chief saw the situation, but refused to give the order. + +"Then we shall have to kill them, and unless you surrender we shall +attack at once." + +He had hardly finished the words when Muro, seeing the condition of +affairs, left their fortress, and rushing forward scaled the low +entrenchments, directing a volley into the now thoroughly disorganized +and excited warriors. The entire body of Illyas had seen the capture of +their chiefs. + +The appearance of the chiefs at the head of the column commanded by John +made his position safe from attack. Whether the chief refused to comply +with Uraso's demand from stubbornness, or because he was paralyzed at +the sudden changes from his fancied security, was not apparent at the +time. + +The warriors now advanced with guns ready for a volley, and the chief +saw that resistance was useless. He held up his hand as a signal. John +rushed forward toward the oncoming warriors led by Muro, and the latter, +seeing the chief in the hands of Uraso, ordered his men to halt. + +Meanwhile the forces under Uraso had spread out and were approaching the +halting warriors, who, one by one, threw down their bows, and, as they +did so, were marched to the open central part of the village and +surrounded by the men led by Muro on one side and Uraso on the other. +John rushed back to the cordon surrounding the chiefs. + +Up to this time not the sign of a woman or a child had been seen. But +when order was finally restored and the defenseless warriors were herded +together as compactly as possible, the huts surrounding the main +buildings were opened, as by magic, and the women poured forth wailing +and shrieking. + +It was bedlam let loose. They pictured all the terrors of captivity. +They knew what it meant. They passed around the cordon beating their +breasts, and shrieking like demoniacs. John, motioning to Muro and +Uraso, stepped aside, and ordered the chiefs to follow. + +"This is the building they came out of," said George quietly to John. + +"Then it will be a good place to hold the conference. Uraso, instruct +your men not to allow anyone to leave his place within the circle, and +then attend the conference with us." + +The guards followed John as he entered the building. The boys were eager +to see the interior. Once within they saw a dozen women and twice that +number of children huddled together in one of the rooms. The entrance +from the main door in front led directly into a hall, and at the rear +end of the hall was a large room the entire width of the building. + +Several smaller rooms were on each side of the hall. It was, to all +appearance, arranged like an American or European dwelling, the entire +interior being finished in wood, but in a terribly dilapidated +condition. + +The surprise was still greater when they found in the interior of the +great room a number of articles of furniture, such as chairs, tables, +settees, and articles which, in their younger days, might have been +rugs. Parts of bedsteads were littered around, broken articles of +furniture were scattered here and there, and everywhere the place was +lavish with dirt. + +The boys had seen many native places where filth had accumulated, but +the atmosphere seemed to fairly reek. It appeared so to the boys, who +had lived so much in the open, and who had such vivid imaginations that +the wrecked condition of the interior suggested a worse atmosphere than +there really was. + +It was not close or confined, that was certain; for the places which +once, evidently, had windows, did not contain even the suggestion of +glass. It was one mass of broken, misplaced, jumbled up belongings, that +would require the rebus manager of a magazine to assemble in order. + +When Uraso returned, and the chiefs were placed before them, the boys +had an opportunity to study the famous chief of the Illyas. They took +occasion to compare him with the others, for the boys now knew all of +them. + +He was a man, probably sixty years of age, with the most curious +headdress, which was worked to imitate, somewhat, the crown, to which +his position entitled him. He wore a brightly colored mantle, if it +could be called such, for it was simply thrown over one shoulder, and +its pendant ends were bound to the waist by a wide girdle. + +He wore short trousers, or pantalets, and Harry could hardly keep from +laughing, as George suggested that he was ultra-English in the way his +trousers were rolled up. He had the face of a man of authority. His +every action and look betokened one who knew his authority, and the +first question, together with the imperious manner of uttering it, +indicated that he was a king, and he knew it. + +He looked at Uraso and Muro, both chiefs, and equal to him in rank. He +did it with such an imperious air as plainly indicated that he +considered them his inferiors. Uraso and Muro stood there, with arms +folded, dignified, and returned his gaze with a dignity that won the +admiration of the boys. + +"I wonder how Uraso and Muro feel now, when they have that old devil at +their mercy?" George whispered to Harry. + +When the circle had been arranged the chief, Oroto, addressed John in +this terse manner: + +"What do you want?" + +The question came like a shot. It was the first word he had said. +Neither of the others had asked for information, nor had they deigned to +notice him, as they were marching to the council chamber. This neglect +on the part of Muro and Uraso may have nettled him. The attitude of the +chiefs plainly irritated him. + +It is well known that people of this kind are very sensitive to slights, +or what they consider so. It is just as likely that the two chiefs +purposely neglected him in that manner to make the humiliation the more +complete. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE RESCUE OF FIVE CAPTIVES + + +The question for the moment nettled John. Here was a prisoner, powerless +in his hands, imperiously demanding of his captors what they wanted. It +may not have occurred to him that such a question was out of place. + +John drew himself up, and with that piercing glance which he could give, +leaned forward, and slowly, but with terrible emphasis, answered: +"Nothing." + +It was now the chief's turn to show a look of surprise. He looked at +John, and his eyes wandered to Uraso and Muro. Neither indicated the +slightest curiosity at the answer. Not another word was said as John +kept his eye on the chief. + +Then seeing that he had a different kind of creature to deal with than +any he had heretofore met, addressed John in an entirely different tone +of voice: + +"Why have you captured me and my warriors, and why do you intend to +destroy my village and take my women and children?" + +"Because that is what you have been doing all your life. We do not ask +you to give us anything. We have taken everything you have and shall not +ask you for permission in anything we do. We have no desire to injure +you or your people, and whether we shall do so will depend on your +action. If you will give us certain information it may make it easier +for you, but if you do not tell us it will go hard with you." + +"I am ready to listen." + +"Did you receive the messenger I sent you three days ago?" + +"Yes." + +"What did he tell you?" + +"That you intended to kill me and my people." + +"Did he not tell you that we did not want war, but peace, but that you +must give up the captives you had?" + +"No." + +"Send out for that warrior," John ordered, as he glanced at Oroto. + +Muro accompanied one of the sub-chiefs, and in a few moments returned +with him. He came in with face hanging down. + +He was placed before John. "Why did you lie to the chief?" + +The savage was mute. He cast an appealing glance at his chief, but the +latter did not notice him. + +Addressing Uraso, John said: "Take this man out and beat him. He must be +punished for lying." + +George called in several of the warriors, who were instructed to carry +out the decree. In the meantime Uraso called John aside, and stated that +the poor fellow had undoubtedly told the truth, but the chief had lied. + +"I suspected that," answered John. "I do not want the man beaten, so +that you may go and stop the execution of it, but do not let the chief +know that the order was not carried out." + +"Did you get a second message from me yesterday through one of your own +warriors?" + +"Yes." + +"What did he tell you?" + +"He said that you had declared war against me and my people and would +kill all of us and take our women and children into captivity." + +"Did he not tell you that we came to make terms of friendship, and that +all we wanted was the captives which you wrongfully held?" + +"No." + +"Bring in that warrior." + +Uraso went out with one of the sub-chiefs, and when he appeared +addressed him sharply: + +"Why did you lie to your chief, and not tell him what I told you? Answer +me." + +The chief merely glanced at the wretch, and the latter bowed his head. +The question was repeated, and he was told that he would be protected +against the fury of his chief if he would tell the truth. As he was +about to reply the chief merely glanced at him, and his lips were +sealed. + +"Take him out and beat him as severely as you have beaten the other. +These people must be taught to learn that they should not lie." + +Uraso understood John's look, and acted accordingly. He was taken out, +but was not beaten. + +Turning to the chief, and acting on the information imparted by Uraso, +he startled Oroto by the following question: + +"Why did you lie to me and allow your warriors to be beaten?" + +The question stunned him for a moment. John did not permit him time to +frame an excuse. + +"You lied to me when you stated that they had told you the things you +said, and I know it. You are deserving of the same punishment as those +who were wrongfully beaten. Take him out and see that he is punished as +he deserves." + +This judgment against the august one was like a death pall on the ears +of the sub-chiefs. The chief trembled; his footsteps, theretofore so +supple, were trembling, and he held out his hands for support. + +The enormity of this punishment to a chief by whipping is the most +disgraceful thing that can happen. The person of a chief must not be +defiled by a rod, which is intended only for children and for offenses +committed by the unruly members of a tribe. + +The procession filed out, and John hurriedly called Uraso and Muro to +his side, explaining in a whisper that they should intercede to prevent +the punishment. + +The excitement of the surrounded warriors was intense, as the word was +circulated that their great chief had judgment pronounced against him, +and was to be publicly whipped. + +As they were proceeding across the open space, Uraso and Muro, in well +simulated tones, begged that John should forego the punishment, but he +refused to comply until they had reached the place selected. + +John advanced to him and said: "Your friends, Muro and Saboro, have +begged me not to inflict the punishment for lying; I have decided not to +do so at this time, as I am guided by their judgment, and I know they +are wise. Instead, you and your chiefs must come with me and see the +Great White Chief, and he may order that you shall not be punished." + +This statement that he was not the Great White Chief was another piece +of news that he could not understand. + +"And now, I want to know where you have the captives?" + +He hesitated. He looked at Muro and Uraso in a different manner this +time. Uraso quietly spoke to him: "You cannot escape the vigilance of +the white man. The wonderful fire guns can kill all of your people. You +do not know what you are doing in trying to resist him. If you do not +tell him he will find them, and then I cannot plead for you." + +The chief, turning to one of the sub-chiefs, said: "Sama will take you +to them." + +The boys jumped as they learned the import of these words. They looked +at John. The latter turned to the chief and said: + +"How far are they from this place?" + +The distance was indicated by signs, which Uraso interpreted to mean two +hours. + +"Bring in the wagons at once, and unload one of them; then take the +other, with twenty-five men well armed, and carry Sama with you. The +poor fellows are not, probably, in a condition to walk." Then, again +turning to the chief, he asked: "How many prisoners have you?" + +He held up his hand with fingers outstretched, indicating five. There +was no delay in preparing the wagon, and Jack and Jill, the two old +trustworthies, were hustled along, to show the path of freedom to some +of the boys' former companions and associates. + +John's last injunction was: "Be sure and take plenty of food along." The +order was unnecessary. The boys had thought of this, and the wagon, held +precious little but articles of comfort for the unfortunates. + +Sama directed the wagon to the north, and Muro's son Lolo accompanied +them on the journey. + +"Do you know," said Harry, "we are going straight toward the Cataract?" + +"I had quite forgotten that," answered George. "How I would like to go +back again to the dear old place!" + +"I have just been thinking, what a wonderful life we have had since we +landed here. We had nothing when we came, and now we have everything!" + +"Yes," answered George; and he stopped, while his eyes took on a blurry +feeling, and the lashes began to blink at an alarming rate. "All but +home!" + +Harry looked at George. There was an inflection, which he caught. + +"Of course; I mean that, too. But we haven't lost them. When this +business here is settled we are to go to work on the big vessel. When I +think of that it eases my mind." + +"That is the great comfort to me, too. It makes me happy when I think of +the joy we are bringing to the people here. I really love every foot of +this island. It has been a wonderful experience to us." + +"And," responded Harry, "to think that we have aided in restoring so +many to freedom; John and Blakely, and the four boys, and--I wonder who +the ones are that we are going after now?" + +"That is what I have been thinking about all along. But did you ever see +such bricks as Uraso and Muro?" + +Lolo had learned many things in the short ten days that he had been with +them. The boys had attained a remarkable knowledge of the language, and +Lolo was a constant instructor for them. He was so simple and unaffected +in his ways that they grew to love him. + +Within two hours the location of the village was sighted. It was +distinctly noticed among the trees, perched on a hillside, and the +excitement of the boys was intense. Stut was in charge of the warriors. + +Before the village was reached several warriors belonging to the Illyas +appeared, but fell back when they saw what was approaching. Stut +directed Sama to inform them that they had come at the command of Oroto. + +This information did not satisfy them, but the wagon did not stop. As it +moved up the incline, the warriors lined up, fully twenty of them, +wondering what the strange visit meant. There was no act of hostility +apparent, still they could not understand why there were no Illyas +present except Sama. + +"Take us direct to the captives," commanded Stut. + +Sama knew where they were. A typical native hut, but much larger than +the others, stood behind the main homes of the village. To that the +wagon was directed. + +The warriors on Stut's command lined up behind the wagon, and the boys, +accompanied by Lolo, rushed for the door. It was but the work of a +moment to wrench the bars away, and without waiting for any ceremony +George and Harry were inside. + +The scene that met their eyes was appalling. The five captives were in a +pitiful state. Two of the three boys were lying on filthy hay, and one +man, also badly emaciated, was on the other side, lying down. + +The boy who was still on his feet rushed to Harry and threw his arms +about him. "Is that you, Harry? Thank God! And George, too. Where did +you come from?" + +"Who is this?" came like a moan from one of the boys. George stooped +down. "Harry, here is Robert--Robert Lamson; and who are you?" And he +crawled on his knees over to the other, who feebly turned his eyes. + +Lamson turned to Harry, who was now on his knees. "You know Min, don't +you?" Min was the nickname of one of the boys, because of his +diminutive size. + +"Poor Min!" said Harry, as he put his arm around him. "We will get you +out of this at once." + +"But we are so hungry," cried Robert, as the tears streamed down his +face. + +The boys were all crying now. The tears streaked their faces. Lolo was +very much affected, but he was a jewel in this emergency. He called to +Stut, and together they carried out Robert, and Harry, with his strong +arms, lifted Min as though he was a feather. + +They were carried to the wagon, and tenderly laid on the clean, sweet +hay. Poor Min had fainted with the excitement, and Robert was not much +better. But who were the men? + +When Harry returned to the hut he found the warriors around one of the +men, talking excitedly. He was a Saboro, and Stut recognized him as one +of his people, who, it was believed, had been sacrificed long before. +The other was a white man, and he was lying in a sort of stupor, +apparently not recognizing his visitors. + +Harry spoke to him, and at the strange voice he turned his head, and +with an effort raised himself. "Who is this? What do you want? Is that +you, Rogers?" and he fell back exhausted. + +The still active boy, Roy Whitten, came up, and said: "He was here when +we were brought to the place. His name is Gustave Wright. He has a +wonderful story to tell." + +"What is the matter with him? Was he wounded?" + +"Yes; but he is over that now. The trouble is that he is starved, like +the rest of us. Can't we have something to eat?" + +"George is getting it ready for you. You must eat sparingly at first. +George will attend to that, never mind." + +The Saboro was in better physical condition than the others of the +party. There was no time for talk. The captives were fed sparingly. "Oh, +how good this tastes!" said Robert. "We had given up all hope, after +they brought us here. We tried so hard to get away and go to the +northeast side of the island, where some white people are living." + +Harry dragged Robert out of the hut, and called to George. "Here, +George, did you hear what he said? How did you know there were white +people in the northeast part of the island?" + +"We saw it on a litter, which the Illyas brought into their other +village." + +Harry looked at George. "That was the litter we made at the Cataract, +and on which we carried out the Kurabu. I wonder how the Illyas got hold +of it?" + +"Where is the Cataract?" asked Robert. + +"That is at the northeast part of the island. That was our home." + +"But don't you live there now?" + +"No; we live in a big town at the southwest part of the island." + +"But this is so wonderful to us. Just you two boys, and all the +savages. How did you manage it?" + +"But we are not alone. The Professor has been with us, and we have Mr. +Varney, and we rescued a Mr. Blakely, and four of the _Investigator's_ +boys." + +"The Professor--the Professor, and Varney? Rogers spoke about Varney. Do +you mean the professor of philosophy that you used to be so chummy +with?" + +"Yes," answered Harry, eagerly. "But let us get busy now." Stut had +rounded up the warriors, and through Sama informed them that they were +wanted at the village. + +The women were in consternation, but Stut informed them that no harm +would befall the men. Up to this time Stut had not permitted Sama to +give any information about the situation at the village, but he now +turned to the waiting warriors, and said: + +"The Great White Chief and all the tribes have united, and have taken +the Illyas chief and all his people prisoners, and all their women and +children are now captives. The Illyas have not acted right and the +chiefs must now go to the Great Chief and show that he is sorry, and +that he will not again try to take captives, and will not make +sacrifices." + +Without waiting for a moment, the train started back for the Illyas' +village. It is wonderful how the stimulating influence of surroundings +will build up and strengthen the depressed. The poor boys, emaciated as +they were, had smiles and tears, as they heard little snatches of +experiences from the boys. + +"We are telling you these things, but we are simply crazy to hear your +stories. But they will keep. Let us do the talking now. You will be all +right in a day or two." + +The boys' eyes were kept on the vessels containing the food. Time and +again George would shake his head as one or the other tried to get +another "bite." The liquid food was the first administered. The journey +back took much longer, because Harry would not hurry the animals over +the rough roads with the patients in their low condition. + +When the wagon and the train of warriors arrived at the village, the +only thing the boys saw were the warriors of the allies. The captives +were in the buildings, and were guarded on all sides. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +REMARKABLE GROWTH OF UNITY + + +"We haven't heard from John for two days. I wonder if they have met with +any difficulties?" asked Will, as they were together the evening after +their trip to the hill and forest. + +"John is very prudent, and a man of very extensive knowledge as a +campaigner. If they had met any disaster we should have known of it +before this." + +"We ought to have had a telegraph line. That would keep us in touch with +the army," added Jim. + +"Wireless telegraphy would be still better," responded Tom. + +"But how about wireless telephones?" + +"And if wireless telephones, why not wireless power?" + +The Professor smiled, as one suggestion after the other was made. The +other boys smiled, too, at Jim's last suggestion that power might be +transmitted by wireless. + +"That is going a little too far," said Will. "I can understand why +sounds can be sent, but power is another thing, it seems to me." + +"I am afraid that is not a very logical conclusion," interposed the +Professor. "What is the difference between sound and power?" + +"I should say that sound is a motion in the air," replied Will, "and +that power is motion----" + +"In the air, too," continued the Professor. "That is not a very good +definition of the matter. Let us try and make it clear. Sound is +produced by vibration; the lowest number of vibrations the ear can +distinguish, is sixteen per second, which is known as the low bass notes +of an organ. The highest are, approximately, 12,000 per second. These +vibrations require power to produce them." + +"Do you mean to say that all vibrations require power?" + +"Yes; nature speaks to us only in the form of motion, or vibrations of +some sort. Light, heat, electricity, are merely different forms of +motion. Taste and smell, as well as sound, are merely modes of motion. +The beating heart; the winking of the eyelids; the rhythmic breathing of +the body; the swinging of the pendulum; the movement of the sap in trees +and the unfolding of the leaves; the light mists which go up and the +rains which bring the particles back again; the winds and the waves; and +the giant swings of the planets through space, all show how nature +performs her work through unceasing movement; and all these require +power." + +"I remember," remarked Ralph, "about reading of a Hindoo fakir in India, +who claimed that he could bring to him an object ten thousand miles +away, in ten minutes of time. As that was motion it must have taken +considerable power to do it." + +"That is easily determined," answered the Professor. "Ten thousand +miles would be 16.6 miles, per second, at that velocity. If the article +should be only one inch square it would take 18,000,000 horsepower to +transport it that distance in the time given. This calculation is +sufficient to show the absurdity of the Hindoo's statement." + +Considering that the new community was one which had been recruited from +a people which had no ambition in life, except merely to live, the work +going on in every quarter was more remarkable every day. Tom came to the +Professor and remarked: "It would do you good to go down on street B and +see how the Saboros have fixed up their places." + +This was a sufficient hint for him, and busy as he was, he sauntered in +that direction. + +What he saw was, really, a surprise. Taking the hint from the sodding +operation which the women had noticed around the boys' quarters, he +found that they had actually borrowed the wheelbarrows and made some +nice lawns. + +The Professor called in at the places, and congratulated them on the +beautiful appearances, and the nice manner in which the work was done +What a wonderful thing that was to those poor women, to see the Great +Chief take such notice of their work. + +He went into the cottages, and examined every room, and suggested many +changes, and offered advice in the manner of keeping the houses clean, +and in taking care of the children. This work of beautifying their homes +was, of course, crude, but it had a remarkable stimulus to the others. +On every hand this was taken up. It was a spirit of emulation that was +worth encouraging. + +When John left with the forces, the Professor consulted Blakely, and +ordered the erection of three larger and more pretentious cottages. Each +of these had five rooms, all plain, but arranged in good taste, and the +furniture was also being made, and the large number employed enabled +them to complete the buildings ready for furnishing before John's party +returned. + +The working force was now ready to put up a still larger building. "Do +you know what this is for?" asked Ralph, as the timber was being taken +to the new location. + +"I suppose this is to be the Town Hall," replied Will. + +"No, indeed; it is the schoolhouse." And the boys laughed at the idea. +But it was an idea that was well considered and determined on, long +before John left on the expedition. + +But the town was growing beyond all comprehension. Daily new families +arrived, and Blakely was the busiest man in the place, in his efforts to +find work for them, while the Professor and the boys were often at their +wits' end to know how and where they would house them. The Saboros were +the most numerous, followed by the Berees and Osagas. But now the +Kurabus were coming in--the families of the warriors with John. + +The Chief Oroto saw and marveled at the sights. During the entire time +he had been there, he had never suggested the idea of returning. The +Kurabu medicine men who had been brought down with him, were still +under the charge of the Professor, and one day one of them accosted +Ralph in broken English. + +He looked up in surprise. It was the first inkling that the so-called +wise men were being taught the language. Ralph had quite a conversation +with him, and reported the information to the boys. + +How was this change brought about? The first step of the Professor was +to show the wise (?) men some of the mysterious things which the white +men could do. The battery, which the boys had made at Cataract, was one +of the instruments. Then he showed them the simple experiments in +chemistry; how ores were treated and metals extracted and tempered. + +These things were so much more important and wonderful than anything +they could do or ever dreamed of, that when he told them they could do +those things, he had the most willing pupils. Hour after hour they would +perform some task, until they began to crave for new things. Then began +the work of instilling knowledge of the language as a part of their +education. They were taught how to communicate ideas by signs in the +English language, and thus the alphabet was taught. + +A spirit of rivalry was exhibited among them, and it was so intense that +they had no further time for idleness or useless wanderings about the +place. It was no wonder that the boys saw so little of them when the +spirit once took possession of their energies. + +Two of the men referred to had an undoubted aptitude for chemical +experiments, one of them, Talala, being exceptionally bright and quick +to grasp the meaning of an experiment. He usually accompanied the +Professor on all his rounds visiting the sick, because this was now an +imperative daily task on his part. + +The thermometer was in frequent use and Talala understood its meaning. +Only the simplest remedies were used and administered, and the gathering +of the vegetables necessary for the making up of the remedies was a part +of the work of each. In this the natives had a pretty good knowledge, +but they knew nothing of making the extracts, or how to concentrate the +compounds. + +Cinchona, the Peruvian bark, and calisaya, its sister, which furnish the +quinine of commerce, were well known to them, but they did not know how +the white man made it so more efficient than the crude product as used +by them. + +He explained that by the use of an acid, like that furnished by sulphur, +a chemical change could be produced, whereby a single grain would be +more efficient than a dozen grains in the way they used it. This was +labeled "Sulphate of Quinine," and so on along the whole line of +remedies, he gave a term which they learned, and the reasons for it. + +When John saw the wagon approaching he rushed out, followed by Uraso and +Muro. The rescued captives were in the wagon. Pending their arrival a +number of the warriors had cleaned out the large building--the one with +the Doric columns, which stood at right angles to the chief's house. +This structure appeared to be in the best state of preservation. + +Another lot of the warriors took the wagon, and with their bolos +gathered a large quantity of the sweet grass from the hillside, and this +was brought to the building and arranged for the use of the chiefs and +John, and for the boys when they returned. + +George was eager to tell of their adventure, and of the prisoners they +had brought with them. "We got three of the boys, but two of them are +very weak. We have a friend of yours, also." + +"Who is it?" exclaimed John, just as eager as the boys could be. + +"Wright; Gustave Wright." + +John bounded into the wagon. Wright saw John, and feebly extended his +hand. + +"I knew I would find you sooner or later," said John, as he put his arm +around him. "But we got you soon enough to save you. All you need is +something good to eat." And Wright smiled. + +"Yes," he answered. "They haven't permitted me to take much so far; but +I guess they are all right. What a fine set of boys you have!" + +"The finest in the world. Wait until you know them! But never mind about +talking now. And these are the boys? Poor fellows! What an experience +they must have had! Come on, men; get them out and make them as +comfortable as possible." + +There were willing hands for every job. Muro was delighted at the rescue +of his friend. He was one of the most skillful and powerful warriors, +but he did not look like it at this time. + +Inside the patients were ranged about the place, and the cooking stove +brought in from the wagon. + +"I suppose I shall have to take charge of the kitchen," said George, as +he ordered it arranged in place and directed them where to put the +various articles. Before long the savory odor of the vegetables and game +reached the famished ones, and they begged for some of it. + +"A little at a time," said George, soothingly. "I am doctor and cook, +and there is plenty here, of the best kind." + +"Oh, doesn't that smell good!" exclaimed Min, joyously. + +"That's the way I like to hear you talk," said Harry. "Your voice +doesn't seem starved. You'll be out in a couple of days, and be better +than ever." + +"How long have you been in that place?" asked John. + +"In that particular place, only about a month; but we were in a worse +place, still farther south, for about three months." + +"Starving all the time?" + +"Yes." + +"I was moved to say that starving is a good thing, in its way, but it +has its limits, and four months is a little too long for either comfort +or health. You will find, however," continued John, "that you will be +much healthier for the experience, particularly if you have ever had +stomach troubles, as my friend Wright here has had all his life. Isn't +that so, Wright?" + +"Do you think I have been to a health cure?" he asked. + +"Certainly; the best kind, for one in your condition." And John laughed. + +"Probably you took me away before the cure was effected; but as I always +was magnanimous, I shall forgive you this time." + +There was a continuous fire of conversation, which cheered the patients, +and added greatly to their store of knowledge. + +Harry, who had been outside, rushed in, and exclaimed excitedly: + +"Did you have _Investigator's_ Lifeboat No. 3?" + +"Yes," exclaimed the boys. + +"Who wrote the note we found in it?" + +"Did you find our boat? Where did you get it?" asked Robert. + +"We found it on a river to the north of this place." + +"How in the world did it ever get there?" + +"But who wrote the note?" + +"What note?" + +"The message signed Will." + +The boys looked at each other, as they all shook their heads. + +"That is one of the mysteries which George and I thought you could +solve." + +"Mysteries! Did you have many of them?" + +"Many of them! We had over a dozen, and some of them are still on the +puzzle board. Do you remember Raggy, the drawing teacher? He always +liked to call some of our drawings the unsolved puzzles. I wonder where +he is? We had enough mysteries the first three months to supply +headaches for a year." + +"We want to know about them." + +"We'll tell you all about them; and some were mighty thrilling. We had +some just as exciting as any you ever read of in the last boys' series +that we had about two years ago." + +"You see," said George, in a sage-like tone, "Harry and I don't read +books of that kind any more; we simply act them." And the boys, and men, +too, laughed at this sally. + +"Stop your talking for a while and eat something," continued George. + +"Good, but it's awful hot," said Min, as he puckered up his mouth and +drew in a breath of cool air. + +"I made it hot so you wouldn't eat too fast," chuckled George. + +Just then a great commotion was heard on the outside, and George, Harry +and Robert rushed for the door. Beyond the village a scrimmage was +taking place, and a few shots were fired. + +John and Uraso were racing across the open place, and dozens of warriors +were following. Muro was seen as he emerged from the combatants, and he +was smiling as John came up. + +"The reinforcements from the south village came too late. I suspected +they would be here, and I had a number of the men in wait for them. They +have captured all of them." + +John nodded his head with approval at the course of Muro. The warriors +brought in the prisoners, who were astounded at the unexpected welcome +which awaited them. Forty-five were in the party. They were put under +guard with the others. + +The utmost care was observed during the night, as the Illyas were known +to be very foxy, and half the force was detailed to keep guard. + +Early in the morning John's first care was to make an investigation as +to the character of the provisions on hand, and to arrange that foraging +parties should be sent out to bring in vegetables. + +He was surprised to learn that the Illyas cultivated many kinds of +garden products, and fruit was growing in abundance. This was found to +be a prudent thing to consider, when it will be remembered that the +village now had to feed over three hundred of the allies, and that the +penned-up Illyas were not in a position to go out and bring in the daily +supply. + +The boys were fed at intervals during the night, but before four they +all felt so much restored that sleep overtook them, and John advised +them to permit sleep, as that would be the best restorer, and they were +not disturbed until they naturally awoke during the forenoon. + +A plentiful supply of broth was prepared, and administered during the +day. But Harry and George were simply wild to explore the buildings. The +excitement had been too intense to enable them to give it much thought. +But now something must be known about the buildings and the reason for +their erection at that place. + +John had questioned various ones about the buildings, but none seemed to +know anything concerning them. Uraso and Muro were just as much +surprised as the whites. Neither had known of the existence of a place +with such buildings. + +It appears that the Illyas never allowed captives to be confined in the +village, and this was a wise thing; because the escape of anyone would +be sure to inform the other tribes of the existence of the Forbidden +City. + +The remarkable thing about it, aside from the buildings, was the plan +upon which the town had been built. It was regularly laid out. There +were three main buildings; the first and largest being the one facing +the west, with the Doric front. The next largest had its front facing +the south, and this had Ionic columns. The third, and which was not +noticeable from a position west of the village, was smaller than either, +with a front of Tuscan architecture. + +What did these buildings mean? By whom were they erected, and for what +purpose were they intended? These were questions ever uppermost in the +minds of John and the boys. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE MYSTERIOUS CAVE. RETURNING TO UNITY + + +"It may be there are some sort of records or tablets somewhere about the +buildings which will indicate what they were erected for; but my +investigations thus far leave me just as much in the dark as when I +first saw them," remarked John, as they were examining the structures. + +"I wonder if they have corner stones? Sometimes they put records there," +observed Harry. + +"I made an examination in that direction also, but the character of the +underpinning is the same all around, and the corners have no +distinguishing stones." + +"It must be a very old custom to have cornerstones for buildings." + +"It was a custom to have cornerstones, or memorial stones, in all +buildings in ancient times. They were well known in the time of Job, and +buildings thousands of years prior to his day contained them. It is not +known from what the custom arose." + +"Didn't you say that the treasure charts showed the existence of caves +to the southeast of the cave we found at the Tuolos' village?" + +"Yes, and that is something that we shall have to investigate to-morrow. +To-day the patients still need our care, but they will be well enough to +enable us to be absent to-morrow." + +"I think we ought to make sketches of the plan of this town. I have a +presentiment that we shall know something more about this place in the +future," said George. + +[Illustration: _Fig. 20. The Peculiar Illya Village._] + +"By all means have it prepared during the day. Later on I may be able to +give a pretty good guess what all this means." And the boys looked at +each other significantly. + +If the chiefs, or any of the lower order, knew anything about the origin +of the town, they did not make it apparent. + +"Do you notice one singular thing about this town and the people in it?" +asked John. + +Neither of the boys could guess. + +"Where are the medicine men, and those who perform the sacred rites at +their festivals?" + +The boys again looked at each other for an answer. George replied: "I +think they are at the caves of which the charts give some indication," +finally exclaimed Harry. + +"That is the case, undoubtedly. That is where we shall have the +difficulty. The chiefs will not disclose their hiding places. Before +going on the search we must question the chief." + +In the early morning John and the boys called on the chief in company +with Uraso. A complete change had come over him. Two days before he was +sullen and moody, after the first lesson had been given him. Now he was +different and agreeable. + +"Before we start for the village of the Great White Chief there are some +questions I would ask you. How many medicine men have you?" + +"Ten." + +"Where are they?" + +"In their dark homes." + +"Where are those homes?" + +"To the east. Sama will take you to them, but you cannot go in." + +"Why not?" + +"Because you will be destroyed." + +"How do you know?" + +"Because they have told us so." + +"Do you believe them?" + +"Yes." + +"Do you sacrifice your captives because they tell you the Great Spirit +demands it?" + +"Yes." + +"Then I must tell you that they lie to you. The Great Spirit does not +tell them to sacrifice. It is not death to enter their homes." + +"But we know that no one has ever come from them alive." + +"Does the Great Spirit kill them when they go in?" + +"Yes." + +"Do you want to know whether they tell the truth?" + +"Yes." + +"Then I will go in, and show you that the Great Spirit will not harm +me." + +"How shall I know that you go in?" + +"You must go with me and stand at the opening." + +The chief's eyes now wandered about. He was visibly affected at this +bold declaration, and John saw hesitation in his demeanor. + +Without giving him time to waver, he continued: "The great Chief Oroto +must not show his people that he is afraid. He must show them that he is +greater and wiser than the medicine men, and that the wise men who have +told him those tales have not told the truth." + +Turning to Uraso he said: "Prepare the wagon, and we will start at +once." The chief and two of the sub-chiefs were taken out and placed in +the wagon. Harry, George, Uraso and Muro, with a picked company of +twenty-five men, were selected to accompany them. + +The wagon was a curiosity to Oroto. He enjoyed the ride immensely and +admired the manner in which Harry handled and guided the yaks. + +Their course was directed due east for a mile, and then moved along a +well-beaten path diagonally up the hill in a southern direction. After +proceeding thus for a half mile farther the ground, became rough and cut +up by innumerable gullies. + +"How much farther must we go?" + +"To the place where the great trees are." And he pointed to a group of +trees less than five hundred feet beyond. Progress with the team was +impossible, and all alighted. Leaving three of the warriors with the +team, the others ascended the slight elevation, and before them was the +mouth of the cavern. + +The opening was not more than eight feet in height, and not over six +feet wide, with irregular sides. Arriving in front of it, John advanced +to Oroto, and said: "I am about to show you that the Great Spirit will +not injure me!" And saying so boldly marched in. + +He remained for a full half hour, and the chief became uneasy. The boys, +as well as Uraso and Muro, affected not to be disturbed. What John did +was this: It was evident to him that the occupants of the cave had no +knowledge of the approach of the party. + +They knew that the White Chief and the allies had captured the village +and the chiefs. They felt a certain sense of security in their home, +because in all the tribal warfares the medicine men and the wise men of +the tribes were regarded with fear and reverence. + +When John entered the cave, he went in a sufficient distance to be +surrounded by total darkness. He remained concealed long enough so that +he could become accustomed to the darkness, and slowly moved toward the +interior, as he felt assured the occupants' presence would sooner or +later be revealed by their lights. + +In this he was not mistaken, and he was surprised to find them much +nearer the entrance than he anticipated. It would be more impressive to +remain for some time than to emerge at once, so he sat down to observe +the wise men. + +There was the most oppressive silence when he first observed the light, +but as he neared them, a more or less animated conversation took place. +Much of this was understood by John, as his knowledge of two of the +dialects gave him some key to the words uttered. From this it was +evident that they knew of the rescue of the captives. + +The chief had told them of ten belonging to the order. John could count +only eight. Possibly two were in some other part of the cavern, and he +moved along at the opposite side of the large chamber to discover what +was beyond. + +Brushing along the wall, a hanging stalactite was dislodged, and it +fell. The noise did not give even a momentary start to the company. John +was surprised. He stopped and reflected, and the reason soon became +plain. They supposed that it was caused by the absent ones returning. + +But John waited and the two did not return, and they began to glance +about. At this time he was on the opposite side of the chamber, so that +the medicine men were between him and the mouth of the cave. + +A half dozen of them had arisen, and John stepped forward with his gun +in position. In a stentorian voice John shouted: + +"I am the Great White Chief. Go to the door of the cave. If any refuse +he will die. Go!" + +It might be stated that before leaving for the cave Uraso had fully +instructed John how to use the above phrases. His sudden apparition on +the side opposite the mouth of the cave was most startling to them. Not +a word was uttered by either. + +"Go!" again shouted John. They seemed to be paralyzed. By a common +impulse they moved toward the entrance, and as they marched out and saw +the party there waiting to receive them, together with their own chief, +the consternation was most marked on the faces of all. + +Addressing the chief, John said: "Here are your wise men. The Great +Spirit is not there. They have lied to you." + +It was now apparent from the actions of the chief why he was considered +such a power and a terror to his own people and to the tribes. He was +every inch a chief. He strode forward, and would have crushed them with +his own hands, but John interposed. + +"We shall take care of them. They will never again lie to the great +chief Oroto." And so saying they were ordered bound, and Uraso +instructed to take them to the village and carefully guard them. + +"You may take the wagon with you, Uraso, as the boys and I want to +attend to some matters on our own account, and we shall soon follow +you." + +When the cavalcade passed from their sight, John said: "I suppose we +shall now have an opportunity to examine the place. Have you any +candles?" + +Harry had not forgotten them, and the boys smiled as John also drew +forth several, and thus they entered the cave. John marched direct to +the place where the wise men had their quarters, and their lamps were +still burning. + +"By the way, we came in too soon. Two of them are outside, or are +somewhere in the cave. We want them as well as the others. If they find +us here, they will be likely to get away. But we are here now, and we +must find out what we can, and as quickly as possible." The lights at +the habitable part of the cave were left burning and the three plunged +into the passageway which led to the east. + +"This is the cave noted in the chart. How fortunate it is. You will note +that this, like the other cave, has also a cross-shaped formation, and +the treasure should be at the south branch." + +"Here it is," whispered George. + +"What, the treasure?" was Harry's eager question. + +"No; the south branch." + +"You are undoubtedly right. There is no other opening." + +This branch was followed less than a hundred feet, when a solid white +wall appeared in front, and it was readily seen that the channel +terminated in the chamber. + +The floor of this chamber was one mass of uneven projections, entirely +unlike the other parts of the cave, and what was more singular still, it +was fully six feet higher than the floors of the other portions, but it +was absolutely devoid of any treasure, or anything which could contain +such a hoard as the chart seemed to indicate. + +"It is just as well," said John, resignedly. "I suppose we have enough +for our purposes." + +While crawling down the rough portion which formed the elevated floor of +the chamber Harry slipped, and broke off a portion of the stalagmite +overlaying the side. It was dark beneath. + +[Illustration: _Fig. 21. Diagram of the Cross-Shaped Cave._] + +"This is not calcareous matter," exclaimed John. + +"What is it?" asked both in a breath. + +The lights were concentrated on a sample, and as John raised his head he +looked at the boys, and slowly uttered one word: + +"Copper!" + +The boys did not at first grasp the true significance of the word. It +was marvelous to them that copper should be found there, but John +thought of something else. It offered a possible explanation to the +origin of the buildings. Where were the mines? Were they in the cave +itself? This was not copper ore. It was a partly refined product. + +It was evident to John, and further verified that the entire chamber, +which was fully sixty feet long and fifty feet wide, was covered with a +layer of this copper for a height of six feet. A calculation of the +value could be readily made. + +John and the boys made their way out and past the fires that were still +burning, and which would be relighted no more. The two absent ones were +not found. They had not returned. The reason was explained when the +village was reached. They were captured by Uraso before they had left +the cave a thousand feet. + +During the day and the succeeding night the patients improved each hour. +Both of the invalid boys were able to sit up. Rogers wanted a full meal, +but still none were allowed to indulge. John announced that a start for +home would be made in the morning. + +There was intense bustle in the village the next morning. The chief was +informed that he and two of his sub-chiefs would be required to +accompany them, together with one hundred of his warriors. The ten wise +(?) men were also to be of the party. + +There was mingled feeling of emotion in the minds of the people when +they saw their great chief for the first time in the knowledge of the +people humbled and taken captive by a foreign tribe. + +It was well to leave them with that impression. They would soon learn +otherwise, and for the first time begin to appreciate that the white +man's way is superior to their own. + +The boys and Gustave were in the wagon with the Chief Oroto. The others +were on foot. Occasionally John would take a place and delight in the +chatter of the boys, and sometimes would listen to remarks about Oroto, +that would not have been pleasant for his ears. + +John didn't blame them a bit for it either. The pale, drawn faces of the +two boys made them pitiable objects, and when he saw them he felt like +cursing the chief who would permit such cruelties to innocent boys. But +he remembered that the chief knew no better. He lived according to the +best that was given him. Why was he to be blamed? + +There was hardly a subject but was canvassed by the boys. The chief soon +became interested, and he frequently asked Lolo questions. Before the +journey ended the boys changed their opinions about Oroto. Perhaps the +vivacity of the boys attracted him. + +But later on, through Lolo, he began to learn things which astounded +him. Muro had told his son Lolo that Harry was the one who made the +wonderful guns, and this was communicated to the chief. Harry was a hero +to him from that time on. Lolo told the chief about the wonderful things +which they were making at the new town, and long before they sighted the +place he was interested just like a common mortal. + +But the Saboro village was in sight. "Moro," asked John, "how long will +it take to get your family ready?" + +"We shall go on with you this afternoon." + +They were ready and waiting when the train came in sight. Lolo was out +of the wagon and sprang to his mother, just like any other boy would do, +and he told her in two minutes what had happened in fifteen days. An +American boy could not have done better than that. + +Was Stut's family going, too? Certainly! The boys laughed merrily. One +wagon was given over to the families, containing seven women and +fourteen children. But the wagons were lightened of their heavy loads of +provisions and easily accommodated to emigrants. + +This was a happy party. The natives never knew of such an outing. It was +quite a cavalcade. Just imagine four hundred warriors, the two wagons, +the women and the children, the men chanting a peculiar song as they +marched, occasionally interspersed with laughter, and a constant flow of +talk about the new and wonderful place they were going to, of the great +white chiefs, and above all the real and unaffected pleasure that grew +out of the knowledge that there would be no more war. + +On the second day after leaving the Saboro village, Unity came in sight. +George crawled to the top of the wagon, and, raising his hat and waving +it, began to cheer. Every warrior did likewise when he saw the signal. +It was a bedlam for a few moments. The Illyas chief saw it and smiled. + +Unity heard the cheers. There was no more work that day. The men in the +fields came in. Those in the workshops deserted their posts, and lined +up along the newly made sidewalks that had been carefully arranged +several days before. + +The women were out in force, and the children in evidence everywhere. +The two wagons were in advance, Harry being in the lead. Not a man left +the town to rush out and greet them. The Professor suggested that a more +fitting welcome could be given by forming lines to receive the warriors +as they filed by. + +The wagon was now within five hundred feet of the end of the receiving +line of the villagers. Angel, the orang-outan, was in the line also. The +sight of the wagons was too much for him. He scampered along the street +in that peculiar shuffling gait that all the villagers knew, and started +for the wagon. + +He was the only one in the town who disobeyed the orders of the +Professor. He knew that George was in the wagon. He passed the first +one, driven by Harry, but he was up in the top of the second in an +instant, and he made his way to George's side, and looked up in his +face. George put his arm around him, as he was accustomed to do, and +this was sufficient for him. + +The children screamed in delight, but Angel didn't mind, because he saw +that George didn't. When George put his arm around Lolo's little baby +sister, Angel looked at George, reproachfully, at first, but when George +laughed Angel emitted his well-known chuckle, which always indicated +delight, and he knew that all jealousy had vanished. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +BUILDING A SHIP TO TAKE THEM HOME + + +Great was the surprise of Oroto to find that Marmo, chief of the Tuolos, +and Tastoa, chief of the Kurabus, were in the town. Greater still was +the marvel to know that they were entirely free to go and come, and when +Uraso announced to him that there were no restrictions on his liberty, +he wondered why he had been brought from his village. + +This proceeding was most unusual. During the preceding day, when they +marched into the town, he had been kept in one of the buildings under +guard, and had not seen the Professor, as the latter first desired to +confer with John, and learn all about the facts about the chief and his +actions. + +Oroto was most anxious to see the Great White Chief, and when Uraso +announced to him that he was prepared to receive him, he was eager to +go. John thought it would be much better for them to meet alone, because +it was desired to avoid all cause for jealousy among the different +chiefs, and it would, probably, be disagreeable to have them present. +All must be present, or none. + +Uraso conducted him to the door of the Professor's apartment, and left +him. As he entered, the Professor came forward, and grasped his hand, +and put his arm around him, and in that manner conducted him to a seat. + +The chief looked at him, and saw the strong, handsome face and the +white beard and hair. He appeared to be awed by the sight, as he was +affected by the kind reception. He was far from assuming the defiant +attitude with which he met John. + +"I welcome you," said the Professor. "I know we can be friends." + +The chief was overcome by the greeting words. It was plain that he had +prepared for an entirely different kind of meeting. He did not answer, +but sat there with eyes riveted on the Professor, and the latter +continued: + +"I hope my warriors have treated you right, and that they have not +injured any of your people." + +When Oroto had recovered from his surprise he responded: + +"Why do you call me your friend?" + +The Professor smiled, and he answered: "Are you my enemy?" + +This was a question which was unexpected. What manner of man was this? +The Professor saw the struggle in the chief's mind, as he tried to frame +a reply. + +"I was your enemy; but I do not see why I should be. I was told that you +were a terrible chief." + +"Who told you so?" + +"The wise men." + +"Do you believe them?" + +"No; I shall kill them, because they have lied to me and my people." + +"Why do you wish to kill them? Will that do you or your people any +good?" + +"Then what can I do with people who deceive us?" + +"Teach them to understand and know that it is better to tell the truth +than to lie. When you do that you are also teaching the people what is +right. If you kill them you are teaching people revenge, and revenge +will not help them." + +"You are telling me something new and strange. My people would not +understand that. They would think I feared to punish." + +"The white man does not think so. He believes that each man is entitled +to his life. If he does wrong, he may be deprived of his liberty, and +made to labor for others, and pleasures kept from him, but that his life +should not be taken from him, unless he has committed the greatest crime +against the people." + +"What is the greatest crime?" + +"The killing of another." + +"I am in your power. What do you want me to do? What will you do with +me? I did not know you taught such things." + +"You are in my village; but you are free to go where you will. My chief +did not bring you here to humiliate you, or to punish you. I told him to +bring you here so you might know how the white men live, and how they +try to make the people happy. You can see these things for yourself. +Then you can understand." + +"I am told that you have people here from all the tribes, and that they +live together in peace and in contentment." + +"Yes; and why not? Because one man was born and lives in one place, is +that any reason why he should be the enemy of one who lives somewhere +else?" + +"But how can we prevent them from fighting each other?" + +"Let all the chiefs agree to do what is right to each other, and to +their people; and treat each man the same, whether he belongs to your +tribe or to some other. Do not seek revenge, but justice." + +"I shall forever be the White Chief's friend." + +"But you must be not only my friend, but the friend of all the chiefs. +They have agreed to live together in peace. We will find work for all +your people to do, so they can become happy and strong, and I want you +to go with me to see the things we are doing to help the people. Before +we do so you must talk to the chiefs who have been here and who know +what we are trying to bring about." + +Oroto sought out Marmo at once. He was the nearest in kin to the Illyas, +and the Professor noted this action on his part with the greatest +satisfaction. Soon Tastoa, of the Kurabus, was brought in, and no +restraint was placed on any of these conferences. + +When all the whites met that night you may be sure that there was a +jollification that knew no bounds. What a wonderful thing had been +accomplished. All grasped the Professor's hand, and many tears were shed +in the joy of the meeting. Six boys and three men had been rescued from +the jaws of death by the Professor and the two boys. + +In less than two years they had transformed an island of savage races +into some semblance of orderly life, and inspired the people with a new +impulse. It was the first time the chiefs of the island had ever met +together. Within a week all were on friendly terms with each other. + +At the conference that evening the Professor remarked: "We have now put +in nearly two years of hard work, and accomplished the most wonderful +results. The boys want to go home, and it is right that they should. +Owing to the peculiar conditions existing here, we have not been in a +position where we could take any organized steps to go home. As long as +any of our friends were in captivity it was our duty to remain." + +"The situation is different now. We have really started a little empire +here. This is the 'Empire' that Harry spoke about when we landed here. +He little knew how prophetic that was. We now have the men, the +material, the energy, and the ingenuity to make anything that is made +anywhere in the world." + +"We must build a ship--" + +But the Professor could go no further. The boys were wild with +excitement at the news, as they gathered about him. + +"But I am coming back again," cried one after the other. + +"But I am not going away," added the Professor, "because I am afraid I +should never be able to come back again." + +There was a tone of sadness as he said this, and it touched all the +boys. It was hard to tell whether this was an occasion for joy or +sorrow. + +All knew what the Professor and John and Blakely felt, and that it +would become their great field for future work. + +Here was also a field for the energies of the boys, whose abilities +could be directed into useful channels. Commercially the island was of +immense value, if properly used. So long as John and the Professor were +there no wrong speculative efforts would dare to be attempted by +unscrupulous adventurers. + +John, together with Harry, Tom and Jim, who were the engineering force +of the island, soon began the work of preparing the material for the +ship which would place them in communication with the great world. + +The three new boys were initiated into the crafthood which was ever +widening and gaining new recruits. The natives showed remarkable +aptitude for the various branches of work. But the Professor and Blakely +had other ideas than to train too many of them to labor in the +mechanical lines. + +Here was a land, rich in soil, capable of growing any crop, or adapted +to give up its bounty in the form of many valuable kinds of produce. +Rubber, coffee, spices, cocoanuts, the finest fibers, in variety, and +all of them now growing wild. + +This land must be occupied and tilled by a people adapted to the soil +and climate. The principles of agriculture must be instilled. What a +wonderful work to contemplate! + +The schoolhouse was ready, but there were no books. Robert had taken the +preliminary lessons as an artist, and was very handy with the brush and +pencil. Entirely on his own initiative, he prepared a set of letters, +containing the caps of the alphabet, and these were cut out by him, and +the work so delighted the Professor that he instructed the boys how to +cast the whole series at one time, so that a good stock of type was +finally turned out. + +"I have an idea," said Robert, "that it would be a good thing to put +some pictures in the primer; just enough to make it look attractive." + +"That would be fun," answered Min. "Don't say anything to the Professor +about it." + +The latter had already arranged a simple press, but when the latter was +nearing completion, Roy burst out laughing, as he remarked: "Type is a +good thing, and so is a printing press, but I am interested in knowing +where we are going to get the paper." + +"Paper?" exclaimed George; "lots of it growing all about here." And he +looked at the boys a little maliciously. "All we need to do is to go out +and gather it." + +"Paper growing? Well, I have seen many things here, but that is +something new to me." + +"Do you know what the plantain tree is, the tree, with the big sprawling +leaves? Those leaves will make good sheets for printing on." + +The Professor heard the last part of the conversation, and remarked: "We +might as well make paper, and I have already asked Harry to make a +grinder for furnishing the pulp. We have the finest paper stock in the +world." + +"Yes," exclaimed George; "the ramie." + +"No; not that. There is a reason why hemp, and many other fibers are +better than that. Do you recall the peculiarity about ramie?" + +[Illustration: "_The party plunged into the forest, taking the direction +which Tom and Ralph had gone on the former trip_" + [See p. 235]] + +Harry remembered. It resists moisture, and while it makes an excellent +paper would be difficult with their crude means to turn it out +satisfactorily. The grinding machine was a simple affair, and the fiber +was fed through again and again, until it was cut up into short lengths. + +[Illustration: _Fig. 22. Paper Making Machine._] + +The principal thing, however, in paper making is to get it the same +thickness. "It will take too long to make a cylinder, which makes the +paper even, and distribute the pulp perfectly, and in the absence of +that I have ordered an apparatus which will turn out a sheet at a time." + +The Professor then exhibited a drawing, and continued: "Notice the box, +which is two feet square inside and two feet high. See this cleat all +around the inside, six inches from the top. That is to hold the frame of +a cloth web, which fits in the box exactly." + +"At the bottom of the box is a pipe, right in the middle. This pipe is +for the purpose of carrying the water into the box. Below the box is a +larger box, and this contains the water which has the pulp mixed with +it, just enough of the pulp to make it look cloudy. + +"The water in the box is carried into the box by the pump. When the +screen, or web, is placed in position, and the pump set to work, the +water, carrying the pulp, moves upwardly in the box, and the fine +particles of pulp are caught by the screen and held there, the little +fibers lying crisscross over each other. + +"Every minute or so the screen with the paper mat on its underside must +be taken out and another put in, and the matted paper on each screen put +under a press, and the water squeezed out, after which it will readily +peel off the screen, and when it is dried it makes a good blotting +paper. To make a writing paper of it, the sheet must be run through a +number of heavily weighted steel rollers, but we don't need that for +printing our books." + +The paper was made in that manner, and the Professor was delighted when +he saw the illustrations. Thus the first serious attempt was made to +begin the teaching of the children, and when the books were ready the +boys were all happy to undertake the work of teaching. It was here that +the Tuolo medicine men were utilized, and it may be said to their credit +that they found the new calling agreeable and pleasant. + +But there is still so much to be said about the town, the people, the +actions of the chiefs, the work that was being prosecuted, the farms and +plantations that were started, the manufactured articles turned out, the +new houses erected everywhere, and the intense interest exhibited by the +people under the new order of things. + +The boys knew they had been a great factor in the regeneration of the +island, and were proud of it. Lolo, and boys of like ages with our boys, +were given special training, due to the suggestion of the Professor. +Some were taught the theory of medicine, as the necessity of proper +medical treatment was essential. Many received the rudimentary knowledge +of carpentry and other occupations from John. + +The ship was the principal topic of conversation, and to that the main +energies were directed. The finest oak trees were cut and brought in; a +new and larger sawmill installed; the machine shop was busy day and +night in the making of two new lathes, a planer, and several drilling +machines. + +During the rush and the excitement of all these new enterprises, the +boys could not forget their earlier experiences, and about the +mysterious things which formed parts of their adventures. + +To enumerate all of them would take too much space, and be unnecessary, +but some of them had an intense personal interest, and they recalled how +the missing flag was accounted for when John appeared; the removal of +their boat at the Palls of South River was explained; the discovery of +the light beyond the West River really indicated the location of the +savage village. + +But there were other things still unaccounted for, and the boys craved a +solution to the mysterious happenings. Who wrote the message found in +the _Investigator's_ lifeboat, No. 3? Who took the flagstaff at +Observation Hill? Who placed the crude oars and the strange ropes in +their boat which was found stranded on the sea beach ten miles from the +place where they left it? + +The boys determined to know these things, and they trusted to the future +to be able to give the answers. + +Little of the time was devoted to pleasure now. The great forest to the +west was looked on by the boys with longing eyes many times. They had +heard about the experience at Blakely's old home on the hill. One day +Harry said: "There is one thing lacking in the town." + +"What is it?" asked Tom. + +"The American flag." + +"Good! We must get a fitting flag pole for that." + +All the boys conspired together that night. + +They would go to the great forest and bring in the finest pole to be +found. Jack and Jill and Angel must go with them; and Lolo and his best +boy friend were invited. + +Early in the morning, without giving anyone an idea of their intentions, +the guns and the bolos were loaded on the wagon, and plenty of +provisions, you may be assured. George and Ralph manned the large boat, +so that the crossing of the river would be facilitated. The wagon still +had the fort sections, which were taken along so that could be floated +across. + +Within an hour the main river was reached and the float sections +attached, so that the yaks plunged in and drew the wagon across, while +the boat was drawn up on shore to await their return. + +The party plunged into the forest, taking the direction which Ralph and +Tom had gone on the former trip. Quantities of game were bagged, but +there was no exciting incident. The pole was the main thing, after all, +and when they tramped in every direction the selection was narrowed down +to two fine specimens of shellbark hickory, and one was felled and +trimmed, and after hoisting one end on the wagon, the other was put on +the truck and the party drove into Unity in the afternoon. + +The inhabitants swarmed the streets at the novel spectacle. The +Professor, John, Blakely and Rogers instantly divined the meaning of the +pole. + +"Where shall we put it up?" asked Harry. + +"Right in the center of the town," was the Professor's response. +"To-morrow is flag-raising day, and it shall be a holiday!" + +Before night the hole had been dug, and the immense pole erected. + +When "Old Glory" went up the next day there was nothing lacking but the +music; the hats of everyone came off as the flag slowly ascended, and +the cheers that came from the throats of the natives could not have been +more intense, nor the enthusiasm greater, if participated in by genuine +Americans. + +[Illustration: The Stars and Stripes] + +THE END + + + + +GLOSSARY OF WORDS +USED IN TEXT OF THIS VOLUME + + Astrologer. An interpreter of the supposed influence of the stars + on the destinies of man. + + Accumulation. To add to; gathering little by little. A store of things. + + Acquiring. To receive or gain in whatsoever manner. + + Accosted. To speak to; to address; to approach. + + Adequate. Sufficient; enough. + + Alluring. That which attracts; to have a fancy for. + + Alternative. Either one or the other. + + Animated. Lively; sparkling; exhilarating. + + Apportion. To divide and distribute or assign. + + Aptitude. Suited to the work; well adapted. + + Betokened. To give a promise or evidence of. + + Cardinal. The main feature; the original. + + Calcareous. Partaking of lime. + + Capillary. That capacity in liquids to cohere to material. + + Celerity. Quickly; with speed. + + Climax. To bring to a conclusion. + + Chaparral. A dense cluster of small trees. + + Cooperation. Acting together; in concert. + + Concise. Short and to the point. + + Cohesive. To stick together; to adhere to each other. + + Comprehend. To understand. + + Compact. In a small space. + + Concentrated. To bring together. + + Commotion. Not orderly; violent agitation; tumult. + + Cringed. To bow in servility; to wince. + + Deterred. Prevented; kept from. + + Devoid. To be without; bereft. + + Depredations. The act of plundering or laying waste. + + Decorum. In an orderly manner. + + Demoniacs. Influenced by demons, or possessed with bad spirit. + + Detained. Held as a captive. + + Deftly. Neat and skillful in action. + + Diagonally. Across from corner to corner. + + Dismantle. To take apart; to dissever. + + Discernible. To see. + + Disinfectant. To make germ proof; to make sanitary. + + Diversified. A variety; having different qualities; many of the same + kind. + + Disclose. To show; to advise or inform. + + Doctrine. That which is taught or set forth for belief. + + Drones. Those which are not busy, or prone to shirk. + + Effusive. Talkative. + + Emboldened. One who is encouraged to go forward. + + Entrapped. One who is caught by some design on the part of another. + + Emotional. An excitement of the mind. + + Emaciated. Lean; thin from want of food. + + Emulated. To copy after; to take pattern from. + + Enumerated. Counted. + + Entrancing. To put into a state of delight. + + Ethics. The philosophy of morals. + + Evolutions. A term employed to show the manner in which soldiers + are trained. + + Factor. One of the elements in a problem. + + Fantastical. Peculiarly garbed; out of the natural manner. + + Fascination. A peculiar drawing to; pleasant attraction. + + Function. Any specific act or power that belongs to an agent. + + Gratified. Satisfied; well pleased. + + Hilarity. Joy; the state of being demonstratively happy. + + Identical. The same; exactly alike. + + Impulse. That which is done at the moment. + + Imprecations. To hurl defiance; to bring down maledictions. + + Impressed. To produce an effect; warned. + + Imperiously. In a haughty manner; in a way to indicate power. + + Imitated. To do in the same manner. + + Initiated. To bring into; to make familiar with; to install. + + Imposing. Adapted to make an impression. + + Interspersed. To put between or among. + + Indication. To show; to give an idea of. + + Instilling. To educate; to teach. + + Installed. To establish; to put in the proper place. + + Inculcate. To teach by principle, or otherwise. + + Indignant. Anger or scorn aroused by a wrong act. + + Instigation. To entice another to do a thing. + + Indefatigable. Continual act in doing a thing; not weary in work or + play. + + Innumerable. A large number; many of the same kind or thing. + + Indited. To put into words or writing. + + Irritability. Rubbing against; friction of part. + + Irrepressible. Difficult to control; hard to keep down. + + Instrumental. The means by which a thing is done. + + Malediction. A wish that harm may come; a curse. + + Medium. A means; an object that enables the carrying out of a + design. + + Muster roll. The list of a set of men who have combined for an object. + + Maneuvered. The arranging of forces in a certain manner. + + Naturalist. One versed in natural history. + + Omen. A sign; a favorable or unfavorable issue. + + Pendant. Hanging; an article suspended; swinging below. + + Penetrated. Going into; entering a body. + + Phase. One form; a particular manner. + + Projection. To give out; a throwing, shooting or sending out. + + Precarious. Rather dangerous; not the safest. + + Profusion. A quantity; many of the same kind or quality. + + Presentiment. Believing or feeling beforehand. + + Prescribing. Setting forth; explaining in detail. + + Precipitous. Doing quickly; acting without considering results. + + Restriction. Within certain bounds or limits. + + Restoration. To bring back to its original form. + + Requiting. To pay; to give just dues. + + Requisition. The necessity for a thing; to call for some quality or + article. + + Regeneration. To make over anew; to better. + + Reconstructed. To put into a better condition; or to restore to its + original form. + + Rhythmic. Made to correspond in sound, in a regular or determined + time. + + Rudimentary. Original, or basic. + + Saturated. To thoroughly fill a substance, as with a liquid so it + will not hold more. + + Scantling. A piece of sawn timber, used as the upright support + of a building. + + Seclusion. Hidden; kept out of sight. + + Semblance. The same as; likened unto. + + Simulating. To copy; to imitate. + + Smelter. A furnace for melting metals. + + Solicitation. Asking for anything; requesting, by petition or + otherwise. + + Stimulating. To encourage; to cause to act. + + Stalagmite. An incrustation on the floor of a cave or cavern. + + Stalactite. The calcareous or lime hangings on the walls and + ceilings of a cavern. + + Stipulated. Set forth in some particular manner. + + Tactics. The science or art of military evolutions. + + Talisman. Something that produces or is capable of bringing about + a wonderful effect. + + Tempered. The quality in a metal of hardening. + + Tissues. The flesh, muscles and organic materials of a body. + + Tournament. A festival of ancient time; games and feats of arms. + + Transmitted. Sent away; forwarded to a distant place. + + Transport. Carried away by joyful news or emotions. + + Typical. A good sample; the like in kind. + + Unaffected. Not influenced; without emotion. + + Undulating. Wavy; rolling. + + Unscrupulous. Not guided by a right course; wrongful actions. + + + + +THE "HOW-TO-DO-IT" BOOKS + + +CARPENTRY FOR BOYS + +A book which treats, in a most practical and fascinating manner all +subjects pertaining to the "King of Trades"; showing the care and use of +tools; drawing; designing, and the laying out of work; the principles +involved in the building of various kinds of structures, and the +rudiments of architecture. It contains over two hundred and fifty +illustrations made especially for this work, and includes also a +complete glossary of the technical terms used in the art. The most +comprehensive volume on this subject ever published for boys. + + +ELECTRICITY FOR BOYS + +The author has adopted the unique plan of setting forth the fundamental +principles in each phase of the science, and practically applying the +work in the successive stages. It shows how the knowledge has been +developed, and the reasons for the various phenomena, without using +technical words so as to bring it within the compass of every boy. It +has a complete glossary of terms, and is illustrated with two hundred +original drawings. + + +PRACTICAL MECHANICS FOR BOYS + +This book takes the beginner through a comprehensive series of practical +shop work, in which the uses of tools, and the structure and handling of +shop machinery are set forth; how they are utilized to perform the work, +and the manner in which all dimensional work is carried out. Every +subject is illustrated, and model building explained. It contains a +glossary which comprises a new system of cross references, a feature +that will prove a welcome departure in explaining subjects. Fully +illustrated. + + _Price 60 cents per volume_ + + + + +THE HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUTS + + +A SERIES OF BOOKS FOR BOYS + + Which, in addition to the interesting boy scout stories by CAPTAIN ALAN + DOUGLAS, Scoutmaster, contain articles on nature lore, native animals + and a fund of other information pertaining to out-of-door life, + that will appeal to the boy's love of the open + +I. THE CAMPFIRES OF THE WOLF PATROL + +Their first camping experience affords the scouts splendid opportunities +to use their recently acquired knowledge in a practical way. Elmer +Chenoweth, a lad from the northwest woods, astonishes everyone by his +familiarity with camp life. A clean, wholesome story every boy should +read. + +II. WOODCRAFT; OR, HOW A PATROL LEADER MADE GOOD + +This tale presents many stirring situations in which some of the boys +are called upon to exercise all their ingenuity and unselfishness. A +story filled with healthful excitement. + +III. PATHFINDER; OR, THE MISSING TENDERFOOT + +Some mysteries are cleared up in a most unexpected way, greatly to the +credit of our young friends. A variety of incidents follow fast, one +after the other. + +IV. FAST NINE; OR, A CHALLENGE FROM FAIRFIELD + +They show the same team-work here as when in camp. The description of +the final game with the team of a rival town, and the outcome thereof, +form a stirring narrative. One of the best baseball stories of recent +years. + +V. GREAT HIKE; OR, THE PRIDE OF THE KHAKI TROOP + +After weeks of preparation the scouts start out on their greatest +undertaking. Their march takes them far from home, and the good-natured +rivalry of the different patrols furnishes many interesting and amusing +situations. + +VI. ENDURANCE TEST; OR, HOW CLEAR GRIT WON THE DAY + +Few stories "get" us more than illustrations of pluck in the face of +apparent failure. Our heroes show the stuff they are made of and +surprise their most ardent admirers. One of the best stories Captain +Douglas has written. + + +BOY SCOUT NATURE LORE TO BE FOUND IN THE HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUT SERIES + +Wild Animals of the United States--Tracking--in Number I. + +Trees and Wild Flowers of the United States in Number II. + +Reptiles of the United States in Number III. + +Fishes of the United States in Number IV. + +Insects of the United States in Number V. + +Birds of the United States in Number VI. + +_Cloth Binding Cover Illustrations in Four Colors 40c. Per Volume_ + + THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY + 147 FOURTH AVENUE (near 14th St.) NEW YORK + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS: CONQUEST OF +THE SAVAGES*** + + +******* This file should be named 21832.txt or 21832.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/1/8/3/21832 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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