A THIRD ATTACKING TRIBE
There was no common ground on which to start the mute conversation, and
the only replies volunteered by him were occasional grunts. Not a groan
escaped his lips when the Professor sought to remove the bullet, but he
sat there stoically, and bore it without a sign. The boys could not help
but admire his heroic mien throughout the trying hour, and when the
bullet was finally cut out and the wound carefully bound up, it looked
as though he tried to thank the Professor for the service.
During the remainder of the afternoon the Professor persisted in the
effort to gain some information, but not the slightest glimpse of
intelligence was extracted.
Finally George said: "I wonder if he has anything in those pouches? We
found some things in the others, you remember." This was a hint not to
be overlooked. A search was made, and among numerous trinkets was a
photograph of a dozen or more young men, and with a shout George
recognized it as one which had been taken on shipboard several weeks
before the explosion on board the _Investigator_, and which sent her to
the bottom.
George and Harry were both in the picture, and were pointed out. Here
was the very thing which was needed as a connecting link in their
interview with the chief. With the picture before him the chief was
requested to look at George and then at the picture, and so in the case
of Harry. The chief saw, and recognized the similarity, and his eyes
opened in astonishment. This was a most remarkable discovery.
When the Professor pointed to the others in the picture, and then to the
chief, the latter seemed for the first time to comprehend, but he slowly
shook his head and grunted, or made use of his own language to indicate
that he had no knowledge of them. The boys were fairly wild with
delight.
"Why not hunt the pockets of the other fellows?" shouted out Harry, as
he scrambled over the tailboard. About a hundred and fifty feet beyond
were the two who had fallen at the first fire, and they were searched,
but nothing in any way connecting them with their companions was
revealed, and later they went over the contents of the chief's pockets
with greater care.
An American coin, a matchbox, and several other articles, which were
apparently the relics of stickpins, were all that had any appreciable
value. There was nothing on any of the articles which had a name or even
the initials to give them a clue. As they were returning to the wagon
Harry picked up a small silver match safe, and on this were the initials
"J L V." "Who is J L V? Did you know of anyone by that name?"
"I don't remember anyone by that name. The name is not an unusual one to
begin with a V."
The Professor did not recall anyone by that name. The box was handed
around, and when John saw it, he started as though he had been struck.
He reached for it and almost grasped it from the Professor's hand, and
turned it over and over, and glanced at the initials, and then looked at
the Professor, and then at the boys, and his eyes ceased their
wanderings as he gazed at the chief.
[Illustration: _Fig. 2. The match safe._]
Could it be possible that his name was John L. V.? Was that his match
safe? What a wonderful possibility lay in these two happenings which
came so close together!
The chief, too, looked at the match safe, and when the Professor pointed
to John and then directed the captive's attention to the match safe, he
did it with the view of ascertaining whether or not he had ever seen
John. But to all these questionings the savage shook his head and
grunted a plain negative.
A careful watch had been kept during the entire day, in the hope that
the savages would reappear, and that the treatment of the chief would be
such as to predispose him in their favor, and thus open the way to
obtain such information as would be of service in aiding their
companions.
As night approached preparations were made to guard against any night
attack, and the prisoner was securely bound to prevent him from
obtaining any of the weapons. One singular thing about all of the
headgear and other articles of wear was the profusion of human hair,
which was worked into many of the garments or formed a prominent
decorative feature.
George was the first to notice this peculiarity. "Why is it that most
savage tribes take human hair or scalp their victims?"
"The North American Indian was noted for the custom of taking the scalp
of his enemies. It probably grew out of the desire to use the locks for
the purpose of decorations, just as you see in the case before you. In
olden times it was the custom of the vanquished to indicate submission
by plucking out a handful of hair and offering it to the victim as a
token of submission, but whether this grew out of the custom of
scalping, or whether the latter was an outgrowth of the hair token, is
not known."
"What interests me is, why they should take a portion of the skin if
they wanted the hair simply for decoration?"
"Principally because that was the easiest way to keep the lock intact.
Spencer, in his 'Evolution of Ceremonial Forms of Government,' relates
some curious things growing out of this custom of taking tribute of
hair. Thus, the habit of stroking the mustache, a custom prevalent
among Spanish courtiers, arose from this habit. The stroking was done in
the presence of ladies and superiors to indicate submission, or as an
evidence of inferiority."
"Why is it that these savages pay more attention to their headgear than
any other part of their clothing?"
"The savage regards the head as the most important part of the body. It
is also the portion which is first seen by an enemy or recognized by a
friend, hence he considers it a necessity to properly attire it for the
purpose of inculcating fear in one, or admiration in the other. Vanity
in the lower order of people leads them to excesses in the matter of
dress or ornamentation, just the same as with many civilized people."
Long before morning dawned Angel grew restless, and could not be quieted
by George. The latter believed that the savages had returned, if the
actions of Angel were any indications; but as the sun came up and a
careful scrutiny was made, nothing alarming was in sight.
An early breakfast was prepared, and the yaks yoked up, preliminary to a
start for the south. With a chief in their hands they felt safer in
their position than before, and were now in a condition to treat with
the natives.
Hardly had the wagon started before Harry ran up in haste and excitedly
whispered: "I see them coming; look to the south." Not far beyond was a
mass of them coming up hurriedly, less than a half mile away, and a
stealthy movement among the shrubbery in the immediate vicinity showed
the presence of the advance scouts which Angel had undoubtedly scented
an hour before.
The yaks were headed to the north, to give them ample opportunity to
employ their weapons, and the chief was placed at the tailboard of the
wagon, in full view of the pursuers, in the hope that his people would
heed the warning given the day before. This seemed to have no effect in
the warlike attitude of the attacking party.
"What I fear most is the possible attempt to surround us; to prevent
that it is better to drive the team forward at a pretty rapid rate."
The yaks were urged along, and their motion considerably accelerated by
the shrieks and howls of the demons, as they brandished their arrows and
spears. Thus far not an arrow had been loosened, and the fire of the
party in the wagon was reserved.
As the wagon surged forward the din increased, and soon a shower of
arrows fell among them, none taking effect, because accurate aim was not
possible while they were in motion. And now a concerted movement was
apparent to surround the wagon. Over one hundred warriors were counted,
and among them certain chiefs, recognized by their distinctive
headdress.
"Go for the river, Harry," was the Professor's injunction.
The yaks were now beyond all control. Several of the arrows found their
marks in the poor animals, and they were now vying with the foremost
savages in making speed. Eventually the flanks of the attacking party
outran the team, and the Professor made his way to the front, leaving
George and John to take care of the rear.
When one of the prominent chiefs, who was leading the flanking party,
presented a fair target, the Professor shot, and had the satisfaction of
seeing him fall, and this temporarily checked the pursuit on that side.
Grasping Harry's gun, he fired into the party on the opposite side, with
good effect. The opening shot by the Professor was a signal for George
and John.
And now began one of the most exciting running duels between the
contending forces. The Professor knew that if the river could be reached
they would have only one side to defend, but they were fully three miles
or more from the crossing point of the stream, and to make matters
worse, the team was beyond control, and was traveling to the northwest,
whereas the direct course to the river was to the north or northeast.
There was no help for it. They must keep cool, and reserve their fire.
After each shot the weapon of each would be reloaded, so that they
always had a reserve force of guns. The arrows came spasmodically, and
only a few of them from the trailing members of the band came near. The
danger was from those who were attempting to encircle the wagon.
John was requested by sign to go to the forward end, and he promptly
responded, and at every shot one of the pursuers went down. The main
object was to keep them away from the team a sufficient distance to
prevent injury to the yaks, and this required the greatest energy and
watchfulness.
The attacking party began to have a wholesome fear of the guns, and kept
at a distance, which prevented them from effectively using the arrows.
This pace was kept up for two miles, and the effect was now apparent on
the poor animals. Harry noticed it, but he kept up a brave front, and
did his share in the firing.
But now there was increased activity in the ranks of the enemy. Most of
the advance party had gathered at a clump of bush ahead, and partly to
the right, and Harry made every effort to divert the team to the left;
but they were blind to the urging, and too excited to heed the tugging
of Harry.
The Professor divined the purpose of the remarkable quiet on the part of
the savages, and called to George to come to the forward end in
anticipation of a rush, en masse, from the shelter of the brush. By some
instinct the yaks turned to the left before the danger point was
reached, but the band nevertheless rushed forward in rage, and to the
gratification of our party, they were so close together that aiming for
the thick of the pursuers was sufficient to assure a mark for each shot.
They did not heed the fallen, or wait to care for them, but rushed on
and endeavored to head off the yaks. Those in the wagon did not notice
that before them, and close at hand, lay a broad river. Harry was the
first to announce it with a shout, when he saw the party in the lead
halt, and move to the rear.
"What stream is this?" exclaimed George, excitedly.
"This must be the West River."
"And see, there is another stream to the right."
What a lucky circumstance that the team had made its way to the forks of
the two rivers, and that they were now protected by the streams on both
flanks. It was also fortunate for them that the team was by this time so
completely worn out, that as they were going out along the narrow tongue
of land, and the danger from their foes was growing less, that Harry
carefully crept along the wagon pole to the heads of the animals and by
quieting words soon restored them, and succeeded in bringing them under
control before the shores were reached.
Both animals had been wounded, and the first care of the Professor was
to relieve them. One of the arrows still hung in the side of Jill, and
when the wounds were dressed they did not seem any the worse for their
experience, but they were very tired, and inflamed with the excitement.
The peninsula within which they lay was not more than fifty feet wide
where the wagon was halted, and two hundred feet away its width was not
over one hundred feet, so it will be seen they were in a position which
could be easily defended. There was plenty of provision on hand, but the
matter of ammunition was the immediate cause of alarm. At least thirty
rounds had been fired in the running fight, and the first thing was to
take stock of this necessary article.
Only eight rounds were left, for the guns, and twenty for the pistols,
but as they were now safe from further attack this was not such a
calamity as they expected.
[Illustration: _Fig. 3. Scene of the fight at the River._]
Their captive was mute during the entire skirmish, and it was a
remarkable exhibition of a savage trait for the pursuers to disregard
the condition of one of their chiefs, by firing on him while in that
condition. How many were killed or disabled they had no means of
knowing, but many must have fallen, for when they lined up across the
tongue of land behind them the number had considerably diminished.
"It seems as though they intend to make a siege of it," was Harry's
comment, as he noticed them preparing a fire.
The wagon was drawn up so that its broadside was toward the enemy, and
the boards which had been carried, let down so as to form a screen for
the part below the body. This afforded a safe place for the yaks, if
perchance during the night the attacking party should get near enough by
stealth to use their arrows.
As night approached there was an evident movement on the part of the
besiegers, which could not be understood, until it was noticed that they
had taken a much closer position. This was considered most annoying, and
with a view to giving them another lesson, a few shots were fired into
the thickest groups. This was answered by howls of anger, as they rushed
back beyond the line of their former camp fire.
"They will learn a good lesson if they keep after us much longer. They
have a wholesome fear of us now, and if our ammunition holds out, we can
wipe out the whole lot," was George's grim comment after the last
incident.
"Fear is certainly a wonderful thing in this world," commented the
Professor; "without it the entire history of the world would have to be
changed and rewritten."
"Why do you think so?"
"If you stop to consider the element of fear you will see that it is at
the bottom of almost every human aspiration. Why does a man work to lay
up a store for a rainy day? Why does he toil day after day, and often
lose his life in the effort? What prompts the mother to guard her
infant in the face of every danger? You may say it is love, but behind
that love is fear which prompts the action."
During the night, when John and Harry were on guard, John quietly stole
from the wagon, and as stealthily as a savage moved out over the ground
toward the Indian encampment. Heretofore there had been a protest
against his doing so, but in this case Harry did not offer any
objections.
On his return Harry noticed several objects which he carried back and
was surprised to see they were the peculiar headdresses worn by the
attacking party. It was a matter of wonder to him that John should make
a prize of these things, but when the Professor was called, and he
noticed them, his face lighted up, and nodding his head, said: "Well,
this is a wonderful piece of information."
"What is it?"
"How stupid I have been, not to recognize that before."
"What is the matter with the headgears that John brought in?"
"Look at the topknot of the fellow we have in the wagon."
The moonlight was sufficiently clear to enable Harry to distinguish a
pronounced difference.
"So another tribe that our captive does not belong to has been pursuing
us?"
This news was of so much importance that Harry waked up George, although
it was not his hour for the watch.
"What do you think, George, the fellow we have does not belong to the
attacking party." George was too sleepy to comprehend the intelligence
at once.
"How do you know it?"
"John has just brought in several of the headdresses, and they are
entirely unlike the one the chief has."
The utter disregard of the savages for the chief was now explained.
When morning came the Professor turned to the boys, and remarked: "I
have still further information to impart this morning."
"What is it?" was the query of both.
"Last night when I made an examination of the articles John brought in,
I was under the impression that our pursuers were the other tribe that
we first met north of the river. On more carefully looking them over I
find that our late enemies are an entirely different tribe, so that we
must count on three distinct people in our further explorations."