THE ESCAPE. ENCOUNTERING ANOTHER HOSTILE TRIBE
The boys did not know how to receive this news; whether it complicated
the situation or really offered an easier solution. The annoying thing
was that the natives were at war with each other, and, apparently, all
were at war with them.
The Professor commended John for his intuition, or whatever it may be
called, in enabling them to gain this information. In his mute way he
made a place for himself in the hearts of all. His wonderful ability
with the gun, his caution and prudence, and the remarkable calmness and
ease that characterized all his actions in the most trying periods, were
such commendable traits that the boys could not help but show him their
admiration in every way, and he knew and seemed to appreciate this.
Every day some new phase of his character would present itself, and the
Professor, ever alert to note any symptoms, quietly told the boys that
there was every evidence that he was now in the making of a dual self.
"What do you mean by that?"
"It is a term applied to one who has lost memory of his past, and in
that condition has begun life anew and gone on for years in the new or
dual existence, and perhaps ended his life in the dual personality. In
many cases, however, returning consciousness, which came just as
suddenly as they were deprived of it, caused them to forget all that had
taken place during the first period."
"Under those conditions which is the real man or individual, the memory
he first started out with or the memory he got afterwards?"
"You have asked a strong, leading question, George, and it may never be
answered satisfactorily. Supposing a man should live a period of thirty
years, and then have memory entirely obliterated, and should exist the
residue of thirty years more as another person, there would be as much
reason in calling one as normal as the other; but on the other hand, if,
during the latter period, memory should return, and he would be
rehabilitated into his former self, I am of the opinion that the first
period would be the normal one."
"You seem to think that is what makes the person?"
"What else is there to man but memory? Is it the flesh, or blood and
bones? Animals have those also. Memory is the greatest faculty in man,
and it has been argued that what is called the divine spirit is merely
the ability to recollect."
"But animals recollect, and would you call them divine for that reason?"
"No; for the reason that the lower orders of living creatures, as we
term them, do not remember all things, but only certain features of
events, and do not, except within a very limited range, reason from one
phase to another. Man is called divine by his own kind because he has
done things so far above what the brute has accomplished that it is
regarded as a divine attribute. But he has done these things because he
was endowed with a memory which enabled him to retain a consciousness of
things, and to follow up the stored knowledge, or the accumulated
essences of events which materialized in his remarkable works. Would it
make any difference if the being which does these wonderful things
should be in the form of a dog or a horse? If Red Angel could remember
all that is told him, and could thereby do the next day what he had
learned the day before, he would compare favorably with many human
beings who possess our forms, and are called human beings."
No attack was made that night, and the next morning all were relieved at
the rest afforded them. The savages had too much respect to venture near
the camp, and a consultation was held as to a wise course to follow. The
captive was of no use to them, but it would have been inhuman to turn
him adrift, so that he should fall into the hands of the besieging
party. Eventually he might be of service to them.
The main river to the west of them was fully two hundred feet broad, and
the stream which bounded the other side of their position was, at its
mouth, over a hundred and fifty feet in width, and it appeared to be
entirely too deep to attempt fording.
No doubt the savages knew this, and counted on an easy capture when
their provisions should give out. Thus the second day neared its close,
and near evening there was an evident addition to the besieging force. A
close watch was kept during the night, but no attempt made to force the
situation.
This inaction became most monotonous. It was exceedingly trying, and the
condition after the third day was now made plain; that they intended to
starve them into submission.
During the early part of the evening, the Professor, realizing that
something must be done, decided on a novel plan to relieve them of the
savages. If, by any possibility, they could get some logs, sufficient to
build a raft to help sustain the wagon, he believed the yaks would be
able to swim the river and thus take the rafted wagon with them.
The boys, when the idea was broached, were heartily in favor of the
scheme. Harry looked at John. "I only wish we could make our desires
known to him."
The Professor took John by the hand, and led him to the brink of the
river, and then pointing to the stream and to the wagon, and motioning
in the direction across the river, he seemed to comprehend the meaning.
When they returned to the wagon, the Professor said to Harry: "Do you
think you and John could cross the stream to the north of us, and find
sufficient poles and driftwood for the purpose?"
Harry jumped at the opportunity. The moon was shining, but was
occasionally hidden by clouds. Motioning to John they took their guns
and bolos, and at the instance of the Professor, a quantity of rope.
Some driftwood had caught at the shore to their left, and this was
recovered, and from that a small raft was built sufficient to carry
both across the narrowest stream.
To the north of them, less than a quarter of a mile away, was a quantity
of small timber, and the Professor suggested that it would be advisable
to go a considerable distance so the cutting of the logs would not be
heard by their watchers.
They pushed the raft silently across the water, and drew it up for
safety, and then stole down to the water's edge to make their way beyond
the sight of the savages on the opposite side. All along the shore
advantage was taken of every piece of wood available to serve as a
floating structure, and when the wood was reached a few of convenient
size were selected and cut up into lengths which would enable them to be
readily rolled down to the river.
This work occupied them until midnight, and four large trees were thus
prepared and lashed together, and one, wading in the water along the
beach, using a pole, the other, with the rope, they held it within
poling distance of the shore. In this manner the logs and detached
pieces were floated down to the mouth of the stream, and having tied the
small raft to the stern, it was finally poled across and landed at the
water's edge not far from the wagon.
It was fortunate that the water was shallow and that the beach was
shelving at this point, as it materially aided in effecting the
launching. The moon went down before four o'clock that morning, and the
yaks were yoked up and led to the river.
When Harry returned he was surprised at what he saw in their camp. The
Professor and George had been at work also. Several uprights had been
put up on the side of the wagon facing the besiegers, and over this had
been stretched an old canvas and parts of such goods as could be
dispensed with, so as to imitate the wagon, as nearly as possible.
Their ramie fiber top was of a light yellowish color, which looked
bright in the moonlight. This had been removed and stored in the wagon,
so that when the wagon was driven away the sham arrangement did not
disclose the disappearance of the vehicle.
The wagon was driven into the water nearly hub deep, and two of the
largest logs were then floated in under the axles, and the smaller ones
lashed inside, so that the sustaining power of the combined logs,
together with the wooden portion of the wagon and body, would be
sufficient to sustain their weights.
Harry worked liked a hero, and took personal charge of the handling of
the team, which was his especial delight. His presence near the yaks
always gave them confidence, and on this occasion he took his position
on the pole between them and near the yoke, and thus gently urged them
forward.
For twenty-five feet or more the wheels kept on the ground, but soon
thereafter the wheels were free, and they were delighted to find that
the timbers did not permit the body to go down very low into the water,
and this saved their bedding from becoming soaked.
The yaks performed their work nobly. Some months before they had forded
the South River, at the time the flagpole for Observation Hill was cut,
so they had ample reason to believe that they would be dependable under
these circumstances. It did not require much urging on the part of
Harry, and the opposite bank was soon reached, and the cattle scrambled
up the beach, but were stopped before the wagon emerged from the water
so the logs could be cut adrift.
[Illustration: _Fig. 4. The Wagon Raft._]
The passage was made without a single mishap, and all wondered why this
plan had not been thought of before.
"Let us move on into the interior a short distance, so as to deceive
them as to our direction. It is conceivable that they may have boats of
some kind which they have sent for, and we should, therefore, try to put
them off the track."
All were now tired and needed rest. They had not slept a moment during
the night, and it was not yet daylight. Beyond was an elevation, toward
which the Professor directed them. There the wagon could be concealed,
and from that point they would also have a view of the future movements
of their enemies.
When the sun arose the savages could be seen standing guard over the
sham wagon, at their old camp ground, and the boys enjoyed this bit of
humor in the extreme. "I feel so jolly at the trick that I want to go
down to the river and laugh at them," exclaimed George.
Up to nine o'clock there was no indication that the ruse had been
discovered. The Professor was in his happiest mood at the good
imitation, and John had an unmistakable smile, and, as the boys'
laughter grew more boisterous, he broke into a laugh that actually
startled them.
It was no less amusing to the captive. Beyond question it pleased him,
but whether on account of his own safety or because of the ludicrous
attitude of the besiegers, was beyond their comprehension. In his short
captivity he had taken a fancy to the Professor, on whom he kept his
eyes constantly. It was evident that more than the usual interest was
displayed in watching his movements. From the first there was no
sulkiness in the chief, nor did he exhibit any moroseness, or anything
which indicated a spirit of revenge.
The kind and simple act of binding his wounds and making him comfortable
seemed to amend for everything. Occasionally the Professor would go to
him, and examine the wound, and sometimes pat him on the back--actions
which he seemed to understand. No doubt the Professor had a motive in
all this, as we shall probably see. The boys knew that he understood
human nature in all its aspects, and that in this, as in other things,
they felt he was merely preparing the way to utilize him in the future.
They were now on the western shore of West River, and when they had
their full share of laughter at the deluded enemies, preparations were
made for a start. But where to? Directly to the east were the three
hostile tribes, and that direction was impossible. The Professor
attempted another conversation with the chief. As all were preparing for
the start, he pointed to the north, and at this the chief shook his head
to indicate disapproval. When he motioned toward the south it was even a
more vigorous negative. Here was a dilemma. What did he mean by such
peculiar actions?
The start was delayed to give them an opportunity to discuss the evident
meaning of their captive. While this was going on Harry's attention was
directed to their old camp. Their late enemies had discovered the ruse,
and were now rushing to beat down the pretended wagon.
"See the party on the north side of the river. I suppose that is a
scouting party and they found out our little joke," and George again
burst into laughter at the scene.
The chief was interested now. The party from the north came into view,
and after passing up the river for a quarter of a mile or more, dashed
across, and came back on the same side of the stream that the late
besiegers occupied.
"See, they are fighting each other. What does it all mean?"
"It simply means," answered the Professor, "that the other tribe, or one
of the other tribes on the island, sent for reinforcements, and are now
taking a hand."
The chief was consulted and asked by signs whether the attacking party
from the north side was his own people, and he shook his head in the
negative. This proved, beyond doubt, that at least three different
people inhabited the island to the south and southeast.
"What puzzles me," said the Professor, "is the fact that our chief
opposes our traveling to the north and to the south as well."
"Do you think there are any tribes on this side of the river?"
"That is the only inference I can draw from his actions."
A battle was in progress in the underbrush beyond the river. The
attacking forces were numerically superior, and within an hour had
driven their opponents far to the south, and the successful tribe could
be plainly seen, as they searched the hills to find the bodies of
victims, and to gather the trophies of their victory.
"We might as well go north on our way home, as directly to the east,"
was the final remark of the Professor.
The boys were actually startled at this sudden announcement. But when he
pointed out that their ammunition was very low, owing to the fierce
resistance which they had to make, the wisdom of the course appealed to
them.
"I am glad to go," was Harry's immediate response, "because when we come
back next time we'll have something that will give the whole lot a
better argument than we offered them this time."
[Illustration: _Fig. 5. Savage's Hut._]
The yaks started for the north, and the chief's eyes gave a warning
look, which they did not heed at that time. They afterwards remembered
how portentous that look was. All that day, over broken ground, and a
rough, hilly country, the team laboriously made its way. The best that
could be done over such a country was two and a half miles an hour.
Late in the afternoon the party were startled on coming in sight of
numerous small huts, and a larger hut at one side of the cluster of
smaller ones. The approach was so unexpected that in spite of their
efforts, the team could not be turned around before their approach was
heralded throughout the tribal village.
Here was the first view of the homes of the natives. The huts were very
crude, and were devoid of windows, all of them built round with more or
less pointed or conical tops.
"Those huts don't look like the ones we saw to the south on the day we
had our first fight," was George's opinion.
"You are correct in that, and if you notice, the people look
differently, as well. What is that? I believe they have firearms." The
Professor's brow gathered, as he said this, because now, that the alarm
had been given, the warriors were running to and fro, and among them
were several who carried guns.
The wagon was hurriedly put into a posture of defense, and the cattle
protected as best they could. They approached cautiously, and the
Professor walked forward and held out his hand in token of friendliness.
They withdrew a short distance for consultation. This gave the party an
opportunity to study the new people.
The first thing noticed was the entire difference in the clothing worn.
The other tribes had nothing but the breech clout, but these had other
garments, and their skin was darker in color.
"I am afraid we shall have trouble in a fight with these people, because
their guns are first-class make," said Harry.
"You need have no fear of their guns," answered the Professor.
The boys looked at him wonderingly, as he continued: "They may have had
ammunition in the past, but it is evident that they have none now. See
how the fellows who have the guns carry them. They use them like
spears."
They finally turned from their conference, and without a word or sign
opened hostilities with a volley of arrows. The gage of battle had been
thrown down. It was fortunate that the warriors were few in comparison
with their last enemies. Not more than twenty were counted as they were
waiting for the result of the consultation.
This challenge could not well be misunderstood, and the Professor gave
the word to fire. Every shot took effect, and the result was a startling
one for the savages. Without waiting for the second round they broke and
fled, rushing down past the large hut and through the village,
gathering, as they went, the women and children which had previously
grouped together to witness the fight. This was too much for the boys,
who rushed down after them, followed by John and the Professor, until
the large hut was reached.