THE RESCUE OF THE CAPTIVE BOYS
The boys were chattering and whooping as they ran, to the immense
amusement of the Professor. They had converted themselves into regular
American Indians for the occasion, and tried to imitate the yells of the
savages who had attacked them the previous day.
Passing the large hut which stood in the foreground, the boys imagined
they heard a cry from within. Possibly it was a lure, and the Professor
advised them not to be too rash.
"Here we are; inside the hut; hurrah for the United States." The boys
looked at each other in amazement. The Professor, too, was puzzled.
Cautiously approaching the opening, the Professor called out: "Who is
there!"
Instantly came the cry from two voices: "We are American boys who were
captured by the savages." Nothing more was needed for the impetuosity of
George and Harry. With the bolos the enclosure was soon cut away, and
they rushed in, but the Professor and John remained outside.
In one corner, and tied to stanchions which had been driven in the
ground, were two boys, badly emaciated, and covered with filth and rags.
When the ropes that bound them were cut away and assisted to rise they
were too weak to stand without support.
"We are so hungry."
"How long have you been here?" asked Harry, excitedly.
"We don't know, but more than two weeks. We were captured by another
tribe and in the last fight were taken from the ones who first captured
us."
"Come out into the light," and Harry and George each put his arms around
one of the boys, and as they came out looked at the Professor and John
in astonishment too strong for words.
In the excitement they broke down and wept, and well they might. Our
boys were touched beyond description, and John went up to them and put
his arms around them, and this act so affected Harry and George that
they too joined the boys in tears that could not be kept back.
The Professor was moved, as he turned away to hide his feelings, but he
recovered, and with a great show of unconcern, exclaimed: "Back to the
wagon, as quickly as possible." This brought them to a realization of
their position, and Harry and George almost carried the boys toward the
wagon, while John and the Professor lingered behind.
He had anticipated the return of the savages, and surmising that a still
larger force might be within calling distance, did not consider it
prudent to tarry long at that spot. It was well that they did not
remain, as the rescued boys informed the Professor that the main body
was beyond the ridge, and not more than several miles away unless they
were on the warpath.
[Illustration: "'_Come out into the light,' and Harry and George each
put his arms around one of the boys_" [See p. 62]]
There was no time for many words. When the poor boys reached the wagon
another surprise was in store for them, as they gazed on the wounded
chief, who was bound in the wagon.
The savages did not go far beyond the village, and this was observed by
the Professor, and was the moving cause of his sharp order when the boys
were brought out. While Harry and John were engaged in turning the team
around, George hurriedly set food before the famished boys, and they
were cautioned against taking too much. They were really almost starved,
and their appearance plainly showed the treatment they had received.
The Professor called out: "They are coming; have all the guns ready."
Before they had fully taken all of the food the boys begged to be
allowed to assist in the defense, and George was thoughtful enough to
recognize the fact that the guns they had were not like the
breech-loaders, and without wasting time told the boys how they were
manipulated.
"Where did you get these funny-looking guns?" asked one of the boys.
"We made them," was the reply, and the boys looked at each other and
gasped in surprise.
Beyond, the savages were gathering, and moving forwardly, evidently with
a view of attacking. The Professor turned to the boys and asked them
whether the natives had guns, and they answered that when they were
captured they saw a half dozen old weapons, but had never used them, as,
apparently, there was no ammunition. Where the savages obtained them
was a mystery. They believed the weapons were used as charms, to aid
them against their enemies, and that belief gained ground from the fact
that thus far the tribes, in whose territory they now were, had been
victorious in every battle that had been fought for the past year.
This was indeed interesting news, and probably the actions of the
wounded chief, in appearing to discourage the trip to the north, had
some relation to this belief.
The gathering warriors could be seen plainly, coming over the hill,
beyond the village, and gathered in a mass near the hut from which the
boys had been taken. A conference was in progress, which did not appear
to be harmonious, but eventually the party moved forward and divided
into three sections, with the view of enveloping the position of the
Professor and his party.
"They will attempt to surround us, and we shall now have to attack them
by assaulting one party at a time. As suggested in our previous
encounters, the five guns must always be kept as a reserve for the last
emergency. Fire and then reload, and we should attack one of the parties
at a time, so the greatest execution at any one point will be most
likely to cause the greatest effect. Fire with the utmost care and
deliberation. Three will fire at a time, and then, after an interval,
three more can fire, first at one party and then at the next. Such a
course will be most likely to throw them into confusion. Furthermore,
care should be taken that all do not fire at the same individual. The
one on my left should aim at the one in the party to the left, and the
one firing on my right should select some one in the group to the right
of the center, while the center of our firing squad will aim at the
center of their band."
These precautions were necessary with the new recruits. The two firing
squads were arranged in this order: The Professor, with George and one
of the boys at his sides, and John with Harry and the other boy
assisting him.
The position of the wagon was a strong one, as it was flanked near both
ends by large trees, and it was fortunate that no large trees grew near
them, the position having been selected with the object of defense in
view; but they were liable to attack from all sides, which made the
position more difficult.
The two flanking parties made their way carefully around, and at a
signal, a rush was made. The Professor ordered the first volley, and
three fell. This immediately checked the attacking party on that side,
but the other did not stop, and after deliberately holding their fire
until they came up much nearer, a fair target was obtained, and the
order to fire was repeated.
The Professor had anticipated a rush from the center party, but the
terrible effect of the two rounds had demoralized them. The reserve guns
were ready had it been necessary, and without waiting for the renewal of
an attack the guns were reloaded, and Harry and George took it upon
themselves to load the boys' guns during the interim.
The besieged played a waiting game. With ten shots at their command they
felt sure of being able to withstand anything but a rush, and even in
that case, they had the bolos and the spears all within reach. It was an
extremely hazardous, but not the most dangerous, position, since six
fighting men, in a safe position, could not be easily overcome, as the
Professor explained, and this gave all the boys the greatest confidence.
The flanking parties withdrew, and joined the others, taking with them
the wounded. Two hours of quiet reigned. The night, which was now
approaching, was the most dangerous period, and they appreciated the
insecurity of the position to withstand a night attack.
The river was to their right, and not more than two miles away, and the
boys saw the Professor frequently look in that direction. "I believe,"
he finally said, "we can better afford to take the risk of a daylight
trip to the river, than to remain here another minute. The lesson we
gave is rankling within them, and they will attack us with different
tactics the next time."
The yokes were still on the yaks, and it was the work of moments only to
bring them to the pole and when the ring had been slipped on Harry had
them in motion down the hill. The Professor and John dismounted, and
stood guard, and Harry was told to move directly toward the river and
pass to the right of a hill, which appeared to have a precipitous side,
which was not more than a half mile away.
The parting injunction of the Professor was: "Go on without stopping
until you reach the clump of trees before you and just beyond the little
stream in your path. That will give you a good view of every approach."
The wagon went down the hill at a rapid pace. The Professor and John
kept a vigilant watch on their enemies, and it was not long before the
disappearance of the wagon was noted, and then the utmost excitement
prevailed. It was evident that there was no concerted movement among
them. There was an aimless running to and fro, but the two stood there,
guns in hand, and that no doubt disconcerted the natives, who evidently
believed that the wagon had been removed to a more advantageous
position.
The inaction did not continue long, for it was now noticed that parties
of two and three stole out from the shelter of the huts, some going to
the north and others to the south, with a view of surrounding and spying
the new position. The wagon was beyond the sight of their position on
the hill, and after John had looked inquiringly at the Professor several
times, both began a forward movement after the wagon, and by proceeding
at a rapid pace discerned it in the distance.
After crossing the little stream referred to by the Professor, both
halted, in order to scour the country behind them. John clutched the
Professor by the sleeve and pointed to several moving figures to their
left, cautiously moving up the hill to the position previously occupied
by the wagon.
This was a great relief, as it was evident the savages had no idea that
the wagon was in full retreat toward the river. Moving cautiously from
tree to tree the Professor and John traveled as rapidly as possible in
the direction of the wagon, and the boys were commended for their
forethought in keeping the wagon in a hidden position while awaiting
their arrival.
"It looks as though we had outwitted them, at any rate for the time
being, and it will keep them back long enough to enable us to get a good
start, so hurry on as fast as possible. Make for the side of the hill
which I pointed out before. If they discover our absence, and can gather
their forces we may be able to use the precipitous side of the hill as a
protection. But remember, the river is our objective point."
No urging was needed. On the way the second stream or running brook was
crossed. Harry called to one of the boys: "Get some of the copper
kettles from the wagon and get some water. If we are held up at the hill
the yaks will need it, as well as ourselves." George and the boys
recognized the importance of it, and weak as the two rescued boys were,
they dragged the filled kettles to the wagon, and George fastened the
wooden covers on them.
Within ten minutes more the hill was reached. It was not high nor
difficult to mount, and at one point it seemed to spring up into a peak,
the southern side of the point presenting a steep outline. The boys saw
that on the side facing the river, which was less than a mile away, the
precipitous portion was formed by a wall of peculiar brownish-gray
rock.
Behind this rocky fortress the wagon was driven, and the first care of
Harry was to water the animals, as they had not been allowed to quench
their thirst on the way. They waited an hour or more for the appearance
of the Professor and John. George went out on a quest back over the
trail which they had just made, and almost reached the stream before he
caught sight of them lurking through the trees and shrubbery.
They were relieved to know that the wagon was in safety, and after the
stream was crossed the three delayed no longer, but hurried rapidly
forward and soon reached the wagon, to the great relief of Harry and the
boys.
"Let us haste to the river," was the Professor's hurried order, as he
came up, and the yaks were at once urged forward, but as he passed the
rocky wall, he cried out: "Wait, let us examine this first."
The boys knew that if, in such an emergency, he could call a halt, the
appearance of the rock would reveal something that might be of value.
The action of the Professor attracted the attention of John at once, and
he turned to the wall and glanced along its face in an inquiring manner,
and as he did so wandered along the rocky outline in a curious manner.
While the Professor was engaged in examining the formation John came
back hurriedly into sight, in considerable agitation, and running up to
Harry, grasped him by the arm and led him back. Harry followed,
intensely interested, and the other boys also noted the movement and
rushed over to the narrow trail which they had taken.
As they rounded a corner John and Harry had disappeared, and George was
astounded. In a moment more Harry ran back and cried out: "Tell the
Professor to come, quickly."
He appeared, as the unusual sight of the boys running after John had
already attracted his attention, and when the boys reached the second
turn and saw the Professor coming up, the latter was curious to know
what the commotion meant.
"It means," answered Harry, "that we have found another cave."
The entrance was to the left, and was so hidden by shrubbery that only
the utmost scrutiny enabled them to distinguish it.
They gazed at each other in astonishment. George was the first to speak:
"Why wouldn't this be a good place to hide?"
There was no answer, but John heard, and immediately shook his head, and
the Professor, not noticing this motion of John during his intent
examination of the entrance, turned around and said: "We must leave this
place as quickly as possible."
This startled all of them into activity at once, and they made a rush
for the team, with John in the lead. Without a moment's loss of time,
the way was made down the hill, and the Professor and John took up their
positions as rear guards.
"Drive directly to the open space at the bank to the left, and unhitch
the team."
The boys heard and started forward, urging them along as fast as the
condition of the ground would permit, and within fifteen minutes had the
team ranged behind the wagon in a manner similar to their previous
training for the purposes of defense.
"I think one of you boys and George had better go back and assist in
case they are pursuing," and Ralph, the stronger of the two,
volunteered, and after taking a new supply of ammunition, followed back
in time to see a number of lurking savages on the hill beyond the last
stream.
The escape had been discovered, and the savages collecting their forces
were in full pursuit. In an incredibly short space of time the shelving
path along the rocky wall, adjacent the cave, was filled with warriors,
who could now plainly see the wagon at the brink of the river, and the
Professor and John soon appeared and urged haste back to the wagon.
Ralph ventured the opinion that while there might be fifty or more in
the party, he was sure that a still greater number were available, and
when Tom, the other boy, was appealed to, replied that there must be
considerably more than one hundred, if not a hundred and fifty in the
tribe who might be mustered to attack them.
When the wagon was reached all were cautioned not to waste any
ammunition, as they had but little to spare. The savages came up and
took position far beyond the range of the guns, and the open space
afforded them a much better protection than would have been available,
even at the hill.
It was evident, however, to George and Harry, that John and the
Professor had some other reason for urging the sudden departure from the
mouth of the cave. Neither could have seen the savages approaching from
that point, and they noticed the two looking at each other when the
savages made their appearance in front of the cave.
There was no time for questionings now. Would they attempt an attack? It
was past midday, and hunger had been forgotten. While both of the
rescued boys had kept within the wagon as much as possible during their
flight from the hills, they were very weak, and had been given food in
small quantities, so as to accustom their contracted stomachs to the
stimulating action of the nutriment.
Within an hour new parties approached from the rear. Reinforcements were
coming, and they probably intended to delay the attack until the entire
force was available. This looked very serious indeed, but through all
the Professor was grave and dignified, and showed no evidences of being
unduly disturbed at the gathering clans.
"What we need fear more than anything else now is a night attack," was
the Professor's comment, as he watched their movements.
Ralph stepped up to the Professor, and said: "I do not think they will
venture to do so, because I do not remember that they have ever
attempted to do so at night. The tribe that captured us always made
night sorties, but these people never did, and for that reason I do not
believe they will attempt it now."
The Professor thanked Ralph for the information.