CHIEF AND THE POISON PLANT
John was visibly exhausted from the effort he had made, and soon passed
off into a quiet sleep. During the evening the Professor suggested that
they might retire to the shop, so that he would not be disturbed, but
John insisted that it was so good to hear their voices again, and would
like to have them all present.
Harry and George kept them interested a great portion of the time with
stories of their adventures. They told about the bear fight for the
possession of the honey; the shooting of the wild animals in South
Forest, the making of the flag, the capture of the yaks, the flagpole
incident, the fight between the bulls, and the amusing affair connected
with the removal of the yaks to their new home.
This latter occurrence is what amused John the most, and suggested that
probably if they had adopted some of the hitches which sailors used the
yaks could have been controlled more easily. This interested George.
"Won't you please tell us something about the hitches and knots which
the sailors make?"
"They have a great many forms, each designed for some particular
purpose, and if you get a rope I will try and give you some of the
principal ones. Get a piece long enough so that the knots and hitches
can be kept for future reference."
[Illustration: _Fig. 16. Slip knot._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 17. Overhand knot._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 18. Flemish Loo._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 19. Fig. 8 knot._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 20. Stevedore knot._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 21. Bowline knot._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 22. Double knot._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 23. Weaver's knot._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 24. Carrick bend._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 25. Reef bend._]
He then proceeded to make the knots, and continued: "The seven knots
(Figs. 16 to 22, inclusive) are made at the ends of the rope, as you
will notice, and are the forms used to attach the rope to an object. In
the next three forms two ropes are attached to each other, and are
usually called 'bends' (Figs. 23, 24, 25).
"Then, in addition to that, the sailor has several ways of attaching the
rope by a hitch around a standard, or other object. Look at these two
forms (Figs. 26, 27). Look at the boat knot, where the hitch is made in
the rope itself; and the sheet bend toggle, where the ends of two ropes
are attached together to a standard or cleat. And now I am making what
are called hitches, and the three forms (Figs. 28, 29, 30) are the best
examples."
[Illustration: _Fig. 26. Boat Knot._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 27. Sheet bend and Toggle._]
[Illustration: _Clove Hitch Fig. 28._]
[Illustration: _Half Hitch Fig. 29._]
[Illustration: _Timber Hitch Fig. 30._]
Thus the conversation drifted from one subject to another, covering a
variety of interesting topics. George reminded the Professor that he had
not yet explained to them what the spectroscope was, and its uses. He
laughingly responded:
"That instrument is one of the most wonderful in all the ranges of human
discoveries. By its means the elements of substances are determined, and
the composition of the heavenly bodies are ascertained."
"In what way is it done?"
"Simply by using light as the agency."
"Is it like a telescope?"
[Illustration: _Fig. 31. The color Spectrum._]
"No; entirely different. It depends wholly on one thing, and that is the
breaking up or dividing the light that comes from an object. Let me make
this a little plainer. If a ray of sunlight is allowed to pass through
an orifice into a darkened room, and in the transit through the opening
it goes through a prism, or three-sided piece of glass, the light
produced on the opposite wall will show the seven colors of which
sunlight is composed. The drawing (Fig. 31) shows how this is arranged.
Now iron shows these colors differently arranged, aluminum in another
way, and so on with all different substances, and the light projected
from each is called its spectrum, its particular analysis."
John's recital during the day had produced a powerful impression on
all, as well it might. It shows what wonderful trials men can endure.
Ralph and Tom were frequently affected by it, and at times could not
prevent tears from coming. They recalled their own sufferings.
The Professor thanked John that evening for his story, and said: "We
must not tax the patient with any more talk to-night. We have learned a
lesson of perseverance and trials. The history of man is always
profitable, and we are thankful for the news it gives us of the people
here but you must be patient and wait a more opportune time to hear our
story, and then we can advise with each other as to our future course."
The boys were early in conference with each other after they left John,
because there were some interesting things to them in John's story,
which needed clearing up.
"Did you hear what he said about that cave?" was Ralph's first question.
"Yes; and I think I know where that cave is?" answered Harry.
"Where?" asked Tom and George in a breath.
"Right at the camp where we found you."
"Oh, you mean that cave we found at the hillside after we started for
the river?"
"Don't you recall that John took me around to the mouth of the cave, and
when we said that we might use that to hide in, he shook his head, and
moved away?"
"I thought the Professor acted queerly about it, too, because he urged
us away from the place."
All remembered the circumstance, and they also recalled that the
Professor gave a vague reply when they asked him the reason why.
George cast a scrutinizing glance at Harry, who waited for him to speak.
"Harry, do you think he found any treasure in that cave?"
Ralph and Tom now opened their eyes in wonder. Was that what he meant
when he said there was something wonderful there? Harry looked at the
boys for a moment, in the intensity of the situation, and said: "And we
have also found a cave." But the eyes of George caught Harry, who
suddenly stopped, because he recalled their agreement not to divulge it
to the boys until the matter was mentioned to him.
"Where is it?" exclaimed Tom, eagerly.
"Not far from here."
"Will it be much trouble to visit it?"
"No; and we shall probably do so some day."
An island full of bitter and vindictive savages, and a handful of men to
meet them. It looked, indeed, like a hopeless task. John's story left
many things unsaid; many things that they longed to know. Who were
Wright and Walters, whose names were in the note found in the
_Investigator's_ lifeboat, and who was Will, the writer of the note?
The Professor was just as anxious as the boys to have those matters
cleared up, but he knew it would be unwise to tax his strength with a
further recital, and the inevitable questions which would be propounded,
and it was well that his injunctions were followed, because he was not
yet well by any means, and the further news which they awaited was
postponed.
In the evening Ralph had the flute, but the bass viol was not yet ready,
so that the two instruments gave a little diversion to the day of
excitement and wonder.
John's illness did not now interfere with the work on the house. It was
pushed forward with the greatest energy, the roof and sides enclosed,
and they were now nearly ready for occupying it, by the time John was
again able to be about.
Shortly after they had made the first samples of glass, some months
before, the trip to the west had postponed the work in that direction,
and the Professor, with the aid of George, turned out the first samples
of glass, which they intended to use in the new building.
"Why can't we have a looking-glass? It would be such fun to set up
several of them."
"I think we have sufficient mercury for the purpose," answered the
Professor; so calling in Ralph they set to work, under the Professor's
direction, to make some mirrors.
"The principal thing in mirrors is to get a white reflecting surface.
Silver and mercury are metals which lend themselves to that use. If you
polish anything bright enough it will serve as a mirror, but the whiter
the surface is the better."
"Then why wouldn't white paper be the best?"
"It would if you could get a fine polish on its surface, but the finest
surface on the densest paper is not as smooth as the polished surface of
the metals."
"What is the best way to make the mirror?"
"The most available plan for us to follow is to make an amalgam of tin
and mercury."
"But what do you mean by an amalgam?"
"It means the combination of mercury, or quicksilver, with any other
metal."
"Will it be difficult to combine tin and mercury, so as to make an
amalgam?"
"That is one of the simplest things in the arts. Tin and mercury unite
by merely rubbing them together; see how easily they combine to form
just such a surface as you want."
"Isn't that fine? But as that shines so nicely, what is the need of
putting a glass over it?"
"Simply to protect the amalgamated surface."
The largest piece of glass thus far made was sixteen by twenty-four
inches, and the boys selected the most perfect pane, and in a short time
a very good mirror had been turned out.
"It has occurred to me that it would be good policy to make a number of
small mirrors, say six inches square. They would be a valuable asset to
us in our next expedition."
This opened the eyes of the boys to the commercial utility of the work
they were engaged in for the first time. George rushed over and brought
Tom and Harry to the laboratory, and exhibited the mirrors, and
explained that they intended to make a number of small ones to take with
them.
"That is a capital idea. Won't the natives go wild over them?"
They were at work at once, first cutting up some of the glass the
requisite size, and before the afternoon closed they had several small
ones in addition to the large one.
The large one was carried over to the living room, and when it was
brought in and hung against the wall John's face lighted up, when they
told him of the work required to turn out the glass, and to make the
amalgam.
"What a glorious opportunity you boys are having. How anxious I am to
get up and help you. What a splendid mirror that is. You surprise me
with the character of your work."
"We are going to have real windows in the new house."
At this instant Chief appeared at the door, and as he moved forward in
front of the glass he started back in fright as his own image appeared
to him. All of them laughed, and as he was now at one side of the mirror
he could not see himself. But Harry mischievously turned it, and then it
dawned on the Chief that it was simply a perfect representation of
himself.
All savages know of the glistening qualities of surfaces, but few of
them, as was the case with Chief, had ever seen any made with the white
amalgam, which, of course, made a perfect counterfeit resemblance.
But Harry delighted him beyond measure when he presented one of the
small mirrors, and George took a piece of the ramie cloth and folded it
around the mirror, a proceeding Chief could not understand until John
showed him it was for the purpose of preserving it.
[Illustration: "_He started back in fright as his own image appeared to
him_" [See p. 194]]
He kept it in the cover religiously from that day forward, except at
such times as he was employed in examining it.
[Illustration: _Fig. 32. Amarylla. Chief's Poison Vegetable._]
When Chief appeared it was not noticed that he carried a curious looking
bulb, and when he sat down to experiment the mirror several of them fell
from the pouch or pocket which was put in the garment which had been
provided for him.
The Professor saw the bulbs and picked up one of them and glanced about
the room, and then looked at John in a questioning way. The boys noted
this. Nothing was said at the time, but as the Professor passed out
George followed him.
"What was that bulb you picked up?"
"It is the root of the plant called Amarylla, and it is in the juice of
this plant that certain savages dip their arrow-heads for poisoning
them."
This information was not a little startling and disquieting to George,
who rushed back and quietly called out the boys. "Do you know what Chief
has been doing? Did you see the peculiar bulbs he had? The Professor
picked up one of them, and what do you suppose it is? It is the root
from which they make the poisons for arrow-heads."
Harry could not believe that the savage had any designs on them. "I
suppose he will bear watching, so let us see what he intends to do with
them!"
When Chief had admired himself sufficiently he took the bulbs to the
kitchen and placed them in the oven, as the boys called it, and when
George came in he was smiling, as he thought, in a very peculiar way.
George did not disturb the bulbs, and when the meal was brought in Chief
was on hand and went to the kitchen. He soon returned with the roasted
bulbs and deposited them at the table.
The boys looked at the Professor, and he and John exchanged smiling
glances, and both of them took the bulbs and began the meal with them in
the most nonchalant manner. The boys could not understand the
Professor's defiant manner in eating a poisonous bulb, and George cried
out: "Didn't you say that the bulb was poisonous?"
"Yes, it is, for some things."
"Well, how can it be poisonous for some things and not for others. Don't
the savages use the poisons of the arrows to kill people with?"
"Certainly; but it is used in that case as a blood poison. A blood
poison is not necessarily a stomach poison. In truth, there are few
poisons that are fatal to both the blood and stomach."
Chief had been slyly preparing this treat for them, as savages like the
root, and all regarded it a welcome change, and it was that peculiar
look which George wrongly interpreted. How often the motives of people
are misjudged in the same manner, and without a more pronounced reason
than Chief had!
When the meal was announced Angel, as usual, was the first to appear,
and when he caught sight of his reflection in the mirror he thought one
of his friends had come to visit him. It did not seem to startle him in
the least, but like all children tried to look behind it.
The wall prevented that, so when George handed him one of the small
ones, and he put his hand behind the mirror, the vacancy there is what
alarmed him. When he did finally comprehend what it was, it so attracted
him that he could not partake of the meal, but sat entranced before it.
After the meal he took the mirror to the rafters, and found a hiding
place for it, and they would often notice him with it, but from that
time forward he never brought it down into the room.