THE RECONNOITERING SEAT IN THE TREE
From the position of the wagon it was impossible to see very far beyond
the clearing, and they had no means of knowing how far the attacking
party had gone. The first step of the Professor was to bring in the two
severely wounded men, and administer to them.
One was found to be beyond hope, but the other did not appear to be
struck in a vital spot. The other two, less severely wounded, were
brought up and made comfortable outside of the fort, and so arranged
that any attack of their enemies would bring them within line of the
arrows.
The proceeding to dress the wounds was looked at in astonishment by the
three unfortunates. They did not expect such care from their enemies. It
was not their way. As soon as they had been made comfortable, John
proceeded to interrogate them, to the best of his ability.
They could understand some words, and slowly the facts were brought out.
In substance, the savages had knowledge of the existence of the white
people on the island, and had by some means learned the location. When
the Professor and the boys landed the first home built was near the
landing place, but it was unsuited to their needs, as fresh water was
not obtainable.
After some time they discovered a small stream, which they eventually
christened Cataract River, because they located their permanent home at
a cataract about a quarter of a mile from the sea, and it was at this
place that they put up the water wheel, and erected the workshop.
From John’s interpretations of the captives’ stories, all the savage
tribes were now aware of the existence of the colony, and of the fights
which had taken place near West River, but there was not sufficient
cohesion among the different tribes, to form a bond of unity, so that
two of the most powerful, or warlike, tribes had finally joined hands,
and this accounted for the appearance of the bands from two different
sources.
“I notice,” said the Professor, “that the headdresses worn by these
people are different from any that we have yet come into contact with.
Do you think you could draw from them any information which would enable
us to determine whether the Chief’s tribe has joined them?”
“That is just what I have been trying to discover,” replied John. “I
endeavored to describe the tribe by the location, but, as you may have
noticed, we do not get along very brilliantly. The two that George and I
met this afternoon were from a tribe that I know of; but this fellow
here belongs to an entirely different people.”
The Professor turning to Harry said: “You will notice that the headdress
of this one is similar to those we took from the first one shot in the
second day’s fight. Under the circumstances we have definite knowledge
of at least five tribes.”
“I will try to get some idea as to the number they have,” and turning
to the more intelligent of the two, he tried to make himself understood,
but at best it was only indefinite, as to numbers.
The characteristic feature of one of the headdresses was the curly hair,
and this indicated that the enemy of that tribe was to the west, and
clearly pointed out that neither of the two bands attacking them were
the captors of Ralph and Tom.
“I am going to ask them the name of the tribe from which the hair was
taken,” and pointing at the black curly hair, the captive pronounced the
name “Tuolo.” This was instantly recognized by Tom, although he could
not before that time recall the proper word.
“He says the name of his tribe is ‘Kurabu,’ and those from the south are
the ‘Saboros.’ It would be well to remember those names, as it may come
in handy hereafter. I suppose Ralph and Tom will have no trouble in
recognizing the Tuolos.”
“For my part,” said Harry, “the people who sport the dark-brown hair in
this fellows’ head-piece will be recognized by me from this time on, the
Saboros, because they are the first ones who attacked us.”
This was really the case, so that it was obvious that the two tribes who
had attacked them were not the ones they had the former battles with,
and things began to assume a very grave aspect.
The chief referred to by John, in the former conversation, was wounded
by them and captured in their former trip, and after his wounded legs
had healed, had left them, and returned to his tribe, much to their
regret. They had treated him handsomely, and grew to like him, as he
showed many desirable traits. He belonged to the particular faction
which had captured John, and was recognized by him when memory returned,
and they had hoped that he would not forget them.
The serious aspect of the case was, that the Chief had not returned, nor
was there any evidence that he was grateful for the interest which was
taken in him.
The captives were constantly under guard, and provided with food, but
during the entire night three kept guard constantly, to see that they
did not communicate with each other.
The savages were entirely out of sight, and there was no indication that
they were in the vicinity, and past midnight, John silently stole from
the wagon and made his way across the clearing. He was absent more than
an hour, until all began to be alarmed, but his return was so quiet that
he was almost at the wagon before he was observed.
“What have you learned?” was the Professor’s eager question.
“They are still guarding our camp, and intend to fight it out, if my
observations are of any value. It is my opinion that they are waiting
for the appearance of additional warriors. In any event, we must prepare
for the fight of our lives.”
Before morning came one of the wounded savages died, thus leaving three
still on their hands, and it began to be a problem what to do in this
emergency. They now knew, undoubtedly, where the Cataract home was, and
the boys worried because they did not want them to destroy that, and
while the siege was in progress some of the band might go there and
wreck it.
“This is a situation which demands our most careful consideration,” said
the Professor, gravely. “We have considerable at stake, and may be able
to keep them interested here, and probably in time get them to
understand what our intentions are.”
John and the Professor debated the matter during the entire night,
except when John was on the scouting trip, and during such little
snatches of sleep as they were able to take. There appeared to be
nothing to do but to resist to the utmost of their power, and all felt
able to do this successfully, unless something unforeseen should
intervene.
When the gray light began to show in the east, George was busy preparing
the morning meal, and it was fully eight o’clock before the savages
showed themselves for the first time. They were seen on all sides of the
wagon, but at distances out of gunshot range.
John again had an interview with the captives, and endeavored to make
them understand that they did not wish to attack them, and had no
hostile intentions; but all efforts of that character were soon found to
be fruitless.
The day wore on, and no attack was made. They undoubtedly saw the
disposition which had been made of the three captives, and this,
unquestionably, deterred them from making an attack.
“What shall we do after to-morrow for water? We have only enough to
last us and the yaks for about twenty-four hours more,” asked Harry.
“How far is it to the river?” asked George. The Professor and John both
judged the distance to be less than a half mile.
They all looked at each other, and read the import of the question in
each other’s eyes. Should they make a fight to reach the river? With
water they could defy the natives. It was a conclusion reached after a
great deal of speculation.
When night came, and quiet again settled down, preparations were made
for the transport of the wagon to the river. It was fortunate that the
moon was not shining, but the night was clear, and this added some
danger to the situation. At midnight, the yaks were unhitched, and the
section nearest the forward end of the wagon pushed aside to permit them
to pass through.
When they were yoked up, two of the captives were tied to the seat on
the tailboard, and the top covering of the wagon raised sufficiently to
enable them to manipulate the guns. The fort sections were secured in
place, and quietly the wagon went forward.
They were as secure in the wagon as they had been in the fort, and the
only danger was to the team, which might be struck by arrows, or they
might be shrewd enough to aim at the animals, and thus prevent further
progress.
“I fear,” said John, “that we shall have difficulty in guiding the
animals through the brush, and I will lead them.”
This proposal was opposed by all, and he reluctantly consented to
remain in the wagon. “I know,” answered Harry, “that I can see well
enough to get us safely through, and it will be better to go slowly than
to take such a big risk.”
The march began, and to their surprise, it was not answered by a shout
or a shot. The savages had disappeared entirely. But before they had
proceeded a quarter of a mile, the shouts and answering cries of the
savages could be plainly heard.
“We have, unaccountably, gotten through their guard,” cried John, as he
leaped from the wagon. “Follow me as fast as you can.” He sprang in
front of the yaks to direct the way, and Harry urged the team forward as
fast as the nature of the ground would permit, following closely on the
heels of John.
The demons were coming on now in earnest, and could not be far behind,
and they must have gone fully a half mile, with no river in sight.
Suddenly John reappeared at the side of the wagon, and said: “Drive to
the left for the open space. There is a brook there, and it will suit us
just as well as the river.”
The wagon was rushed to the open space, and down to the little stream
which came from the southwest. Without hesitating a moment John ordered
the fort sections to be replaced, and heeding the practice lessons which
they had exercised over and over again, before starting out, they were
prepared, in less than three minutes, for the foe.
The besiegers again surrounded them, but evidently feared to attack.
The first care of Harry was to provide the animals with fresh water. The
two captives were again placed outside of the fort in a position where
they could be easily guarded.
While so disposing the prisoners, George picked up a trinket that had
fallen from one of them, who tried to recover it. It was a blue stone,
and he noticed that the other prisoner also carried a stone of the same
character. Each had a groove midway between the ends, to receive the
cord which held it in place.
“What do you suppose they carry these things for?” asked George, as he
exhibited the stone.
“They use them to ward off evil. It is remarkable,” answered the
Professor, “that the Hindoos consider the turquoise as a sure guard
against sudden or violent death.”
“That also reminds me,” said John, “that the belief is a common one
throughout all Asiatic countries. Even at the present time almost all
Russian officers wear the turquoise as a talisman against fate.”
“What is meant by talisman?”
“In all Oriental countries a figure cut in stone, metal, or any other
material, and which, when made with particular ceremonies and under
peculiar astrological circumstances, is supposed to possess certain
virtues, but chiefly that of averting disease. Most savage tribes have
some sort of charms or objects which are held in reverence, and the
stone before you is a sample of this belief in the most remote parts of
the world.”
“What do you think he will do if I fail to give it back to him! He made
a fight for it when I picked it up.”
“No doubt, he will think it is all over with him. We may be able to use
the stone advantageously,” remarked John, as he held out his hand.
George passed it to him with a smile. He had not thought of that.
There was no sleep the rest of the night. The excitement was too
intense. To the boys it was a period of experience they never forgot.
The position was excellently chosen, although it was hurriedly done. The
stream was only twenty feet away, and water was thus available whenever
needed.
The savages understood this move beyond question; when the morning
broke, the clear spaces up and down the stream, afforded no lurking
places, and within ten feet of the end of the wagon was a tall juniper
tree, the branches of which were within ten feet of the ground.
Occasionally only could a warrior be seen, skulking from one point to
the next, but beyond that there was nothing to give any indication of
the number they had to contend with.
Nearly the entire forenoon passed without any action on the part of the
besiegers. Angel had kept closely within the enclosure, but now he spied
the juniper tree, and it was not long before his native instinct to
climb, got the better of him, and he bounded over the side of the fort,
and gracefully swung upwardly from branch to branch.
He then proceeded to do something that the boys had never witnessed
before. These animals make seats from the boughs of the trees, and
construct them so deftly that in a few moments will have a most
comfortable chair. In their native state this has often been noticed by
travelers.
Angel started to do this as soon as he had landed at the highest point.
Ralph and Tom were very much interested in him from the first and when
the seat-weaving operation began, Tom cried out: “Watch Angel; what is
he doing? Look at him breaking the branches and twisting them!”
[Illustration: _Fig. 1. Angel’s Seat._]
It was a curious sight to the other boys, as well. When the seat was
ready, he settled himself in place, with all the ease imaginable.
George, whose particular pet Angel had always been, jumped with delight.
“Why wouldn’t that be a good place from which to watch the savages?”
Without another word, he was over the side wall, after strapping the gun
to his back, and the rough bark gave him sufficient hold to make his way
upwardly toward Angel, who, in the meantime, at the sight of George,
began his peculiar chuckling sound that always indicated pleasure.
When George reached the limb which Angel occupied the latter was
jubilant in his expressions of pleasure; and then the animal did another
thing which amused all of the watchers. The moment George had seated
himself on the limb Angel left the seat and moved farther out.
George kept on talking, and Angel again moved to the seat and sat down
momentarily, and then left it as before, and this was repeated several
times. The Professor called up: “Don’t you see he is offering you his
chair!” and all burst into laughter.
George took the hint at once, and as soon as he was in position the
action of Angel showed only too plainly that he was pleased at the
acceptance of the invitation, and proceeded immediately to build another
seat. This gave George an opportunity to learn the method by which the
animals intuitively acquire the well-known art, which is unique, even in
the monkey tribe.