THE CAPTURE OF THE PROFESSOR
There is nothing more trying than to wait during the long watches of the
night, knowing there is an enemy at your door, who awaits the morn
before attacking. Light and darkness are wonderful things to
contemplate. Every variety of subject was discussed, the moon and the
stars, plants, trees and flowers, the habits of people, the seasons, and
kindred topics, but the one absorbing topic that always had a leading
place was the savage.
“There is one thing I must admire in them,” said Blakely, “and that is
persistency.”
“That is one of the four cardinal principles in nature,” answered the
Professor.
George was at the front at once. “What are the other three?”
“Resistance, reciprocity, and equalization.”
“That is something new to me, and I do not know whether I understand the
meaning of it.”
“Well, in nature, everything persists in doing and in continuing to do
just what it started out to do. For instance, a ball at rest will
continue at rest forever, and if it is moving it will continue to move,
unless in either case it is acted on by some external force.”
“Now every object in nature also has resistance. It objects to a change
of form or direction.”
“I can understand that, but I do not see where the other two come in.”
“Well, nature is reciprocal in its tendencies. It gives and takes, so to
say. If you heat water and set it aside, it will cool off in course of
time. If the water should be placed in a receptacle that had air in it,
the water would cool down, and the air would become warmer at the same
time, and the heats would reciprocate--that is, become of the same
temperature.”
Then, if you should heat up different subjects at the same time it
would be found that some would require double the length of time to take
up the same amount of heat. Suppose we take a pound of iron and a pound
of aluminum. In the case of iron it would absorb, say 100 units of heat
in ten minutes, whereas it would take fifteen minutes for the aluminum.
If the heat is withdrawn it will be found that it takes the aluminum
fifty per cent longer to give off its heat than the iron, and thus the
process is equalized.”
When morning came the savages were seen in force to the northwest, and
Muro’s prediction that the Brabos were on the trail was found to be
correct.
This was the first time this tribe had ever faced the white men. As was
afterwards learned, they had a knowledge of the existence of the “Fire
Fiends,” as they were designated, but they now had to learn something
first hand.
As soon as the sun had arisen sufficiently to distinguish objects well
they moved up, keeping for the time at a safe distance, and Muro took
delight in showing himself to his late captors. This caused a chorus of
howls, at which Muro laughed.
At a signal they started forward, launching their arrows, when within
shooting distance, and without stopping, poised their spears and rushed
forward. At a signal seven shots rang out, and the leaders fell. Seven
more guns were brought into position. The charge halted, and the
Professor advised all to reload. Muro saw the wonderful execution, and
danced about in glee, but he could not understand why the shooting was
not continued. It was such an unheard-of proceeding.
[Illustration: _Fig. 9. Arrow type most frequently used._]
Without stopping to gather the wounded, they retreated to a safe
distance, and the party had an opportunity to count the number of the
attacking party. All agreed that over a hundred were engaged, and it was
evident that the Brabo village to the south had been called to assist.
They surrounded the wagon at a safe distance, and the siege was begun.
This could have been done only on the theory that starvation would
compel a sortie or surrender. They had no idea of the number within the
fort, but they knew what the effect of the fire had been, and they
respected that warning.
Muro was instructed to confer with them, and to say that they had no
hostile intentions, and this was conveyed to them, but the only response
was that the whites had commenced the hostilities by taking their
prisoners from them; which was true.
There was no common ground on which they could enter into a treaty with
them, and the question now was to fight their way out as best they
could.
“We might remain here for the day and night, and if we find they persist
in besieging us, must continue to the south, and fight them as we go.”
All agreed to the Professor’s proposal; and they settled themselves to
the more comfortable pastime of waiting for the morning. A most careful
watch was kept up all night, and on two occasions parties stole up in
order to secure more advantageous positions, but the chief Muro and his
friends were too much on the alert to give them any advantage.
The wounded savages were removed by their friends in the night, and as
soon as breakfast was over the entire party ranged alongside the wagon
and headed for the south. This direction, it will be understood, would
bring them directly into the heart of the Kurabus’ territory.
If the two tribes were hostile toward each other this might be a factor
in their favor, but if friendly it would certainly mean a bitter fight.
Muro advised a southwesterly course, and this would, of course, avoid
the necessity of fighting both tribes, but it might also lead them into
another tribe just as hostile.
The direct route to Muro’s tribe was to the south, or rather to the
southeast. It was a difficult problem to decide. They must force the
issue, be it right or wrong.
“We must ascertain from Muro how long it will take Stut to reach the
tribe,” suggested John.
“He says two days, and two days more to get the people in motion. Muro
was pretty smart. He says he instructed them to attack the Kurabus on
the south, and that would divert them from us, but the trouble is that
he has hardly reached them yet, and before night we may be within the
territory of the Kurabus.”
A southwesterly course was decided on, and the Brabos followed.
Evidently they had no fear of the Kurabus, and the intervening time
might have been employed by them in sending runners to inform them of
the invasion. All these things had to be taken into consideration.
The camp that evening was made at a running brook, and in the open, as
usual. The camp was again surrounded, and pickets were established to
keep them at a safe distance. There was no indication of the appearance
of the Kurabus, and this relieved the situation somewhat.
When morning came the besiegers were nowhere in sight, and this meant
one of two things; either that they had given up the fight in sheer
disgust, or that the Kurabus were at hand.
The country became more broken as they advanced, and the continual
ascent indicated a ridge of some extent, and this might be the dividing
line between the limitations of the tribes on the different sides, just
as they had found the streams to effect this division, and this was also
pointed out by John and Blakely.
The best trails were selected by John who was in the advance with Muro,
and at noon stopped within a valley which had a curious rock formation
that attracted the eye of the Professor. The old instinct, to discover
minerals, was too strong for him to resist, and with a pick was soon
prospecting along the rocky walls.
He was gone for an hour before his absence was particularly noted, and
George was the first to direct attention to it. John and one of the
Saboros started to the south in the direction taken by him, and returned
in less than a half hour without any tidings.
It was certain he had gone to the south, and the wagon was set in
motion, and hurried forward. All was excitement now. Both sides of the
ridge were examined, and indications found where the rock had been
chipped and samples set aside.
As John crossed one of the ridges, he saw in the distance a band of
savages moving rapidly to the southeast, but too far distant to be able
to distinguish the individuals containing it. When Muro came up, he
gazed forward, and his sharp, piercing eyes were sufficient to confirm
their fears.
The Professor had been captured!
This startling news was conveyed to the boys, and their grief was
heartrending to witness. They moved about from place to place without
knowing what to say or do. The tears came in spite of their efforts.
“What shall we do?” asked Harry through his tears.
“We must follow them,” answered John, “but the wagon cannot travel fast
enough for that. Muro and one of the Saboros will accompany me, and
Blakely, you remain with the boys, and follow as I direct.”
Then going to the highest point of the hill, he pointed to the south.
“See the end of the forest in the distance, which may be five miles
beyond. You will see the glimpse of the river there. To the east of that
is an elevation, with trees very distinctly outlined. That will be your
objective point. Make for that place as rapidly as possible, unless you
get information from us to the contrary.”
“That is the forest where I made my home,” said Blakely. “I know every
foot of this country, and all down beyond that point. Within ten miles
of that place is a savage village, and my opinion is that they are the
ones who have the Professor.”
“Muro has just informed me that the Osagas live in that neighborhood, or
somewhat farther to the west, and beyond the river is another tribe
called the Berees.”
The boys looked at John. “Weren’t you captured by them, and was not
Chief from that tribe?”
“Yes, but my impression is that the Osagas are to the east of the place
indicated.”
If the Osagas captured the Professor there was some hope, because they
did not believe Chief would permit him to be ill-treated. They had still
to account for one, if not two, tribes in the south of the island, and
of whom they knew nothing, except the slightest rumors.
John selected six of the guns, and an ample supply of ammunition, and as
the chief and his associates had been drilled in the use of the weapons
since the last fight, it was felt that with the spears they carried they
would be a match for a pretty good force.
Thus equipped they plunged forward in the direction of the disappearing
band.
Let us follow the movements of the Professor. In his eagerness to
collect samples, he went much farther than he intended, and left the
wagon without taking anything in the shape of a weapon. When he had
proceeded less than a half mile from the wagon, he was surrounded by a
dozen warriors, whose headdress proclaimed them to be a tribe entirely
different from any that they had formed the acquaintance of, and as he
saw resistance was useless, quietly submitted, and tried by all his arts
to induce them to accompany him.
But to all his efforts they turned a deaf ear, and without waiting
hurried him across the ridge and along the southern incline. The pick
was taken away from him, and his clothing examined, but to his surprise
nothing was taken from his pockets, although he carried a small knife,
and other trinkets that the boys had made.
The march was kept up for fully four hours directly to the south and
then turned to the east, and shortly before night the village came into
view. His arrival created great excitement; and all turned out to
welcome the strange man.
Months before this the Professor, in the course of his experimental
work, had made what is called synthetic food--that is, the same material
substances as are used in any particular vegetable, are combined to have
the same food qualities as the real article, and when put up in tablet
form it requires but a small compass to give as much nutriment as a full
meal.
It was fortunate that this and the other contents of his pockets were
not removed at the time of the capture, because those tablets became a
wonderful agent, as the subsequent story will show.
When he arrived his captors took him to the chief at once, and he
treated the head of the tribe with the greatest deference. The house of
the chief was the most pretentious in the village, as there were three
rooms to be seen, and passing by the open passageway at one side he saw
a child, probably ten years of age, lying on a couch.
Evidently it was suffering, as its wan and drawn face indicated. After
making his deference to the chief, he turned to the little sufferer, and
the women shrieked and threw themselves in his way. He turned to the
chief, and pointed to the child, and moved in that direction.
The chief gave an order, and the women stepped aside. The Professor
knelt down and took the child’s hand and felt its brow, while the chief
looked on in astonishment. Turning to the chief he motioned for water,
and indicated this by making the motion of pouring water from glass to
glass.
It was instantly understood, and when the water came, in a small gourd,
he asked for another, or smaller vessel. Then reaching in his pockets he
drew forth one of the small vials which the boys had made, and poured a
small portion into the small gourd, and forced some of it past the lips
of the little sufferer.
[Illustration: _Portable_
_Stationary_
_Fig. 10. Shell Vessels._]
All this was done in silence, and they looked on him with awe. His white
hair and long snowy beard, the kindliness of his face, and his brave
demeanor seemed to impress them in a wonderful way.
At an order from the chief the warriors and attendants disappeared, and
he was left by the side of the couch, holding the sufferer’s hand.
In less than a half hour the attendants brought a bountiful supply of
food, but he waived them aside, and remained there undisturbed for fully
two hours, during which time he had administered three doses of the
medicine.
The chief came in, and, taking him by the hand, led him away, and did
all in his power to express his thanks for the service. One of the three
rooms was assigned to him, and during the night he went to the patient
many times, and to his gratification by morning the fever was broken,
and the child began to perspire freely.
When the chief came in and saw the condition of the little girl his
gratification was beyond all bounds. The Professor witnessed, for the
first time, how savage affection for their own can be just as intense as
among civilized tribes.
The chief led him outside and pointed to the north, indicating that he
was ready to take him back to his friends; but the Professor shook his
head, and pointed to the child. This amazed the chief, and he could
hardly believe in the refusal of his captive to leave.
During the afternoon he was surprised to notice the arrival of a large
number of warriors, who had, evidently, returned from some skirmish, as
they carried several wounded, and also three prisoners, who were
incarcerated in a hut near the center of the village.
No restraint whatever was placed on his movements, and he wandered from
place to place, and witnessed the wailings of several women who heard of
the deaths of their own kindred. The Professor reproached himself, as
he thought of the suffering he had, unwillingly, caused to others, but
it could not be helped.
One of the men was severely wounded by the thrust of a spear, and the
Professor instantly saw that he was suffering from internal bleeding.
Pushing aside the men who surrounded him, the Professor knelt down,
changed the position of the bleeding warrior, and pressed his hand
against the artery which led to the wound.
His presence there, and the peremptory manner in which he undertook the
relief, astonished the new arrivals, but it was for a moment only, when
the hurried tales which spread from one to the other circulated among
the crowd, and as the chief stepped forward and noticed the Professor he
gave a command which plainly showed that his work had been appreciated.
The Professor held his hand on the artery for fully an hour, until the
blood clots began to form, and thus staunched the flow. The other
wounded ones were attended to immediately after the critical patient had
been put into a safe condition.
The men, women and children followed him around, as he moved from place
to place. Returning to the chief’s child, he found a slight fever, but
this soon abated, and the second day the little patient began to assume
a brighter appearance.
During all this time the Professor had not partaken of a mouthful of the
food offered him. His only nutriment was obtained from the tablets
referred to. The chief could not understand this. Their amazement was
intensified when he again refused food the third day.
The Professor was, of course, playing a part. Mystery is the most potent
thing with uncivilized tribes. He knew that John and the boys would be
able to take care of themselves, and felt sure that before long he would
hear from them. He was making a strong ally of these people, and the
proper course was pursued to bring this about.
He would have been able at any time after the first day to go back to
his companions, and to add to his service something mysterious would
make his power over them more potent than the mere healing.
It should also be understood that the motive behind this had another
meaning. All tribes have their own physicians, or medicine men, and the
great factor of strength with them is the mysteries with which they are
able to shroud their cures. To heal the chief’s child, or to perform any
other cures, would mean the bitter and vindictive hatred of that class.
It was necessary, therefore, that he should be able to do that which was
beyond their power to perform. To live without eating would be such an
extraordinary power that it must impress them. The medicine men
performed their incantations, but he made no objections, and it was
plain that his ministrations were distasteful to them, when he saw their
frowning faces.
The chief’s power, and the grateful looks of the one which first
received his attention, were sufficient to assure him that the policy
he had pursued was successful.
Meanwhile, what were his friends doing to rescue him? John and the two
Saboros plunged across the hills much faster than it was possible to
urge the team. The trail was soon discovered by his associates, and they
stopped only when night fell. After partaking a hurried meal, they again
moved forward for an hour, when voices were heard in the distance.
The mumblings grew more and more distinct, and when they halted were
surprised to find a considerable body of savages ahead. If this was the
same tribe which captured the Professor it must have been reinforced by
a considerable body, as there were not more than a dozen in the party
which took him.
Moving to the left quite a distance, in order to avoid them, they came
unexpectedly on another body, still more numerous. Here was a mystery
which John could not solve for the moment. Muro was the first to catch
the meaning of it. This was a hostile tribe, and they were waiting for
the morning before attacking.
It now appeared evident that the Professor’s captors were with one or
the other of these warring factions, and they withdrew to the north, and
found an elevation near by, so that they might be able to follow the
events of the next day.
But the wagon was coming up in the rear. It must be intercepted, and the
three scouted to the north in order to discover whether it had moved up
near enough to the position before night fell. The night passed without
finding the wagon. Undoubtedly they had made camp before reaching the
comparatively level country now occupied.
In the morning the two tribes maneuvered, and the fight began. It would
have been bad policy to mix in the affair, but Muro approached as close
as possible in order to discover who the combatants were. When he
returned his only words were: Osagas and Berees.
The latter were a new tribe to John, but he was gratified to know that
the Osagas were so near, and it greatly increased his interest in the
affair.