CAPTURE OF GEORGE BY THE NATIVES
Let us now follow George. He went along the stream on its westerly side,
while Harry was examining the eastern shore. Coming to a little rivulet,
which flowed into the main stream at this point, he passed alongside the
projecting ledges of rock, that for the moment hid him from the view of
Harry.
Here he saw some peculiar rocks, and outcroppings, which reminded him so
forcibly of the early days on Wonder Island, when the Professor so
strongly impressed on them the value of investigation. The gun was stood
up, leaning against the rocks, when he was seized by two strong arms,
and a hand placed over his mouth.
In the struggle his hand touched the gun, and as his captor drew him
back, he took the gun with him, and no effort was made to dispossess him
of the weapon. He was carried along, one hand pinioned to his side,
while the other hand carrying the gun was free, but he was unable to use
it.
He could not have been carried more than a hundred feet, before he heard
John's whistle. This startled his captors, for he now saw that there
were two burly specimens, almost wholly naked, and for the moment the
hold on the imprisoned arm was relaxed.
Quick as a flash he drew up the gun and fired. This was the shot heard
by John and Harry. The shot was such a surprise that the savages were
almost paralyzed, and dropped their hold, but it was only for an
instant. Realizing that the noise was made by George's weapon, and not
caused by any of the boy's companions, the nearest savage swung around
viciously, and poor George was knocked unconscious by the blow.
How long he remained in this state he did not know. When consciousness
returned he was lying, on some tufted grass, and a half dozen vicious
looking savages stood around him. Then he remembered the circumstances
of his capture.
He eyed them for a time, and then slowly sat up. One of the party had
George's field glasses slung around him, just as he himself had them on
when captured. One of them was fondling the gun, but it was evident from
the manner in which he held it that he had no knowledge of its uses.
His cartridge belt graced the form of one of the other savages, and it
was evident that they considered the things thus taken more in the
nature of ornaments than as weapons. He slowly felt his pockets and was
surprised that they had removed nothing.
While he was rising to a sitting posture he could feel his revolver, and
wondered why he had not been disarmed. A glimmer of joy shot through
him. His hands were free, and he had no pain, except the sore feeling
that was keen on the side of his head, and which was, no doubt, caused
by the blow.
Not a word was spoken by either. He hoped something would be said and
probably he would be able to recognize the language, as his two years'
experience in Wonder Island gave him a fairly good understanding of the
native tongues.
He pronounced some words, in the Saboro and also in the Illya dialect,
but they stared at each other, and answered in some words that were
utterly unlike anything known on their own island.
Soon, after a conversation among themselves, he was raised up and urged
forward. The first thing that George did was to note the position of the
sun, and he then stealthily drew out his watch.
When the savages, who were closely watching him, saw the watch two of
them pounced upon him, and in the struggle, one of them tore it from the
chain. The holder of the chain threw it away, and attacked the one who
had the watch.
This was certainly an interesting struggle for George to witness. He had
his thoughts, however. Now was the time to make a strike for liberty, so
he quietly moved his hand toward the revolver. George was not aware that
a pair of eyes was intently watching him while the struggle was going
on.
Before the hand reached the revolver, the savage leaped forward. His
heart sank. The opportunity was lost. He dove down into the pocket and
brought forth a knife, and it was hardly out of his pocket until the
prying native had it in his hand.
George gave a forced smile. The native saw it, and looked admiringly at
the beautiful handle. He turned it around and viewed it from every
side, and then deftly drew a strand of material from his clout and,
winding it around the knife, threw the loop of the strand over his head.
This, too, then, was an ornament! They did not know the uses of the
knife. George kept up the smile, and soon the savage smiled in return.
This was a good beginning, surely! But what surprised him most of all
was the perfectly natural manner in which the defeated party in the
contest after the watch took his loss.
The victor fashioned it as a pendant, and the other looked calmly on
while his opponent admired it. There was not a particle of resentment in
the loser.
George did not show any alarm to the savages, although it would be too
much to say that he was entirely at ease. The instructions received from
John, the experiences of Tom and Ralph when they were captured, were
lessons for him, so, when the savages smiled back at him he pointed to
the knife, and made motions as though he intended to open the blade.
All savages are curious. Many of them have this trait developed to a
remarkable degree. George's motions attracted the man. Then he leaned
forward, and removed the knife from the loop. He held it up, exactly
like a magician would exhibit some article that he intended should
disappear.
Then, as the savage's mouth was now open, he inserted his thumb nail
into the crease of the large knife, and opened the blade. Then he
extended out his hand, and offered the open knife to the savage.
To say that he was merely surprised is putting it mildly. He could not
possibly open his eyes wider, and instead of taking it, drew back. Then
George quickly closed the blade again, and offered it in that way, and
he was induced to slowly take it back, while he glanced at George
suspiciously.
The burly individual who carried the field glass was then approached by
George. The latter took the glasses and put them to his eyes. At this
act the savages set up a whoop, and the glass was snatched from him.
Evidently they thought it was something like the gun.
George smiled, and again made the motion, as though he desired to take
the glass. The savage took the loop from his neck, and handed the
instrument to George. The latter put it to his eyes and pointed them to
the east, carefully adjusting them to get the proper focus.
To his surprise he saw the evidences of a village in the far distant
landscape, and, beyond it, the sea. What a discovery this was, indeed!
The glasses were then presented to the burly savage, who now claimed its
ownership, and tried to induce him to look through it. In this George
finally succeeded, and after he saw the effect of the distant landscape,
the attitude of the man changed, and he looked on George with a species
of admiration and wonderment.
George walked about them, in the most careless manner imaginable, but
they never took their eyes from him. He smiled at them, again took the
knife and performed the feat over and over again, and then instructed
the savage how to do it.
Suddenly he thought of the match safe. What a jolly trick that would be
to spring on them. But it would be more effective at night, he
reflected, and so he refrained from taking it out. It was evident,
however, that he was making a hit of some kind. Whether it would aid him
in escaping he did not know, but he tried every means possible to
ingratiate himself, and to show that he had no fear. The view of the
village which he had accidentally discovered impressed itself on him
with startling force. If he once reached the village escape would be
difficult, and consequently he viewed the searching eyes of his captors
with great uneasiness.
This was evident by the cat-like action of the one who got the knife. If
he made the slightest move of his hands, he could see the eyes following
them. Once he stumbled as they were marching along. This was purposely
done, in the hope that during the time he was recovering his erect
position he could draw the revolver.
He had his course of action all planned out. He had no desire to kill,
and he made up his mind that he would first cover them and then by
motions wave them away, but it would be necessary to depend upon mimicry
for this.
He had learned from John that savages are naturally the most expert
pantomimists, and are able to express many things by gestures, this
faculty having been made the more acute because the different tribes
are frequently brought into contact without any connecting link in the
dialects or languages.
If they refused, or made any attempt to seize him, he would then shoot
the leader, and thus strike terror into the others. But while he was
thus arranging all the details in his mind, he was startled at seeing a
whole group of savages leap from the side of the ill-defined path, which
they were now traveling, and they speedily surrounded the captor and
captive.
Then began a bedlam of explanations as they crowded around George. Some
came up and felt his arms, and other portions of his body. He smiled
meanwhile. It was the only thing he could do, and he knew it would be
useless to look troubled.
The next moment the visitors were examining the glass, the cartridge
belt, the knife and the watch, and George was, temporarily forgotten,
although surrounded so that he could not possibly force his way through.
He thought it a remarkable thing that they should thus hold and watch
him with such tenacity. While thus discussing him, a new party appeared,
and now for the first time there was an attempt to show deference.
The leader of the party was the most powerful savage George had ever
seen. Uraso was a powerful warrior, and Chum was also noted for his
strength, but it seemed that the man now coming up must be a giant. Some
of the immediate party rushed up to him, and after making a respectful
bow, told him of the capture.
He approached with dignity, and those around George moved away.
Without a moment's hesitation George moved toward the Chief, and when
ten feet away, he stopped, straightened himself erect, and with a most
courtly bow smiled as he recovered his position.
The strong and resolute manner in which this was done was really a cause
for marvel in the savage. He looked at his people, and spoke a few
words, and those who had been his guards came forward most
deferentially, and, so far as George could understand, told of the
circumstances surrounding his capture.
But there was one thing which struck George as a peculiar thing. The
three men who had participated in the loot of his valuables did not
exhibit them while talking to the Chief.
There was a long palaver, and many gestures indulged in. The question
occurred to him: What had become of the articles which they had taken?
Did they purposely hide them?
At the close of the conversation two of the Chief's immediate associates
came forward, and began to investigate his belongings. The first thing
they brought out was the revolver, and at this George was almost on the
point of breaking down. Then he grew bitter.
The silver match box was the next to attract the attention of the
searchers; and so they went through from one pocket to the other in the
most approved style.
These were laid before the Chief who grunted his approval at the
different things, and his admiration, judging from the character of his
remarks, was unbounded at the silver-plated revolver.
From the curious way in which he handled it George was alarmed. It was
an automatic, and if the Chief once pulled the trigger there would be
trouble for some one. George held up a warning hand, and the Chief
looked up from the weapon.
The only thing he could do was to point to the revolver, and vigorously
shake his head. The Chief looked around as though inquiring the meaning
of such a sign. He was not interfered with as he walked up to the
savage, and held out his hand. The Chief handed him the weapon.
Then, picking up a leaf, he motioned to one near him to place it on the
side of a tree. At a word from the Chief the man did so, but George
motioned to him to carry it still further away. He took deliberate aim,
and thanks to his long and regular practice, the leaf received the
impress of the bullet, while the savages jumped in all directions at the
report.
Only the Chief remained impassive. He never moved, but when the leaf was
brought to him, he looked on the youth with a kindly smile. George was
quick to notice this. He again walked over to the Chief, and placed the
weapon in his hand, and guided his finger to the trigger, while at the
same time holding up his hand so as to sight it.
This time the shot was directed to the nearest tree. The savages
scurried to give them room. When the Chief pulled the trigger and the
discharge followed, George caught him by the arm, and took him to the
tree, pointing out the hole made by the bullet.
There was a wondering look on the Chief's face. He looked at the weapon,
and then at the hole. There was a question in the peculiar guttural
sounds of his language, which slowly came from his lips. Evidently the
Chief wanted to know something.
Ah! he knew what it was. What made the hole? George took the weapon, and
extracted one of the bullets, and then pointed to the hole in the tree.
It was plain that even this did not satisfy him. Better still; why not
dig out the bullet; and as he thought of it he instinctively reached in
his pocket for the knife.
Then he remembered. One of his captors had it. Without any ceremony he
walked over to the man who had it, and by motions indicated that he
wanted the knife. The savage was mute. He boldly searched the folds of
the rude clout, and without a protest on the part of the savage he
brought forth the coveted knife.
This action was indeed a surprise to the Chief. A frown gathered on the
Chief's face. George saw it, and really trembled for the first time, as
he saw the eyes of the Giant riveted on the knife, and then turned to
the culprit. The latter fell to the ground, and muttered something, and
instantly the two others were also seized, as they uncovered the other
belongings and laid them before the Chief.
George looked on the scene with genuine regret. The culprits were led
away, and he speculated on their fate. But the Chief's eyes immediately
returned to the hole in the tree, while the gaze of the others rested on
the cartridges, the watch and the field glasses. The knife was in
George's hand, and he slowly opened it whereat the appearance of the
blade startled the Chief. He was all eagerness now, so George closed the
blade and opened it again, and then cut a circle around the bullet hole
and chipped the wood away.
There was the bullet, and he slowly drew it forth, a shapeless bit of
lead. When he had deposited it in the Chief's hand, he laid one of the
cartridges alongside, and also showed the empty shell. Then he quietly
laid the closed knife in the Chief's hand and stood back with his arms
folded, as though he owned the entire Island.
If the action of the Chief counted for anything the boy did have
everything in sight. The Chief returned the revolver to George, and then
began to examine the articles before him. The most interesting appeared
to be the cartridge belt. He looked at the revolver and cartridges, and
then turned over the revolver bullet and shell which George had
exhibited.
It was now plain that the Chief could not understand the use of the
large cartridges. George's mind was working by this time. He did not
recall that the gun was in evidence at any time after they met the first
crowd on the road.
The Chief pointed to the cartridges, and George looked toward the group
which had captured him. This was enough for the wily savage. A stern
command was issued, and in an incredible short space of time the gun
appeared. Where it could have been hidden was a marvel. Certainly these
people must be adepts in the art of concealment.
The Chief handled the gun in a most awkward fashion and George politely
took it from his hand, and after glancing about for a moment, saw a bird
on a branch. This he brought down, upon which one of the men ran
forward, picked it up and brought it to the Chief. After this the weapon
was turned over to him, and the peculiar chuckle that followed was,
undoubtedly, the savage's way of expressing delight.
One of the attendants then came forward at the order of the Chief, who,
after the articles were gathered up, indicated to George that he should
follow, and turned toward the village. George did not regard the
prerogatives of royalty, but he took up a most democratic position by
the side of the Chief, to which the latter did not object.
It required nearly an hour before they reached the village. Women and
children, and boys his own age were in evidence everywhere. They came
out of the huts and followed the procession, on the way to the Chief's
quarters.
Singularly George did not now feel the slightest bit of fear. On the
other hand, there was confidence, a sort of assurance that he could not
express. This feeling came to him, not so much from the general demeanor
of the Chief, as on account of the one act, namely, the return to him of
the revolver.
The Chief's home was an entirely different sort of affair from the other
dwellings. It was noted that, the homes of the ordinary people were made
singularly like those of the tribes on Wonder Island, usually of twigs
braided and brought together at the upper end so as to form cone-like
enclosures, and all were covered with clay, so as to keep out the rains.
Outside of these houses appeared to be the sleeping quarters, and a
glance at some of them impressed George as being exceedingly filthy. The
houses were intended only for the rainy season, apparently, as was the
custom in many places on their own island.
But the Chief's dwelling was a most pretentious affair, judged by the
surrounding homes. It had a large interior court, without a roof, but
the immediate dwelling had four or more rooms. The Chief walked through
one room, and entered the court, where George was embarrassed to see two
girls, and several boys, together with three women, all of whom stared
at him, the girls giggling exactly as he had seen them do at home.
The articles taken from him were then deposited upon the floor, and the
Chief reclined on a sort of raised couch. George glanced around and the
first thing that his eyes met was a chair, in one corner of the room,
and then some articles that he knew could not have been made on the
island.
This was his introduction to the home of the Chief. He then fell to
wondering how it would be possible to talk and tell him about his
friends.