THE GIANT CHIEF AND HIS "PALACE"
We must now return to George and see how he fared during the first night
of his captivity. After the Chief had seated himself, and had begun to
examine the articles taken from George, the latter had an opportunity to
examine the surroundings more closely.
The Chief made no remarks to him, nor did he ask him to be seated. At
the moment he entered the room he noticed the chair. As the Chief did
not pay any attention to him after they entered, George walked over and
deliberately sat down on it.
The two attendants who carried in the articles, stared at him, and the
women and children, particularly the latter, seemed to be paralyzed at
his attitude seated in the chair. It was covered with dust, an evidence
that it was never used for the purposes of a seat. On reflection, he
thought that must be the reason they looked at him so queerly.
The Chief, however, gave no indication that his act was a rude or
questionable one. He tried on the cartridge belt, but it was far too
short for his corpulent body, and George could hardly repress a laugh,
as he noticed the attempt to adjust it.
The field glasses came in for a share of attention, then the silver
match box, and the women craned their heads forward, as it glittered.
The Chief held it off from his eyes, so he could properly view it; just
as George had often seen women do in trying to match articles.
All the while the Chief was emitting grunts betokening pleasure and
satisfaction. The adjusting screw on the field glass next attracted his
attention. The turning moved the barrels in and out, and this was, in
all probability, the most remarkable thing he ever saw.
George could stand it no longer. He left his seat, the younger children
shrinking back as he arose, and quietly walked to the Chief, and sat
down in front of him. As he did so he pointed to the match safe which
the Chief held in his left hand.
The latter did not resist the attempt to take it, but looked on
wonderingly as George pressed the point, and the lid flew open. Then,
taking one of the matches from the receptacle, he held the box in one
hand, exhibited the match in the other, for a moment, and then drew the
match across the box, and ignited it.
The Chief actually drew in a breath that was audible everywhere in that
neighborhood. He nodded with approval. Harry closed the box and handed
it back; he then directed the Chief's attention to the little point, and
pressed it, when the lid again flew open.
This time the Chief closed it, and he pressed the point. The success of
the experiment was so great that he eventually called his wife to
witness it, for she came over, while he performed the miraculous thing.
He took out a match. Its use was just as great a mystery. He was taught
just what to do, and the primitive man sat there and struck the matches,
one after the other, in the greatest delight. What amused George more
than anything else was, that every time a match was struck, he closed
the box, and then opened it before extracting another.
George noted the imitative quality so marked in all savages. It did not,
apparently, occur to him that he could strike two matches without the
lid flying open in the period intervening the two operations.
It was now growing dark, and soon an attendant came in with several
curiously-arranged lights, made from some sort of weed or vegetation,
the smoke of which appeared to be most agreeable. From an adjoining
room, an appetizing odor reached George and, staring in that direction,
the Chief noticed the boy's expectant attitude.
The Chief arose, his mighty frame towering above the rest, and a command
was given. Almost immediately two servitors came through the opening,
one of them carrying a large bowl of the most savory stew. The bowl was
not of native manufacture, and George, observing this, suddenly
remembered what John had said, that the Chief was always sure to get the
best and most valuable parts of the wreckages along the shore, and he
felt sure that this was salvage from some shipwreck.
The Chief smiled, as the bowl was set before him. It was smoking hot,
and George smiled back as he noticed the friendly look, and saw that the
Chief's wife graciously arranged the accompanying vegetables, although
he had no idea what the latter were.
A second attendant brought pointed sticks, and two paddle-shaped blades.
The Chief without ceremony dived into the mess and speared a piece of
the meat, and waved it to and fro, to cool it. Here was an opportunity
to follow the example thus set, and George was glad to take the hint.
He didn't look around to inquire for a plate, nor did he ask for a
napkin. The meat was good, the vegetables appetizing, and the
conversation lagged so much that there was no chance for unseasonable
interruptions during the meal.
If George had never before that hour witnessed a savage eat, he would
have been mortified at the small amount he himself was capable of
putting away, when he compared the relative amounts consumed. He was of
the opinion, before they began, that the bowl was intended for the whole
family, but the Chief ate all of it, except the small part that George
disposed of in the meantime.
But he was perfectly content. He ate until he could eat no more, and
then to his extreme disgust, a wooden platter of fruit was set before
them. Bananas were the only things he recognized. A small pear-shaped
fruit attracted him, and then an egg-shaped, brown-colored fruit, with a
sweet, strong perfume, was among the varieties.
The Chief was graciousness itself, exhibiting not one trait of
selfishness, as he forced the fruit on George. When the Chief had
finished the fruit George was relieved, but uncomfortable. He had eaten
beyond his capacity. The articles containing the food were removed, and
the Chief, who, during this time, was in a reclining position, slowly
sank down, and was soon asleep.
The family sat around for a time, and then all slowly disappeared and he
could hear the jumble of voices in the adjoining apartment, as they were
undoubtedly engaged in their meal.
What a peculiar position to be placed in. Alone with the sleeping
savage! Still, he did not seem to be so very savage. There was no one in
sight. He arose and walked toward the opening. Not even a guard
prevented him from leaving.
He stepped out. He still had his revolver, but that was all. Now was the
time to effect his escape. He turned the corner of the main structure,
and there stood one of the Chief's girls, the one who had attracted
George's attention when he was first ushered into the palace, as George
named the place in his mind.
As this girl will have an important place in reciting this history, it
may be well to describe her. She was about the height of George, with a
much lighter skin than the majority of those whom he had seen thus far.
Her eyes were large and beautiful, and while her hair, intensely black
and very profuse, was not at all kinky. It should be said that the
savages on the island, like those on Wonder Island, while dark, did not
have curly hair of the Ethiopian, so that they were not of the negroid
type but more nearly allied to the Malay family.
She smiled, and George, abashed for the moment, went up to her, and she
did not at all shrink from him. Now that he had made the advance he was
at a loss what to do. The only thing that both perfectly understood, was
to smile, and smile they did.
But why not say something. He tried it, and those great eyes appeared to
open still wider. George turned and waved his hand, and affrighted,
apparently, she darted into the side entrance. The darkness prevented
him from seeing what was there, and he dared not enter. The moon was
shining brightly.
The desire to escape again took possession of him. But why try to
escape? He felt sure the Chief meant no harm, and then he wandered to
the other side of the building, and there lay the great ocean, the shore
of which was not a thousand feet away.
He sat down on a log, and pondered and, feeling fatigued from the
unusual efforts of the day, he lay down for a nap. How long he remained
there it was impossible to tell, for when he awoke, he found himself by
the side of the trunk, and near him two of the body guard who
accompanied the Chief the day before.
He sat up, rubbed his eyes, arose, and without any suggestion or command
on the part of the watchers, marched back to the Chief's palace, and
entered the room to see the latter awake and reclining at his place on
the floor.
He offered a salutation to George, and the latter smiled and bowed
graciously. One of the attendants touched him on the arm, and he was led
to a room, adjoining the court; but there was no door, by means of which
he could close the room, nor did he discover a window, or anything
suggesting an opening at the other side of the apartment.
A delightful odor came from some kind of grass which was piled in one
corner. He examined it, and concluded that it had been placed there for
his particular benefit. This was indeed a thoughtful thing on the
Chief's part. They were making a home for him, that was evident.
But he was too tired to reflect long on these things. Without removing
his clothes he threw himself down on the sweet, clean grass, and he knew
no more until, when the morning sun flooded the court, he could peer
out, and see the family moving to and fro, but the Chief was nowhere in
sight.
While they had not ventured to tell him what was just the correct thing
to do, he walked out, and then wandered to the open portal at the front.
No one seemed to heed him. He walked down toward the ocean, and saw some
women carrying water in curiously-shaped gourds.
He followed the path, which led to a spring; delicious, cool and
refreshing. Then he bathed his face, and washed his hands. But he missed
the soap. He had not, however, forgotten the early days on Wonder
Island, when the Professor found the soap tree.
He glanced around. There, sure enough, was the identical bush, and
breaking off several twigs, the small branches were crushed up together
with the leaves, and with these he returned to the brook and had a good
soap wash.
This peculiar action was witnessed by some of the women, and the tale
was quickly told, and became current in the village. When George visited
the same spot, the bush had entirely disappeared.
The Chief had not returned when he went back, but his breakfast was
ready, and the maiden with the great round eyes, and the mother,
evidently, waited on him.
George looked toward the Chief's place. She understood, and pointed to
the west. He mused awhile. What could she mean! It must not be supposed
that during all this time George was not thinking of Harry, and John,
and the boys who came over with them on this trip.
They always called each other "boys." All the natives on Wonder Island
were boys to them, and it was amusing to hear them say the word in
return. They were all boys, Uraso, and Muro, as well; all but the
Professor, John and Blakely.
When George went out after breakfast he was surprised to note the
absence of the men. No one but women and children were about. Then the
truth flashed on him. The Chief had gone out, on hearing of the approach
of John and his party.
He rushed out toward the western path that led from the village, and he
had not gone three hundred yards before the men, all armed with spears,
came back, with the Chief at their head. All were in consternation.
George knew what this meant now. He held up his hand as they hurriedly
moved toward him, and pointed to the west. He did this smiling to assure
him of the friendly character of the visit. The Chief stopped. George
moved through the group and beckoned the Chief to follow.
He hesitated but a moment, and then gave the necessary command. Coming
through the forest beyond were John and the "Boys." When they were still
too far for hailing distance George raised his hat and waved it.
When John and his party were still a hundred yards away, they stopped at
the unusual sight. Meanwhile George and the Chief moved on. Harry could
not restrain himself, and broke from the party, in his mad rush to
welcome George.
"Bow, Harry; bow; he is a dandy Chief."
Harry obediently made a gracious bow, and the Chief acknowledged the
salute.
All that Harry could say, was: "Oh, George!"
John and the company came up, and George rushed to John, as he said: "I
have had the nicest time in the world, but I am afraid the Chief does
not know whether you are friends or enemies."
John turned to the men, and quietly said: "This man is a friend, and we
must treat him as a Chief. All give him a respectful greeting." The
Chief stood still, as all the warriors ranged themselves in front and
all bowed low, to the obvious relief of the savage.
Then John brought Uraso and Muro forward, and by well timed gestures
indicated to the Chief that they were also Chiefs, and he instantly
showed that he recognized the pantomimic language, and deferentially
bowed, as he had seen George do.
Uraso stepped forward and went up to the burly form, and pressed his
nose against his nose. Then, he spoke a few words. The Chief looked at
him for a moment, and then answered. Muro was not slow to follow the
example, and he also addressed the Chief.
When Uraso turned and took John's hand and in a dialect, which both
seemed to understand, he told about John and the boys, the Chief turned
to his men and said a dozen words, which were instantly recognized by
Uraso and Muro. They smiled.
"What did he say?" asked George.
"He told them to go to the village and prepare food."
All but a half dozen of the immediate followers of the Chief turned and
darted back to the village.
"Do you know the Chief's language?" asked Harry, as Uraso gave way to
Muro.
"We can understand each other pretty well. There are many words which
are the same, but he uses some which are new to me."
"Do you suppose they are the same people as are on our island?"
"I do not know that. We have heard that all the people in the different
islands came from the same place, but where we do not know."
Then the boys crowded around George, and insisted on having him tell his
story. Did you ever hear a boy tell a thrilling story of his own
adventures? Well George was in his heaven of delight as he told of his
treatment, and how he had dined with the Chief, and slept in his palace.
"His palace?" queried Harry.
"Yes, palace! It isn't a common house!" And George dilated on it to such
an extent that Harry actually grew envious at the big time that George
had at their expense.
The party wended its way down the hill, and when the village was reached
the sight there astounded George. He had left it a sleepy place. Now all
was bustle. Fires were being built; the men and women were busy
preparing food. A species of hog, well known on Wonder Island, was being
prepared and spitted, and hung over the heated coals.
They saw the favorite native vegetable, the Taro root, and also, to
their surprise, an abundance of Uraso's poison bulb, the Amarylla, which
he had tried to prepare in stealth after he had been captured, and the
telling of which was the occasion of many jokes at the expense of George
and Harry.
John, the two boys, together with Uraso and Muro, were ushered into the
Chief's house.
"And this is what you call a 'palace'?" remarked Harry.
"Why not?"
"From your description I thought it might be on top of a big hill with
graded steps leading up between rows of flowers, and the rooms filled
with statuary, with a large fountain playing in the center of a fine
banquet hall."
George laughed at the joke. "The trouble with you is that you are not a
philosopher, Harry. If you had been as well treated as I have been you
would think the same as I do."
John overheard the conversation, and remarked: "I must say that there is
more philosophy in that view than even you, George, appreciate."
"Have I said anything unusual?" he asked with a sort of mock gravity.
"Quite so; have you ever heard the saying 'Handsome is, as handsome
does'? Well, that is the root of all true actions in life. From the
noble manner in which this Chief treated George, giving him the best
that he had, and installing him in the finest room in the house, is
doing all that any one can do."
"That is the way I really felt about it at the time. I was tired and
hungry, and instead of meeting an enemy, I met a friend."
"Do you see, Harry? George did right in calling this a palace. If it so
appears in his heart, and he feels that impulse, isn't that just as real
as though you see it with your eyes?"
"I didn't think of it in that way," said Harry, apologetically. "I like
the old fellow. He is good enough to be a white man."