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THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS
by
ROGER T. FINLAY
Thrilling adventures by sea and land of two boys and an aged Professor
who are cast away on an island with absolutely nothing but their
clothing. By gradual and natural stages they succeed in constructing all
forms of devices used in the mechanical arts and learn the scientific
theories involved in every walk of life. These subjects are all treated
in an incidental and natural way in the progress of events, from the
most fundamental standpoint without technicalities, and include every
department of knowledge. Numerous illustrations accompany the text.
Two thousand things every boy ought to know. Every page
a romance. Every line a fact.
* * * * *
_Six titles--60 cents per volume_
* * * * *
THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS
The Castaways
THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS
Exploring the Island
THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS
The Mysteries of the Caverns
THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS
The Tribesmen
THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS
The Capture and Pursuit
THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS
The Conquest of the Savages
PUBLISHED BY
THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY
147 FOURTH AVENUE NEW YORK
THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS
* * * * *
THE CONQUEST OF THE SAVAGES
THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS
THE CONQUEST OF THE SAVAGES
by
ROGER T. FINLAY
Illustrated
[Illustration]
The New York Book Company
New York
Copyright, 1914, by
The New York Book Company
CONTENTS
I. THE COMPACT BETWEEN THE FOUR ALLIED TRIBES, Page 11
The camp startled by Sutoto. Confederation of the
Tuolos, Kurabus and Illyas. A council of all the
chiefs. The Professor's address. Advising unity of
all the tribes against the hostiles. The assent of
the chiefs. The views of Oma, Uraso and Muro. How
the allied tribes met. Review of the work of the
Professor and the boys. Determine to send a force to
the Cataract. Conclude to remove all tools to the
southwest. The warriors selected. Adopting a settled
plan. Mustering the warriors. Sending for Chief
Suros of the Berees. The muster roll. John in
command of the forces to the Cataract. Blakely in
command of the home forces. The march to protect the
Brabos. A compact between the allied tribes. John
and his party on the march. Sadness at giving up
Cataract. At the Cataract. The flag as a charm.
Uraso's interpretation of the flag.
II. BUSY TIMES AT THE CATARACT. THE ALARMING NEWS
Page 24
The tribute to the flag. A national talisman.
Entertaining the warriors. Starting the water wheel
in motion. The sawmill at work. Making spears.
Gathering and threshing barley. The roast ox and the
feast. Making bread. The surprising novelties for
the warriors. Determining to make guns before
dismantling. Building a new wagon. Uraso directing
the work of the men. The universal tattoo. Its
significance. Designating name and rank. Clothing.
Blakely drilling the army at the Brabo village. News
of the approach of the old chief Suros. The
Professor and party receiving him with honor. The
conversation with Suros. His hearty accord. Jim and
Will. Their observations. The value of unity.
Sutoto's report about the confederated tribes.
Information of their movement toward Cataract.
John's scouts at the Cataract capture two Kurabus.
Startling intelligence. Interviewing the captives.
Completing the new wagon. Sending out scouts toward
the Kurabus.
III. INTERCEPTING THE MARCH OF THE CONFEDERATES. THE
TREASURE Page 37
Blakely with a force to intercept the confederates.
Sutoto delegated to inform John. Reaching the
Cataract. Interesting scenes at the Cataract for
Sutoto. The scouts report the tribes to the west.
Blakely's force near the confederates. Watching
their movements. John's messenger to Blakely. Advice
that the tribes are waiting for reinforcements. The
tribes on the march east. Blakely's message to John.
Blakely intercepting the tribes. His message to the
enemy. Their surprise. To give their answer in two
suns. The message to the Professor. The Professor
decides to capture the Kurabus' village. On the
march. Capturing the Kurabus' reinforcements. The
villages in his possession. The Professor's message
to John and Blakely. A message from Blakely.
Hurrying the work at Cataract. Making guns and
spears. Taro. The treasure in the cave. Decide to
take it to their new home. Loading up the wagons.
Transferring the hoard in the caves. A messenger
informing John of the battle. Instructs Muro to go
to aid of Blakely.
IV. THE SURRENDER OF THE KURABUS Page 50
The load of treasure. A doleful sound. The "cry of
the lost soul." Activity at Cataract. Bringing in
the flag. The trip to Observation Hill. The warriors
participate. George and Harry lower the flag. An
impressive scene. The last sad night at the
Cataract. A runner from John to the Professor. The
confederates within eight miles of Cataract. A
movement to capture them. Messenger from the
Kurabus' village arrives too soon. The flight of the
confederated tribes. The Kurabus determine to defend
their village. John orders a forced march to assist
the Professor. The messenger from Muro advises the
Professor. He learns of the approach of the
Professor. The arrival of John. The confederates at
the Kurabus' village. Surprise of the latter at the
leniency of the Professor. Advancing on the Kurabus'
village. A messenger from, the Kurabus. Agree to
surrender. The flight of the Tuolos and Illyas. The
Kurabus join the allies. Submission. Tastoa's
message to the other tribes.
V. THE NEW TOWN SITE. THE WATER WHEEL AND SAWMILL
Page 62
Return to the Brabo village. The train from Cataract
in sight. The triumphal entrance into the village.
The festivities. Safety of the Brabos assured. The
Professor tells the chiefs his object in forming the
alliance. Suggests the building of a new town. To
belong to all the tribes. To take all the chiefs to
the new town. The boys want their herd of yaks.
Sutoto and party go for them. Blakely's fighting
force. The Banyan tree. Its peculiar growth. Sap in
trees. Capillary attraction. Hunting a town site.
Uraso selects a place. A water-fall. An ideal spot.
Reported arrival of the herd. Fencing off a field.
How the fence was built. The warriors at work.
Building a new water wheel. Erecting a sawmill. The
warriors at work bringing in logs. The sawmill at
work.
VI. BUILDING UP THE NEW TOWN Page 74
Disquieting rumors of the confederates. Shop and
laboratory put up. A safe place for the treasure.
Making looms. Searching for minerals. Putting up a
furnace and smelter. Making molds for copper coins.
The mint. Teaching the people how to use money.
First lessons in industry. The measure of value.
Coins of no value. Paying wages. Inculcating the
ideas of pay for labor. Teaching natives the
principles of purchase and sale. Making bargains.
Begin the erection of buildings. The Tuolos and
Illyas still bitter. Evidences of hostilities.
Decide to conquer the Tuolos. John at the head of an
expedition. The natives encouraged to bring in all
kinds of vegetables. Chica. Burning oil. Why
different plants grow differently on the same soil.
Ralph and Tom accompany John on the expedition.
Going to visit the tribe which captured them.
VII. THE EXPEDITION AGAINST THE TUOLOS Page 86
Crossing the West River. Approaching the Tuolos
village from the south. The advance scouts. First
signs of the Tuolos. The feasting at the village.
Ralph and Tom wander from the camp. They discover a
cave. Striking a match. The weird interior. Leave
the cave to notify John. Return to the cave. A
hurried exploration. The home of the Medicine men.
Their absence at the village. Meeting the Medicine
men at the entrance. Effecting a capture. The
Krishnos. A curious cross found by John in the cave.
Its history. The uproar in the village. John
confronting the Medicine men. They tell him the
Great Spirit will destroy him. John strikes a light
on the cross with, matches. The Medicine men in
terror. Orders one of them to go to the village and
tell the Chief to surrender. Surrounding the
village. Muro captures a rival set of Medicine men.
Another cave. Questioning the newly-arrived
captives. They are defiant.
VIII. THE SUBMISSION OF THE TUOLOS Page 100
Threatening the Medicine men. Beating them for
lying. Morning. Dissensions in the village. Learn
they are surrounded. The Chief comes forward.
Meeting John and Muro. John's plain talk to the
Chief. Demands his immediate surrender. The Chief
stunned. Says he will go and tell his people. The
Chief returns. Surrenders. The warriors march into
the village. Liberating the captured Brabos. Ralph
and Tom visit the large hut where they were
confined. Blakely showing the Chief the maneuvers of
the warriors. The Chief proposes to torture the
Medicine men. John interferes. Asks that they be
turned over to him. The Professor and the colony.
The insulting message from the Illyas. The messenger
to John. Building chairs and tables. Two-and
three-room cottages. Stimulating individual efforts.
The first thief and the treatment. John and party
visit the cave east of the village.
IX. PLANS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE NATIVES Page 111
Entering the cave. What they found. The treasure as
John had described it. Removing it to the wagon. The
Chief, the Krishnos and a number of the warriors
taken to the new town. Approaching home. The Chief
Marmo. Meets the Professor. The welcoming functions.
Interest in the works. Watching the loom. Trying to
teach him new ideas. A lesson in justice. Told the
difference between right and wrong. Blakely the man
of business. The island as a source of wealth.
Blakely determines to stay on the island. Agree to
build a large vessel. Projecting a trip home.
Agricultural pursuits. The states. How lands were to
be disposed of. Value of land. Proposing an
expedition to the Illyas. Marmo sends a message to
the Illyas. Making new guns for the expedition.
X. THE PECULIAR SAVAGE BELIEFS AND CUSTOMS Page 124
The Krishnos. Chief Marmo learning. The Tuolo
workman asks permission to bring his family to the
new town. The boys find a name for the town. Unity.
The Hindoo christening. The expedition against the
Illyas. Three hundred warriors. Reflections of the
boys. Six tribes. Heading for the Saboro village.
Muro happy. A day and night of feasting. Muro's
family. The pocket mirrors. Lolo. An artisan. Events
at Unity. Two deaths. The peculiar rites. The
Spirits in the air. Rewards. Savage beliefs. The
honored dead. Lessons from the Great Spirit.
XI. EXPEDITION TO SUBDUE THE ILLYAS Page 137
The warriors' families. The plaintain leaf. The
native loom. Weaving. Primitive goods. A store set
up. Kitchen utensils. Bringing in ore and supplies.
Sanitary arrangements. Home comforts. Native combs.
Fish fins. An immense turtle. Tortoise shells. John
and the war party. Illyas reported in front.
Character of country. Savage beliefs. The moon in
their worship. Distance to the Illyas village. In
sight of the first Illyas. Borderlines. Double line
of guards. Illyas surprised. Capturing an Illyas
warrior. Sending him back with a peace message. A
strong position. The history of the Illyas.
Differences in the color of the various tribes.
XII. THE PERILOUS TRIP OF THE WAGON Page 149
At Unity. Suros and Oma announce they will not
return to their tribes. The return of the Tuolo
warrior and family. A cottage for him. Famished. How
the Professor explained his act of humanity to Chief
Marmo. The principles of justice. Marmo accompanies
the Professor through the town. An object lesson.
Ralph and Jim in charge of the factory. Sending out
hunters to gather in yaks. Laying out fields.
Wonderful vegetation. John and the Illyas. Planking
movement around the Illyas. The charge. The Illyas
in confusion. Their retreat. The forest a barrier.
Sighting the main village. Astonishment at its
character. An elevated plateau. A town by design.
Peculiarly formed hills or mounds. Fortified. The
mystery. Sending the wagons to the south. Avoiding
the forest. No word from the team. The teams reach
the river. Intercepted. Illyas in front. Blocked by
precipitous banks. Forming camp. Sending messengers
to John. Muro gets the message. Hastens to relieve
the force with the wagon. The savage attack. A
volley behind the Illyas.
XIII. THE REMARKABLE DISCOVERY AT BLAKELY'S MOUNTAIN
HOME Page 163
At Unity. The weekly outing. The great forest to the
west. The trip of the whites to Blakely's forest
home. Driftwood. Centrifugal and centripetal motion.
The forest animals. Orang-outan. The monkeys.
Reaching the hill. The scaling vine. Reaching the
recessed rocks. The two skeletons in the rocks. A
gun and trinkets. A sextant. A letter. No identity.
The message. Effort to decipher it. A mound for the
bones. Forwarding copy of message to John. John's
examination of the Illyas' village. The remarkable
character of the buildings. Muro returns with the
wagons. The Tuolos as fighters. Two captured. Trying
to open communications. Returns of the messengers.
Defiance. Permitting the messenger to return.
XIV. THE SURPRISE AND CAPTURE OF THE ILLYAS' STRONGHOLD
Page 175
Astonishment of the Illyas' messenger. The character
of the eastern side of the town. A movement in the
night. Surrounding the town. Muro and Uraso as
warriors. The architecture of the buildings. Not
built by the natives. Different kinds of
architecture. Their distinction. Disposing the
forces. The signal for attack. John, and his party
rush the breastworks. Enter the town. The surprise
and confusion of the Illyas. Harry observes the
Illyas' chief and attendants. Surrounds and capture
them. Muro makes a charge. The chief signals
surrender. Uraso surrounds the Illyas. Marched to
the great square. The conference between John and
the chief. The Doric building. The Illyas' chief.
His imperious air. Dignity of Uraso and Muro.
XV. THE RESCUE OF FIVE CAPTIVES Page 187
The chief's question. John's brief answer. The chief
trying to deceive John. Questions the chief about
the messages. The lying answers. The punishment
imposed on the warriors. Orders the same punishment
for the chief. Consternation. Uraso and Muro plead
for the chief. Whipping the most disgraceful
punishment for a chief. Demands the white captives.
Sama to show the way to their hiding place. The
wagon brought out. The boys, accompanied by Lolo,
and commanded by Stut. Reach the village. The
captives' hut. The rush for the door. The five
captives. Three _Investigator's_ boys. A pitiable
sight. Hungry. Harry's inscription on the litter. A
Saboro and a white man. Taking the Illyas' warriors
along. Feeding the rescued ones.
XVI. REMARKABLE GROWTH OF UNITY Page 199
Awaiting word from John. Telegraph line needed.
Wireless telegraphy. Sound and power. Vibrations. A
universal force. B Street in Unity. Visiting the
villagers in their homes. Incentives to beautify
their houses. Erecting larger dwellings for the
chiefs. The schoolhouse. A growing town. Marvels to
the chiefs. The mysterious things the white men do.
The thermometer. Teaching medicine. Cinchona.
Calisaya. Acids. The boys reach the Illyas' village
with the liberated prisoners. Making them
comfortable. The white man a former companion of
John. A health resort. The _Investigator's_ lifeboat
No. 3. Mystery about the note. The commotion
outside. Capturing the Illyas' reinforcements from
the south. Provisions. Cultivation of the soil.
George and Harry explore the buildings. Trying to
solve the puzzle. Arrangements of the streets.
XVII. THE MYSTERIOUS CAVE. RETURNING TO UNITY Page 211
Cornerstones. The treasure chart. Caves near the
town. A guess at the meaning of the buildings. The
Medicine men. Questioning the chief. He says John
will be destroyed if he enters the cave. John's test
of the truth of the chief's statement. The trip to
the cave. Proving that the Medicine men lied. The
chief enjoys his first ride. The cave entrance. John
goes in. He finds the Krishnos. Their conversation.
John appears before them. The consternation. Orders
them to leave the cave. Shows the chief that the
Medicine men have lied. Taking them to the village.
John and the boys explore the cave alone. No
treasure. An immense deposit of copper. Probable
explanation of the houses of the town. An immense
chamber. The start for Unity. Sighting the Saboro
village. Muro's family. Waiting to go to Unity. The
town out to meet the returning warriors. Angel at
the reception.
XVIII. BUILDING A SHIP TO TAKE THEM HOME. PEACE, Page 221
Oroto surprised at the appearance of Marmo. Anxious
to see the great White Chief. The Professor
welcomes the Illyas' chief. His great surprise.
Friendship. Has no further belief in the wise men.
Life and death. Why he was brought to Unity. Peace
among the tribes. Oroto and Marmo confer. A
jollification of the whites. What had been
accomplished in two years. Building a ship for home.
Sadness as well as joy. The engineering force of
Unity. How the different tribes lived together. Rich
soil. New houses. New people. A printing press. A
schoolhouse. Making paper. Many mysteries unsolved.
One thing lacking. The flag. Getting the flagpole.
The ceremony. Hoisting OLD GLORY.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
"The warriors, together with the chief and the two boys, Jim
and Will, rushed to meet them" Frontispiece
PAGE
"Meantime John consulted Muro and Uraso, and the three
picked out the most trustworthy scouts" 38
"The act was such a startling one that they threw themselves
on the ground in terror" 86
"The party plunged into the forest, taking the direction which
Tom and Ralph had gone on the former trip" 230
Position of Wagon and Attacking Force 18
George's Old Dutch Oven 26
The Tattooed Arm. Antelope 29
The Taro Plant and Bulb 45
The Banyan Tree 65
Showing Capillary Attraction 68
Sample of Island Fence 71
The One-cent Coin 76
The Five-cent Coin 77
Chica. The Gum Plant 84
Stone Cross Found in the Cave 92
Ancient Crosses 93
Ready for the Happy Hunting Grounds 131
Primitive Weaving-Frame 137
Comb from Fin of Fish 140
The Marmoset 166
Proboscis Monkey 167
The Mysterious Message 170
Orders of Architecture 179
The Peculiar Illya Village 212
Diagram of Cross-shaped Cave 219
Paper-making Machine 231
The Stars and Stripes 236
THE CONQUEST
CHAPTER I
THE COMPACT BETWEEN THE FOUR ALLIED TRIBES
When the morning sun was struggling to come up over the mountains in the
east, the whole camp was startled by Sutoto, who, with a number of the
Berees during the night, had acted as a picket, to observe the attitude
of the defeated tribes.
He made his way to the Professor, who had taken his old place in the
wagon. "The Tuolos, Kurabus and Illyas have all united and are now on
the big river."
"When did you last see them?"
He held up his fingers to indicate the time, and the Professor called to
Will: "Do you know what time he means?"
Will soon interpreted the sign to mean three in the morning.
"If they have not been separated it is a sign that they intend to
continue the fight," said John.
"I suggest," replied the Professor, "that we call a council of the
principal men in the tribes, and let them fully understand what our aim
and desires are, and thus unite the four tribes in a bond of unity. This
is a most opportune time."
The news of the obvious action of the tribes to the north was soon
learned by all, and when the Professor's view was communicated there
was a universal assent.
Within an hour the chiefs assembled, and the Professor addressed them as
follows: "My brothers, I am glad to be able to talk to you, and Uraso
and Muro will tell you what I have to say. The Great Spirit sent us
here, and we tried for a long time to tell you why we came, but you did
not understand it.
"The Great Spirit is the same to all tribes; he does not favor one more
than the other, but sometimes one tribe will understand better than the
other what he wants, and when they do know what he says it makes them
stronger and better.
"We believe the Great Spirit wants the different tribes to live together
in peace, and not kill each other, and for that purpose he has given
each one something to do. If he does that in a right way he not only
helps himself, but he helps everyone else.
"We want to show you how to do this, but before we can start we must all
be like one family. We do not ask the Berees to give up their customs
and become Saboros, nor do we want the Brabos to do as the Osagas do. We
do not care what you believe about this or that, or how you shall dress,
or what language you shall speak. The only thing we should be careful to
do alike is to so work that we shall not injure each other.
"It will not be hard to learn this, and we will all be patient, and we
ask you to be patient with us. We want to show you that the ground is
your mother, and when you ask her for fruit she will give you plenty,
and you can soon learn to make things which will make your wives and
children happy and contented.
"You will know that anything you own will be yours, and none can take it
from you, and if anyone tries to take it, everyone will stand up and
protect you. The tribes which are now to the north must be made to
understand this, and we must unite to compel them to agree to this
manner of living.
"I know that the tribes are powerful enemies, and can bring a great many
warriors to fight against us, but we do not want to kill, nor do we want
them to kill us. Your weapons are not any better than the ones they
have, and we want to make some that will enable us to overcome them, not
for the purpose of killing them, but only to protect ourselves and our
homes and children.
"If that is what you want and you agree with me that it is the right
thing to do, we will help you. To do that you must not fight each other.
I have heard that you do not believe in sacrificing captives, as the
Tuolos and the Illyas and the Kurabus do, and I am glad of it.
"I am told that you all know Suros, the great, father of the Berees, and
that he is wise. He is my friend, and he must be present at our
councils, but we cannot go to him now, because we must protect our
friends, the Brabos, against the warring tribes.
"But we must also be prepared to meet those enemies, and where we live,
we have the workshop by which we can make all the wonderful things
needed for our protection. We must go to the Brabos' village, to be on
guard, while others must go to our village and bring back those
articles, and we will make the things at your own homes, so we can
compel those tribes to submit."
These words affected all the warriors, and they gathered around the
chiefs and expressed their willingness to do all that the Professor had
suggested.
One after the other, the chiefs assented, and the Brabos were especially
pleased. Their chief, Oma, arose and said: "We have been fighting our
friends, and not our enemies, but we did not know any better. We thought
everyone was an enemy. The Great White Chief has told us a new way to
live, and we will do whatever he says."
Uraso, chief of the Osagas, held up his hand, and turned to the people:
"I was wounded by the White Chief, and he took me to his village and
treated me like a friend. He cured me of my wounds, and I became his
friend. I left him and tried to come back and tell my people what a
wonderful father he was, but the Illyas captured me, and when I escaped,
and returned, found my people had gone out to fight him and his people.
This made me sorry. I cannot tell you of all the things I saw at his
village, and now let the White Chief say what I shall do and my whole
tribe will help him. Muro will tell you what he has learned, because he,
too, knows him."
"I do not know how to tell you about this wonderful man," said Muro. "I
have seen him refuse to kill his enemies, when he could easily do it.
He healed the Kurabus, and returned him to his friends, and that is
something new for us to think about. His enemies are our enemies, and
his friends are our friends."
This remarkable scene, which took place on the battle-field, could not
be properly understood without some explanation of the preceding affairs
in the history of Wonder Island.
About a year and a half previous to this, the Professor referred to, and
two boys, George Mayfield and Harry Crandall, who were companions on the
schoolship _Investigator_, were wrecked and cast ashore on the island.
It was fortunate that they landed on a portion of the island remote from
the inhabited part, and for several months had no idea that any human
beings lived there.
They had absolutely nothing but their clothing; not even a knife or
other tool, but despite this, set to work to make all the appliances
used in civilized life. The preceding volumes showed how this was done,
and what the successive steps were to obtain food and clothing, and to
make tools and machinery.
They built a home, and put up a water wheel, a workshop and laboratory;
captured a species of cattle, called the yak, and used the milk for
food, and trained the oxen to do the work of transportation; they found
ramie fiber and flax, built a loom and wove goods from which clothing
was made; they found various metals, in the form of ore and extracted
them; and finally made guns, electric batteries, and did other things,
as fast as they were able to carry on the work.
In the meantime several exploring trips were undertaken, and they
learned of the existence of savage tribes, and what was more startling
still, ascertained that other boats, belonging to the ill-fated
_Investigator_, had been cast ashore, and later on came in contact with
several tribes with whom they had a number of fights, and by chance
discovered a tribe, the Tuolos, who held two of the boys in captivity.
These they rescued, namely, Thomas Chambers and Ralph Wharton. Returning
from one of these expeditions they found a man at their home, who had
entirely lost his memory. This was John L. Varney, a highly educated
man, who had seen service in many lands, and later on was restored to
reason.
Prior to the present enterprise, which was related in the opening pages,
a chief, Uraso, of the Osagas, was wounded and captured by them, and
taken to their Cataract home, as they called it, and when healed, he had
left them, for the purpose of returning to his own tribe, so that he
might bring them to the Cataract as friends; but he was captured and
detained.
During this interim, the last expedition was organized, and after some
mishaps, they proceeded into the part of the country where the savages
lived, and on the way rescued the chief of the Saboros, and also a
former companion of John.
Two weeks before our story begins, the Professor was captured by a band
of Berees, and taken to their village, where he was instrumental in
healing the chief's favorite daughter, and in gratitude, placed his
warriors at the Professor's disposal to rescue his friends, who were
about to be attacked by the hostile tribes.
The Professor saw and rescued two more of the shipwrecked boys, who were
held captive by the Berees, and together they started to relieve the
occupants of the wagon. The various tribes had been at war with each
other, and when they learned that the wagon with the whites was entering
their country, all sought to effect the capture; but the enmity between
certain tribes caused several of them to unite and the three most bitter
and vindictive, namely, the Tuolos, Kurabus and the Illyas, were opposed
to the Osagas, the Saboros and the Berees.
It was fortunate that all these forces met at the place where the wagon
was located, and in the battle which followed, the whites and their
allies won. The situation was, however, that the victory might soon be a
fruitless one, because the three tribes could muster a larger force than
the four tribes now joined under the Professor, and might renew the
attack at any time.
"Let us now see what the situation is," said the Professor, to the
chiefs. "I have made a map of the island, showing where the various
tribes are located, and where the villages are situated, so we may all
have a like understanding."
"I would suggest," said John, "that a part of the force be sent to the
Cataract and bring all the machinery and stock we have at that place, to
this part of the island, where it can be set up and operated. In that
way we can the more readily teach the people how to do the work."
"That is absolutely necessary, as it is too far off where the plant is
now located, to be of service to us."
[Illustration: _Fig. 1. Position of the Wagon and attacking Forces._]
"If you will allow me to say something it might help us," remarked Muro.
"Let the Professor select a certain number of warriors from each tribe,
to go to your village and bring the things here, and others will remain,
and watch our enemies."
"That is a good idea," observed Blakely, "but before doing that I think
we ought to muster our forces, so that we may know what we have to
depend on, and the chiefs can tell us who are the best fitted for the
various tasks."
"Your view is the correct one," answered the Professor, "and Muro, you,
Uraso and Ralsea, inform all of them what is required. I shall expect
you, Blakely, to take charge of the mustering of the forces."
The suggestion was understood and agreed to by all, and the various
tribes were arranged in columns.
The Professor addressed them as follows: "In our country, we have a plan
for everything we do, and everything is done in order. We try to follow
the plan in which the Great Spirit orders everything done. We want every
man to do something and be responsible for one part of the work."
"While the people are gone to the White Chief's village, others might go
to the Berees' village and bring the Great Chief Suros, as he is wise,
and we should like to have him here," added Uraso.
"Your suggestion," said the Professor, "is a wise one, and it will show
how earnest you are in making this bond a lasting one among you. I thank
you for calling attention to the matter, and it shall be acted on at
once."
The muster roll, as prepared by Blakely, showed the following results:
The Berees: Sub-chief Ralsea and eighty-five warriors.
The Osagas: Chief Uraso, two sub-chiefs and one hundred and ten
warriors.
The Saboros: Chief Muro, three sub-chiefs and one hundred and
fifteen warriors.
The Brabos: Chief Oma, two sub-chiefs and one hundred and five
warriors.
The whites were enumerated as follows:
The Professor.
John L. Varney.
Samuel Blakely.
{ George Mayfield,
{ Harry Crandall,
The boys: { Thomas Chambers,
{ Ralph Wharton,
{ James Redfield,
{ William Rudel.
The combined force thus numbered four hundred and twenty-four, not
counting Angel. It should be said that Angel was an orang-outan,
captured while a baby, and he had been educated by George to do many
wonderful things. It is well known that these animals are great
imitators, but this one really learned many useful things. One of them
was to climb the tallest trees and warn George of the approach of
enemies, and this was such a wonderful thing, that Muro explained it to
his people and they really admired the animal, and who was, in
consequence, a great pet.
When the council met the Professor said: "I will detail one hundred and
fifty men to accompany John to our village to bring the things from that
place, and those remaining will go to the Brabos' village to watch our
enemies and to protect the home of our friends. Ralsea should take the
litter and twenty men and go after the Great Chief Suros, and bring him
here, so that we may consult with him."
"We have thirty guns," said John, "and at least half should be left with
you while we are away."
"It might also be well," remarked Blakely, "to have the different chiefs
select the most competent men in the four tribes to whom instructions
might be given in the use of the guns, and I will drill them and show
how to handle them to the best advantage."
The four chiefs selected the men for the expedition from the respective
tribes, and the four boys who had been together for so long, begged that
they might be of the party also, and the Professor could not deny them
this privilege.
Early in the morning the entire force started on the march for the
Brabos' village, and before night arrived at the main one, where the
Professor and his party had the first close sight of the village and the
inhabitants.
Runners were sent ahead to inform the people of the expected arrivals.
This was the first time in the history of the island that a foreign
tribe had ever visited them, except in a hostile manner, and the
curiosity of the women and children was intense.
Oma, the chief, had graciously ordered the best hut for the Professor,
but he declined it with many thanks, and presented the chief's wife with
one of the mirrors, which delighted them. Some of the warriors were
designated to procure game, and others to bring in wood for the fires,
and the most skilled were selected to scout to the northwest to
determine the movements of the enemy.
In the morning, John and his party, with the wagon, started for the
Cataract home. Uraso and Muro were designated to accompany them, and you
may be sure that to the boys this trip had in it every enjoyment that
could be brought to them.
"What a difference there is in things, now," mused Harry, as he drove
the yaks along. "I hope they will have no trouble with those treacherous
tribes until we get back."
"It makes me sad to think that we have to give up the Cataract," said
George. "The past year has been a happy one to all of us, even though we
have had serious times. And what shall we do with the flag?"
They had made a beautiful flag, which floated from a tall staff on
Observation Hill. It would have been a grief to permit it to remain.
John overheard the conversation. "Yes; we shall certainly take it with
us, and teach the natives here to respect it." And the boys applauded
the sentiment.
In two days more the party sighted the Cataract, and saw "Old Glory"
floating from the mast. When they saw it again, they took off their hats
and gave three cheers. This so astonished the natives that they could
not understand it, and Uraso told his people that the flag was
worshipped by the white people.
"Did you hear what Uraso told them?" asked John.
"No; what was it!"
"He said that white people did not carry individual charms to ward off
troubles, but that they had the flag for that purpose, and the one flag
was the charm of all the people; and he also told them it was made a
certain way for that purpose."