THE SUBMISSION OF THE TUOLOS
The situation was a tense one to the entire party, and John moved
forward, placing himself directly in front of them.
"Do you think the Great Spirit can prevent us from punishing you? If you
do not answer immediately I will call on him to lay stripes on you. Do
you answer?"
He stepped back slowly, and then suddenly spoke out the warning signal
that he had arranged with Muro, and instantly six of the most powerful
Saboros sprang upon them and bound them together face to face. John
stood there with arms folded. He raised a hand, and two of the warriors
raised the supple and toughened twigs, and brought them down on their
bare backs.
It was all done with such wonderful celerity and precision that it
astounded the circle of warriors beyond measure, and the effect was
doubly so to the two Krishnos. John had staged this to produce the
greatest effect. The Krishnos were bound with their heads side by side,
and a cloth put over their heads, so that they had no knowledge who
their tormentors were.
They danced about, and in their shrieks called out imprecations on their
enemies, but soon, as the blows continued, begged for mercy, and Muro
signaled them to cease.
The cloth was removed and John again addressed them. They again
persevered in their silence, and at a motion the cloth was again placed
over their heads.
Before the second chastisement began they yielded and the cords were
released.
"You see the Great Spirit did not come to your assistance. Why were you
going to the village?"
"To tell the chiefs not to yield to you."
"The Great Spirit has told me to tell you that the Tuolos must give up
their captives, and cease war. Will you tell the chief so?"
"The Great Spirit did not tell you so," they defiantly answered.
At a signal from John the cords were again brought into play, and the
cloth exhibited. At this sight they pleaded for mercy, and promised to
do as John requested. They were released and conducted to the outer line
of pickets, and quickly disappeared within the village.
It was now nearly four in the morning, and the first streaks of light
began to show in the east. Muro knew the Tuolo character. They regarded
themselves to be the superiors of all the tribes, and hitherto had
treated the others with contempt, excepting the Illyas, whom they
respected only because they were the most powerful.
"They are having a warm time discussing the situation," remarked John,
as he noted the surging inhabitants. That there was indecision became
apparent, and the condition of the Krishnos more precarious, as light
began to give them a more decided glimpse of the activities in the
village.
Soon warriors were noticed rushing to and from the large circle within
which the Krishnos sat. Bows and spears were hurriedly grasped.
"What does it mean?" asked John.
"It is likely they know they are surrounded, and have decided to defend
themselves," answered Muro.
A warrior of distinguished appearance emerged from the circle, and
advanced toward the position occupied by John. Muro beckoned to John,
and together they moved into the open. The warrior saw the two
approaching, and he halted.
Turning to his band he spoke a word, and another no less distinguished
stepped from the rank and moved toward him.
"The first one is the chief, and the other one he called to follow is
the next in rank. As there are two of us, so must there be two on his
side."
John and Muro advanced without halting, and as they neared each other
the chief, in the most haughty manner, addressed Muro as follows:
"Why do you come to make war on my people?"
Muro, taking his cue from John's previous attitude, rose to his full
height and replied: "You have always been the aggressor against the
other people, and you have within the last moon killed and taken two
Brabos in captivity, and we demand their return."
"That I will not do."
"Then the White Chief will speak to you."
John advanced and began the conversation. "The white people do not
desire war. You captured two of my people and I took them from you with
only four men. All the tribes but you and the Illyas have united to
compel you to submit, and you shall not again be free to murder and
injure other people.
"If you want war, we are prepared to fight you. Your village is
surrounded, and we have the fire guns which will compel you to yield. If
you will surrender, we will see to it that you and your people shall not
be harmed, but if you resist you will be killed. You cannot escape."
The chief was stunned, and could not answer. John saw the impression the
address had made, and proceeded: "What did the Krishnos tell you? Did
they not tell you to surrender? Did they not tell you that they lied
when they said the Great Spirit wanted you to kill us?"
The chief was silent. Was he debating the matter in his mind? John
continued: "When this speaks," he said, pointing to his gun, "all of the
fire guns about your village will speak."
"How shall we know you will keep your word?"
Muro held up his hand, as he spoke: "Ask the Kurabus whether the White
Chief keeps his word."
Before he could reply, John added: "The White Chief keeps his word. He
believes the people here will keep their word if they know the others
will do so. He has armed the tribes who have allied themselves with him,
because he believes in them, and we do not want to make you captives, or
offer sacrifices of your brave men."
"The White Chief speaks wisely," said Muro. "He does not believe in
making sacrifices. The Great Spirit has told him that is wrong."
Still the chief pondered, and, slowly raising his head, said: "I believe
the white man, and what he says. I will tell my people."
He turned and moved toward the village, John and Muro remaining there,
as an indication that they expected an immediate answer.
"He will yield," said Muro, "and according to custom, will first tell
his people what his decision is."
Muro was right. Within a half hour the chief advanced at the head of his
warriors, the latter of whom had left their bows and spears at the
circle, and the two stood ready to receive them.
As the two chiefs appeared the warriors lined up behind them.
"I have brought my warriors here to show you that we will be friends."
And John advanced and took the hand of the chief.
"In my country we become friends when we take each other's hands, and I
am glad to see that you have wisdom to accept us as your friends."
At a signal from Muro, the warriors advanced from all sides, and
together they marched into the village, the different ones telling the
Tuolos the wonderful things the White Chief was doing, and how they were
bringing all the tribes together, and making them stop war.
The first act of the Tuolo chief was to liberate the two Brabo warriors.
When the wagon was driven into the village, the people gathered around
the curious contrivance. Some of them remembered it when it was there
nearly a year before, but under quite different circumstances.
The boys, Ralph and Tom, soon attracted the attention of the chief. He
went up to them, and simulating the act of John, held out his hand. The
boys understood it, and respectfully responded and saluted the chief, in
regular military fashion.
Then, climax to the foregoing events, Blakely gave a word of command to
the fifty who were armed with the guns, and for the benefit of their new
allies, put them through a manual of arms. The precision with which this
was done, and the remarkable manner in which the subsequent evolutions
were performed, astonished the Tuolos.
While this was going on there was little time to notice the condition of
the Krishnos. They had been bound; and were now lying in disgrace at the
place where the circle had been formed, trembling at their fate.
Before preparations had been made for breakfast, the chief gave a
command, and a number of warriors rushed up to the poor fellows, and
began to drag them to the large hut.
Muro motioned to John, and quietly said: "They will probably torture
them."
John appeared before the chief and said: "The Great Spirit will be
offended if you injure the Krishnos."
"What would you have me do with them?"
"Give them to me."
The chief ordered them to be brought forward, and spoke to them: "The
White Chief has asked me not to injure you, and at his command I have
given you to him."
This announcement seemed to stun them, but Muro was quick to assure them
that the White Chief meant no harm.
The boys took complete satisfaction in going over to the large hut, to
again witness the place where they had spent two weeks in terror,
expecting that each day would be their last.
But we must return to the Professor and the colony. Two days after the
departure of John and his force, the second insulting message came from
the Illyas, in which the statement was made that they and the Tuolos had
united to drive the White Chief from the country and to destroy the
tribes who were allied against them.
A messenger was sent after John, but this was not necessary, as the
Tuolos were in their power before the messenger came.
The Professor had ordered the building of a number of small houses, each
containing two or three rooms, and these were plainly fitted up for
comfort. Some of the natives became quite expert at putting up these
structures when once directed.
George and Jim were set to work, with a half dozen of the men, at
building chairs and tables for the houses, and the work of weaving the
cloth goods was not interrupted for a moment. As stated, the women began
to drift in, and the Professor welcomed them. When they arrived, many of
them with their children, the Professor assigned them and their husbands
to these cottages.
This was an intense delight to them. Each cottage had a small patch of
ground surrounding it, and the first care was to advise them how to lay
off and plant flowers about the place, to make the surroundings
attractive.
It must not be thought that the houses were gifts. It was not the
purpose to instill the idea that this work was one of charity. Instead
each head of a family was made to understand that he must pay for the
home, and this was done in as simple a manner as possible, so it would
be appreciated and understood.
Individual effort was stimulated on the part of the different workers.
As fast as the members of a worker's family arrived, they were installed
in houses, and then began a new system of providing for their keep.
Hitherto, they had boarded at the expense of the common fund; but now
this was gradually changed, and they were informed that each family must
provide its own food, and that those who did so would receive a larger
number of coins.
This resulted in each one trying to find some new direction in which
they could get the coins. It is curious how this new phase of living
brought out traits common to humanity everywhere. Some more eager than
others, and having less honesty than the common run of natives, sought
to get their sustenance by resorting to trickery and thievery.
In their native state this was not considered a crime. It was
commendable, unless detected. But by constant talk, on the part of the
Professor, and by example, he instilled into the policemen, which he
had installed, the principles of honesty. He awarded those who were
vigilant, and the result was that they were most acute to detect the
rogues.
The first thief was caught the day after John's party had gone. He was
immediately brought before the Professor. The arrest of a thief was such
a new proceeding that the workers could not be kept at work, and the
Professor suggested that they should all be present at the trial.
The inquiry was conducted with decorum, Harry being appointed to
prosecute him, and George to defend the prisoner. George did it
vigorously, too, but it was a plain and palpable case, and he was found
guilty. This proceeding was another entirely new manner of treating an
offender, and the people marveled at the attempt to defend the thief.
The Professor saw the cause of the wonderment, and said: "We do not
defend the wrong, but we believe that each man who is charged with a
crime should be permitted to defend himself. If he does not know how to
properly defend himself, then it is our duty to see that he is protected
in all his rights, for he is not a criminal until it is proven."
"He has tried to explain why he took the goods, but you know what he has
said was not true, and he must be punished for it. He must work two
moons without getting any of the coins, and if he repeats the crime, he
must work until he restores the value of the goods taken, so that each
one will know that a thief cannot take things from another without
paying for it."
The incident for a long time deterred anyone from repeating the offense.
It was an object lesson, because it instilled a respect for a law which
was fair to all.
Suros, the chief of the Berees, was the most impressed by the scene, and
could not express himself too forcibly at the wonderful effect which the
principle would have on the tribes in their dealings with each other. He
was really an intelligent native, far ahead of the others in his
comprehension of the duties of one to the other.
The fact that he was regarded with reverence by all but the Kurabus, and
was even respected by them, was a strong factor in determining the
Professor to set in motion a form of government which it was hoped would
forever terminate all bitterness of feeling between the tribes, and
which will be detailed hereafter.
During the day on which the Tuolos submitted, the two chiefs, together
with John, Blakely and Muro, were frequently in consultation.
"The Great White Chief, who rules all of us, wishes to see you, and you
must bring fifty of your warriors with you to his village," said John.
"He will show you how you can be made strong, and your people happy. He
will tell you what our purpose is, and what the Great Spirit asks you to
do. We will start in the morning."
The chief, to the surprise of all, did not demur at this. That night
John called in Blakely, Muro, Ralph and Tom.
"I want you to go with me to the cave on the hill to the east. There are
some things which belong to us. We shall take them, since they are of
no use to the people here, and we may be able to put some of the things
in such a condition that they will be of value to the people on the
island."
The wagon was taken along, and the people wondered at the strange
proceedings. Many of them followed, but Muro warned them to remain
behind. It was evident to all, however, that they were going to the
Krishno cave, and its purport was a mystery to them.
John's sense of direction did not deceive him. He soon found the
entrance on the village side, and, lighting the candles, immediately
entered the cavern. John led the way, as his experience in its hollows
enabled him to point out the direction to be taken.
The interior, lighted up by the candles, was most weird and beautiful.
The stalactite hangings were not massive, but showed the most delicate
tracings, in the first chamber reached. This was the western wing of the
great interior cross which John had previously described.