THE RESCUE OF FIVE CAPTIVES
The question for the moment nettled John. Here was a prisoner, powerless
in his hands, imperiously demanding of his captors what they wanted. It
may not have occurred to him that such a question was out of place.
John drew himself up, and with that piercing glance which he could give,
leaned forward, and slowly, but with terrible emphasis, answered:
"Nothing."
It was now the chief's turn to show a look of surprise. He looked at
John, and his eyes wandered to Uraso and Muro. Neither indicated the
slightest curiosity at the answer. Not another word was said as John
kept his eye on the chief.
Then seeing that he had a different kind of creature to deal with than
any he had heretofore met, addressed John in an entirely different tone
of voice:
"Why have you captured me and my warriors, and why do you intend to
destroy my village and take my women and children?"
"Because that is what you have been doing all your life. We do not ask
you to give us anything. We have taken everything you have and shall not
ask you for permission in anything we do. We have no desire to injure
you or your people, and whether we shall do so will depend on your
action. If you will give us certain information it may make it easier
for you, but if you do not tell us it will go hard with you."
"I am ready to listen."
"Did you receive the messenger I sent you three days ago?"
"Yes."
"What did he tell you?"
"That you intended to kill me and my people."
"Did he not tell you that we did not want war, but peace, but that you
must give up the captives you had?"
"No."
"Send out for that warrior," John ordered, as he glanced at Oroto.
Muro accompanied one of the sub-chiefs, and in a few moments returned
with him. He came in with face hanging down.
He was placed before John. "Why did you lie to the chief?"
The savage was mute. He cast an appealing glance at his chief, but the
latter did not notice him.
Addressing Uraso, John said: "Take this man out and beat him. He must be
punished for lying."
George called in several of the warriors, who were instructed to carry
out the decree. In the meantime Uraso called John aside, and stated that
the poor fellow had undoubtedly told the truth, but the chief had lied.
"I suspected that," answered John. "I do not want the man beaten, so
that you may go and stop the execution of it, but do not let the chief
know that the order was not carried out."
"Did you get a second message from me yesterday through one of your own
warriors?"
"Yes."
"What did he tell you?"
"He said that you had declared war against me and my people and would
kill all of us and take our women and children into captivity."
"Did he not tell you that we came to make terms of friendship, and that
all we wanted was the captives which you wrongfully held?"
"No."
"Bring in that warrior."
Uraso went out with one of the sub-chiefs, and when he appeared
addressed him sharply:
"Why did you lie to your chief, and not tell him what I told you? Answer
me."
The chief merely glanced at the wretch, and the latter bowed his head.
The question was repeated, and he was told that he would be protected
against the fury of his chief if he would tell the truth. As he was
about to reply the chief merely glanced at him, and his lips were
sealed.
"Take him out and beat him as severely as you have beaten the other.
These people must be taught to learn that they should not lie."
Uraso understood John's look, and acted accordingly. He was taken out,
but was not beaten.
Turning to the chief, and acting on the information imparted by Uraso,
he startled Oroto by the following question:
"Why did you lie to me and allow your warriors to be beaten?"
The question stunned him for a moment. John did not permit him time to
frame an excuse.
"You lied to me when you stated that they had told you the things you
said, and I know it. You are deserving of the same punishment as those
who were wrongfully beaten. Take him out and see that he is punished as
he deserves."
This judgment against the august one was like a death pall on the ears
of the sub-chiefs. The chief trembled; his footsteps, theretofore so
supple, were trembling, and he held out his hands for support.
The enormity of this punishment to a chief by whipping is the most
disgraceful thing that can happen. The person of a chief must not be
defiled by a rod, which is intended only for children and for offenses
committed by the unruly members of a tribe.
The procession filed out, and John hurriedly called Uraso and Muro to
his side, explaining in a whisper that they should intercede to prevent
the punishment.
The excitement of the surrounded warriors was intense, as the word was
circulated that their great chief had judgment pronounced against him,
and was to be publicly whipped.
As they were proceeding across the open space, Uraso and Muro, in well
simulated tones, begged that John should forego the punishment, but he
refused to comply until they had reached the place selected.
John advanced to him and said: "Your friends, Muro and Saboro, have
begged me not to inflict the punishment for lying; I have decided not to
do so at this time, as I am guided by their judgment, and I know they
are wise. Instead, you and your chiefs must come with me and see the
Great White Chief, and he may order that you shall not be punished."
This statement that he was not the Great White Chief was another piece
of news that he could not understand.
"And now, I want to know where you have the captives?"
He hesitated. He looked at Muro and Uraso in a different manner this
time. Uraso quietly spoke to him: "You cannot escape the vigilance of
the white man. The wonderful fire guns can kill all of your people. You
do not know what you are doing in trying to resist him. If you do not
tell him he will find them, and then I cannot plead for you."
The chief, turning to one of the sub-chiefs, said: "Sama will take you
to them."
The boys jumped as they learned the import of these words. They looked
at John. The latter turned to the chief and said:
"How far are they from this place?"
The distance was indicated by signs, which Uraso interpreted to mean two
hours.
"Bring in the wagons at once, and unload one of them; then take the
other, with twenty-five men well armed, and carry Sama with you. The
poor fellows are not, probably, in a condition to walk." Then, again
turning to the chief, he asked: "How many prisoners have you?"
He held up his hand with fingers outstretched, indicating five. There
was no delay in preparing the wagon, and Jack and Jill, the two old
trustworthies, were hustled along, to show the path of freedom to some
of the boys' former companions and associates.
John's last injunction was: "Be sure and take plenty of food along." The
order was unnecessary. The boys had thought of this, and the wagon, held
precious little but articles of comfort for the unfortunates.
Sama directed the wagon to the north, and Muro's son Lolo accompanied
them on the journey.
"Do you know," said Harry, "we are going straight toward the Cataract?"
"I had quite forgotten that," answered George. "How I would like to go
back again to the dear old place!"
"I have just been thinking, what a wonderful life we have had since we
landed here. We had nothing when we came, and now we have everything!"
"Yes," answered George; and he stopped, while his eyes took on a blurry
feeling, and the lashes began to blink at an alarming rate. "All but
home!"
Harry looked at George. There was an inflection, which he caught.
"Of course; I mean that, too. But we haven't lost them. When this
business here is settled we are to go to work on the big vessel. When I
think of that it eases my mind."
"That is the great comfort to me, too. It makes me happy when I think of
the joy we are bringing to the people here. I really love every foot of
this island. It has been a wonderful experience to us."
"And," responded Harry, "to think that we have aided in restoring so
many to freedom; John and Blakely, and the four boys, and--I wonder who
the ones are that we are going after now?"
"That is what I have been thinking about all along. But did you ever see
such bricks as Uraso and Muro?"
Lolo had learned many things in the short ten days that he had been with
them. The boys had attained a remarkable knowledge of the language, and
Lolo was a constant instructor for them. He was so simple and unaffected
in his ways that they grew to love him.
Within two hours the location of the village was sighted. It was
distinctly noticed among the trees, perched on a hillside, and the
excitement of the boys was intense. Stut was in charge of the warriors.
Before the village was reached several warriors belonging to the Illyas
appeared, but fell back when they saw what was approaching. Stut
directed Sama to inform them that they had come at the command of Oroto.
This information did not satisfy them, but the wagon did not stop. As it
moved up the incline, the warriors lined up, fully twenty of them,
wondering what the strange visit meant. There was no act of hostility
apparent, still they could not understand why there were no Illyas
present except Sama.
"Take us direct to the captives," commanded Stut.
Sama knew where they were. A typical native hut, but much larger than
the others, stood behind the main homes of the village. To that the
wagon was directed.
The warriors on Stut's command lined up behind the wagon, and the boys,
accompanied by Lolo, rushed for the door. It was but the work of a
moment to wrench the bars away, and without waiting for any ceremony
George and Harry were inside.
The scene that met their eyes was appalling. The five captives were in a
pitiful state. Two of the three boys were lying on filthy hay, and one
man, also badly emaciated, was on the other side, lying down.
The boy who was still on his feet rushed to Harry and threw his arms
about him. "Is that you, Harry? Thank God! And George, too. Where did
you come from?"
"Who is this?" came like a moan from one of the boys. George stooped
down. "Harry, here is Robert--Robert Lamson; and who are you?" And he
crawled on his knees over to the other, who feebly turned his eyes.
Lamson turned to Harry, who was now on his knees. "You know Min, don't
you?" Min was the nickname of one of the boys, because of his
diminutive size.
"Poor Min!" said Harry, as he put his arm around him. "We will get you
out of this at once."
"But we are so hungry," cried Robert, as the tears streamed down his
face.
The boys were all crying now. The tears streaked their faces. Lolo was
very much affected, but he was a jewel in this emergency. He called to
Stut, and together they carried out Robert, and Harry, with his strong
arms, lifted Min as though he was a feather.
They were carried to the wagon, and tenderly laid on the clean, sweet
hay. Poor Min had fainted with the excitement, and Robert was not much
better. But who were the men?
When Harry returned to the hut he found the warriors around one of the
men, talking excitedly. He was a Saboro, and Stut recognized him as one
of his people, who, it was believed, had been sacrificed long before.
The other was a white man, and he was lying in a sort of stupor,
apparently not recognizing his visitors.
Harry spoke to him, and at the strange voice he turned his head, and
with an effort raised himself. "Who is this? What do you want? Is that
you, Rogers?" and he fell back exhausted.
The still active boy, Roy Whitten, came up, and said: "He was here when
we were brought to the place. His name is Gustave Wright. He has a
wonderful story to tell."
"What is the matter with him? Was he wounded?"
"Yes; but he is over that now. The trouble is that he is starved, like
the rest of us. Can't we have something to eat?"
"George is getting it ready for you. You must eat sparingly at first.
George will attend to that, never mind."
The Saboro was in better physical condition than the others of the
party. There was no time for talk. The captives were fed sparingly. "Oh,
how good this tastes!" said Robert. "We had given up all hope, after
they brought us here. We tried so hard to get away and go to the
northeast side of the island, where some white people are living."
Harry dragged Robert out of the hut, and called to George. "Here,
George, did you hear what he said? How did you know there were white
people in the northeast part of the island?"
"We saw it on a litter, which the Illyas brought into their other
village."
Harry looked at George. "That was the litter we made at the Cataract,
and on which we carried out the Kurabu. I wonder how the Illyas got hold
of it?"
"Where is the Cataract?" asked Robert.
"That is at the northeast part of the island. That was our home."
"But don't you live there now?"
"No; we live in a big town at the southwest part of the island."
"But this is so wonderful to us. Just you two boys, and all the
savages. How did you manage it?"
"But we are not alone. The Professor has been with us, and we have Mr.
Varney, and we rescued a Mr. Blakely, and four of the _Investigator's_
boys."
"The Professor--the Professor, and Varney? Rogers spoke about Varney. Do
you mean the professor of philosophy that you used to be so chummy
with?"
"Yes," answered Harry, eagerly. "But let us get busy now." Stut had
rounded up the warriors, and through Sama informed them that they were
wanted at the village.
The women were in consternation, but Stut informed them that no harm
would befall the men. Up to this time Stut had not permitted Sama to
give any information about the situation at the village, but he now
turned to the waiting warriors, and said:
"The Great White Chief and all the tribes have united, and have taken
the Illyas chief and all his people prisoners, and all their women and
children are now captives. The Illyas have not acted right and the
chiefs must now go to the Great Chief and show that he is sorry, and
that he will not again try to take captives, and will not make
sacrifices."
Without waiting for a moment, the train started back for the Illyas'
village. It is wonderful how the stimulating influence of surroundings
will build up and strengthen the depressed. The poor boys, emaciated as
they were, had smiles and tears, as they heard little snatches of
experiences from the boys.
"We are telling you these things, but we are simply crazy to hear your
stories. But they will keep. Let us do the talking now. You will be all
right in a day or two."
The boys' eyes were kept on the vessels containing the food. Time and
again George would shake his head as one or the other tried to get
another "bite." The liquid food was the first administered. The journey
back took much longer, because Harry would not hurry the animals over
the rough roads with the patients in their low condition.
When the wagon and the train of warriors arrived at the village, the
only thing the boys saw were the warriors of the allies. The captives
were in the buildings, and were guarded on all sides.