The Wonder Island Boys: Conquest of the Savages Part 27

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 G.o.d! 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 s.n.a.t.c.hes 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.

CHAPTER XVI

REMARKABLE GROWTH OF UNITY

"We haven't heard from John for two days. I wonder if they have met with any difficulties?" asked Will, as they were together the evening after their trip to the hill and forest.

"John is very prudent, and a man of very extensive knowledge as a campaigner. If they had met any disaster we should have known of it before this."

"We ought to have had a telegraph line. That would keep us in touch with the army," added Jim.

"Wireless telegraphy would be still better," responded Tom.

"But how about wireless telephones?"

"And if wireless telephones, why not wireless power?"

The Professor smiled, as one suggestion after the other was made. The other boys smiled, too, at Jim's last suggestion that power might be transmitted by wireless.