The Wonder Island Boys: Conquest of the Savages Part 3

They cringed before his piercing look.

"Answer me! Do you want us to kill all of your people? Did you tell your chief when we let you go, that we did not want war, but peace?"

Neither of them answered, but shrank back. John a.s.sumed a terrible anger, as he continued: "We healed you, and tried to show our friends.h.i.+p, but you tried to kill us. Is that what you people believe in?"

Tama, who was the warrior alluded to by Harry, soon recovered his speech, and after glancing around at the chiefs, said: "The chiefs would not believe what you said."

"What are you here for now?"

"I was sent here to see what you were doing."

"How many were sent?"

"No one but Reto and myself."

"Lock them up," said John, "and keep a good guard over them. So that is their game, is it? So much the more important for us to get the weapons ready."

The new wagon was now ready for the top, and this was completed in short work. John started on the bolos immediately, and also forged out a number of spears. The boys were set to work preparing the stocks for the barrels, and these were cut out in the rough at the sawmill, and several more knives prepared. The most skillful of the warriors were then instructed to dress them up and get them ready for the barrels.

The work was prosecuted not only during the day, but at night, as well.

It was fortunate that during the time the yaks were lost, some months before, they had trained a pair to drive, and these were now again yoked up to give them experimental training for the coming journey.

Meantime John consulted Muro and Uraso, and the three picked out the most trustworthy scouts. Giving them explicit instructions to proceed westward, and discover, if possible, whether their enemies were making any movement toward the Cataract, and if, on the other hand, the movement was toward the Professor and the Brabos' village, to send one runner to the village and the other back to the Cataract.

In less than ten days' time Harry had turned out thirty-two barrels, and John had given a great deal of attention to the preparation of the ammunition.

CHAPTER III

INTERCEPTING THE MARCH OF THE CONFEDERATES.

THE TREASURE

Blakely started north with the picked warriors, and before evening came in sight of them, headed for the east. It was evident that they were about to go to the Cataract.

Sutoto begged to be permitted to go there and inform them of the danger of attack, and Blakely consented, and without waiting for the morning, was on his way. He traveled most of the night, reaching the place in the afternoon, and was received by John and the others with the most effusive welcome.

"What are you here for?" asked John hurriedly.

"The tribes are coming this way."

"I have just learned from one of our runners that they went far to the north of you, and a.s.sumed that the intention was to attack us."

"The Professor should be warned at once," was Sutoto's response.

"I have instructed that to be done," answered John.

The scenes around the Cataract were intensely interesting to him. He wandered around with the boys, and asked questions on every conceivable subject. Blakely had given him one of the guns, and he was taken to the workshop and told how they were made. These things so fascinated him that, hungry as he was, he could hardly be induced to take time for his meals.

The boys admired him immensely, and together they acted like boys. The water wheel; the sawmill; the two stones which served as the gristmill; the grindstones; the lathes; and the little foundry were entrancing.

When the boys took him to the blacksmith shop, and he saw the forge, and the numerous spear heads which John had turned out, as well as the bolos, his eyes showed the intense delight the sight afforded him.

The next morning one of the runners appeared and stated that the tribes were still waiting, and also imparted the further information that Blakely and his party were at a safe distance, and unknown to the hostiles.

It was obvious now that they were awaiting the arrival of the two scouts who had been captured before advancing. Several scouts and runners were again sent forward, with instructions to return with information the moment an advance was made.

When Blakely reached the vicinity of their confederated enemies, he thought it wise to keep in the background, and was at a loss to account for the delay during the entire day, but before evening one of the Berees, who had been sent by John, arrived in camp.

"I have just come from the white man's village, and they know that the tribes are moving in that direction."

[Ill.u.s.tration: "_Meantime John consulted Muro and Uraso, and the three picked out the most trustworthy scouts_"

[See p. 35]]

"How did they discover it?"

"We captured two spies and have them as captives."

This information suggested the cause of the delay. He immediately called a runner, and indited the following letter: "I am keeping on the watch, and am not afraid to attack the whole of them, if need be. If the guns you are making are not completed, do not worry about it, as I shall keep them interested here for several days longer. I will not appear unless I find they have taken up the march in your direction. Blakely."

The following day the scouts informed Blakely that the allies had broken camp and were about to move to the east. Calling the warriors together, he addressed them as follows: "My friends; we are about to meet your enemies, not for the purpose of fighting them, but to prevent them from attacking our friends at the white man's home. Our friends there are preparing the fire guns for us, before they come to us, and we must now stand together to prevent them from going there until we are ready to meet them."

The warriors all crowded around, and showed by their att.i.tude that they could be depended upon.

"We have with us eleven fire guns, and I will now tell you how we must fight them, if it is necessary. I will stand in the center of the front line, with the guns, and on each side of us will be the ones I shall select. All those in front will have bows and arrows, but you will not need them, unless they come up too close. We must now march to the right, as fast as we can, and get between them and our friends."

The column started out on its mission, and made its way with the utmost speed to the east, and before noon turned to the north, being thus placed directly in the path of the oncoming forces. The allies moved along deliberately, entirely unaware of the existence of any force.

Before four o'clock the first signs of the advance were observed.

Blakely had selected a strong position on a slight elevation, on the east side of one of the little streams which flowed into the Cataract River, that commanded an open front. His entire force was placed between two natural objects, the right resting behind a rocky projection and the left to the rear of a heavy chaparral of wood.

Entirely unsuspecting, the allies marched along the stream, and crossed not a hundred yards below. When they were within hailing distance, John and Ralsea suddenly appeared in front of their concealed column, and the latter, at the instigation of Blakely, addressed them as follows:

"The white men do not want war, but peace. They have come only to rescue their own people. You must give them up, or there can be no peace. The white chief tells me that if you injure or kill the white men you now have he will hold you responsible, because he is powerful, and is now ready to destroy you and your wives and children, but he does not want to do that. We are here to prevent you from going to the white man's house."

The consternation on the faces of the savages, at the appearance of two, was easily discernible. They listened in silence while Ralsea spoke, and, then indicated that they would hold a council and give their answer.

It was evident that the allies were taken by surprise, and it must have been obvious that they had no idea of the force which was in their front. Blakely had wisely stationed pickets to the right and the left, in order to observe their movements, after the first surprise was over.

The conference lasted until night fell, and thus the first object was gained; delay. In the morning one of the chiefs appeared, and Blakely and Ralsea again went to the front.

"I will give you our answer," he said. "The white man attacked us, and we fought him back. He has killed our warriors, and we will not treat with him at this time."

Ralsea replied: "You have done the same that we have done toward the white man; we were always the first to attack them. They tried to be friendly, but we would not listen to them."