Chapter IX: March to the South. the Message to the Saboro Tribe

“Have you any suggestion to offer why the Brabos do not return?” asked the Professor.

“I suppose,” said John, as he smiled at the remembrance, “they are hunting for the two savages who took their prisoners.”

A real council of war was now held, and the Professor gave his opinion as the wisest course to take. “We have, without question, put Stut and his friends under lasting obligations to us. From all the information obtainable, their tribe lives a considerable distance to the south, and to reach them we must pass the territory occupied by the Kurabus.”

“We must remember, however,” interrupted Blakely, “that they are in all probability, the most powerful of all the tribes.”

“So I understand,” he answered; “and that is just what I am coming to. If we can advise Stut of our intentions, and induce him to make the trip through the country and inform his friends, we may be pretty sure of assistance from that quarter.”

“I think the Professor is right in his diagnosis of the case. If we can get an ally, even though it may be the weakest tribe, it will give us a vantage ground to work on; and I further believe that we can, by that means, consolidate the weakest of the tribes, and thus secure the mastery, and release those who are in captivity, by that means much quicker than by attempting it unaided.”

The Professor’s views prevailed. It was now near noon, and no hostile party was in sight. The fort was stowed away, and the march to the southwest, to avoid the village, began.

Stut was brought into conference, and between John and Blakely, he was informed that they were on their way to his people. At first his eyes kindled, and he beckoned to his brother, because this relationship had now been established between them, and imparted the good news, and after a moment’s hesitation, their brows grew dark, and the party knew what that symptom meant.

John grasped a gun, and pointed to it, and Blakely taking the hint, advised them that they need not fear the result of the undertaking. This seemed to satisfy them, and with a greatly altered countenance took up the work of scouting on the left side of the wagon.

It was desirable to keep sufficiently far from the village to hide the movement of the wagon, and at the same time remain close enough so that they would not be brought into the vicinity of the other village to the south.

Thus the march proceeded forward for fully two hours without an incident. Then John signaled a halt. He had reached the well-beaten trail or highway between the two villages, and this must be patrolled in both directions before the wagon could be sent across.

The necessity of this was apparent when it is understood that they were now in comparative open ground, and only an occasional tree was in sight. Stut ran in and pointed to the south, and John went forward, and was quickly enlightened at the sight. Coming up from the lower village were the warriors, reinforced by a considerable number. They were more than a mile away, and the order was given to erect the fort.

Long before they came in the immediate vicinity they were ready to receive them, and the utmost quiet was observed. The band passed without observing them, and as soon as they disappeared at a safe distance, the fort was again reinstalled on the wagon, and the hurried march recommenced.

A considerable distance was covered before night, and they congratulated themselves on getting rid of the Brabos so easily. Camp was made for the night at a spring that flowed from the rocks alongside a hill, and which also afforded them protection for the night.

Referring to the matter of his wanderings, Blakely, during the course of the evening, said, “The most trying thing I experienced, during all of my travels, were the winds about five months ago. For fully three days I could hardly move from place to place.”

“That was during the period of the monsoons, and you will remember, it was a year after we had our terrible experience,” answered John.

“I had forgotten that,” he replied.

“I suppose then that they come regularly each year.”

“They really come twice a year. In one period they blow in one direction and at the other period in the other direction.”

“I also noticed that, and I presume we may expect the one from the southeast in another month.”

“Quite true; but those from that direction are not so severe.”

“I recall that they have the Siroccos in Italy, which blow across the Mediterranean, from the northern shores of Africa; and the simoons of Arabia are also terrific while they last.”

“The most trying winds I ever experienced,” said the Professor, “were the Kamsen winds of Egypt and the Harmattan which blow over Africa from the eastern side, owing to the heated atmosphere. They are literally like ovens in their intensity.”

“It is one fortunate thing about the winds here, they are not hot or stifling, especially not these which come in the autumn.”

The hill to the back of them, and against which the wagon was placed, close to the precipitous rocks, afforded protection in that direction, so that the pickets were required for the exposed positions only. Blakely took a hand in the watch during the night, and Stut, with his brother, insisted on doing double duty in that direction.

The timber was thicker here than at any other place along the route since they had left the Brabos country. Hickory, oak, walnut, a species of ash, as well as Cyprus, were found in abundance as well as many varieties of valuable shrubs, rubber plants, and the like, and some of the most beautiful flowers, far exceeding those in the northern portion of the island.

“It seems singular to me,” remarked Harry, during the course of the evening, “that all the savages live in the southern and western portions of the Island. We happened to be cast ashore at the eastern end and remained there, while all the others seemed to reach the western part and thus came into contact with the savages without any trouble.”

“They have found, by living here, that this part is the most desirable, from a climatic standpoint,” answered the Professor. “The knowledge of the most suitable spots is one acquired by all peoples in the different countries. When the Spanish priests established the Missions on the Pacific coast, they found the villages located at certain points in the interior, and a study of the places so selected, showed remarkable knowledge.”

“I found that condition of things in the remotest portions of Africa,” said John. “The most primitive inhabitants had the capacity to occupy locations which could not be improved on by the knowledge of the white man. As the Professor says, all the Missions in California are located at such vantage points, which were usually the site of the Indian villages.”

“In what respect were those locations better than others?”

“The winds were usually a factor in deciding the places for the villages. This will be found particularly true on this island. The monsoons which blow the hardest in this region, as we all know, come from the north. The return winds come from the southeast. In the one case the trees and the elevations protect them from the north, and the mountain range affords shelter from the east.”

Before morning a severe storm set in, and later was accompanied by a rainfall, which decided them to rest until it abated, so that it was past noon before the weather conditions were such as to enable them to go forward.

Chump’s wonderful constitution was bringing him around and healing his wound rapidly, and he was out of the wagon, and made short trips each day. His deportment had entirely changed. Instead of being glum and morose, as was his habit earlier in the days of captivity, he began to examine things with interest, and talked and laughed with his fellows.

The remarkable one of the four Saboros was Stut’s brother. He was the most powerful of the lot, and by far the brightest, as he grasped questions propounded by John and Blakely, with the utmost keenness. In physical proportions he was the equal of Chief. He was more voluble than either of the others, and judging from the manner in which he treated many of Angel’s antics, he must have been a wit in his tribe.

One thing was noticed from the first, and that was the deference which the other three always accorded him. John was the first to notice this, and the observing eye of the Professor was also quick to detect it.

“From the indications I am inclined to believe that Stut’s brother is more than the ordinary individual in his tribe. I have noticed that in our scouting Stut never attempted to do anything until his brother was consulted.” And John related many incidents of like character.

“Suppose we endeavor to ascertain his position,” responded the Professor. “It would not surprise me to learn that he is a chief, and if so it will be a strong factor.”

John was quick to question Stut, and together with Blakely, it did not take long to satisfy themselves on this point. When captured neither of them had sufficient clothing to show the rank to which they were entitled, and the certain knowledge that he was a man of distinction in his tribe, was a most pleasing thing.

George requested John to learn his name, and this was a matter easily ascertained. Indeed they might have known this earlier, were it not for the stirring scenes which they had passed through since the rescue, as Stut was heard to mention the name Muro on many occasions, but during these conversations it had never been associated with his name.

He was, notwithstanding his size, exceedingly light of foot, and could throw a spear with great accuracy and to enormous distances. The heavy bows which they had were simply playthings in his hands. The guns were the most fascinating things to him, and he was constantly questioning about them, and admiring the workmanship.

When Stut pointed out Harry, and told him that he had made the guns, and in his language pictured out the wonderful workshops at the Cataract, he could not keep his eyes from him, and walking over to Harry put his arm around him, and patted him on the shoulder, and finally rubbed Harry’s nose with his own.

The Professor instantly recognized this tribute, and said: “That is a sign that you are his eternal friend. You may depend on him to the extent of his own life. It is a way many savages have of indicating love and devotion.”

Stut easily recognized the Professor as the leader of the expedition, and walked over and performed the same rite with him, to the extreme gratification of all. It was not necessary for him to do more than he had in the past to show his affection for John.

Gratitude, if earned, as it was in this case, is a tie which the savage regards as sacred. The Professor selected one of the guns, and presented it to Muro, and showed him how to fit in the cap and to load it, and this token was exhibited in a manner that could not be mistaken.

Harry went to one of the lockers and brought forth small mirrors which had been made, and handed one to each of the warriors, and each thanked Harry in a voluble manner. The three warriors were then each invested with guns, but they knew that it would not be wise to do any practicing in that locality.

Blakely, who had been an officer in the army years before, conceived the idea that it would be a good thing to practice drilling, and this caught the fancy of the boys, who ranged themselves in line, and with the guns went through an evolution of arms. All the boys had been taught this on shipboard as part of the regular routine, and the precision with which this was done excited the admiration of the Saboros.

When John and the Professor also took up the guns and stood in line, the natives did likewise, and imitated every movement, with greater or less skill. The marching tactics were also shown, and they became willing and interested participants.

“It is too bad,” said George, “that we can’t have an exhibition of firing.”

“We may get plenty of that later on,” answered John.

They were instructed how to care for the guns, and the caps were purposely kept off, so they would not be accidentally fired. All this was done in preparation for the time when the services might be needed.

“A fighting force of eleven, with guns and plenty of ammunition, is sufficient to lick the whole island, if we understand our business,” was Blakely’s comment, after viewing the brigade in his front.

Thus, at each step, the success of the mission seemed assured. Allies had been secured on whom they could place confidence, and they started forward with an earnestness and a determination never before possessed.

On the way were numerous springs, which formed rivulets of clear, cold water. The landscape was beautiful in every direction. It could be readily understood why this was such an attractive portion of the island. The soil was a dark, rich loam, but scarcely a foot of it was tilled by the natives.

Some of the tribes, as Blakely observed, planted a few vegetables, but aside from that the principal occupation was hunting game, and the more delectable occupation, on the part of some tribes, to capture their fellows, and offer them up as sacrifices to their deities. What a Paradise this Island of Wonder could be made if the people were governed by a directing hand.

How the Professor’s heart must have longed to be able to show these people the advantages of peace and harmony. No doubt he contemplated this many times, and in his talks this was frequently alluded to.

As evening was approaching the wagon was halted at one of the sweet springs, and the Saboros, under the order of Muro, scattered out to form the guard for the camp. The fort was erected as usual, and the evening meal prepared. An ample supply of food was apportioned out for each of the guards, and the boys were about to take them to the watchers, but Muro would not permit this, and compelled each to come in for the purposes of the meal.

John was depended on to keep the camp in proper safety, and Muro recognized this as his function, and when later on he came to John and beckoned him to follow, the latter knew that something of more than ordinary importance was developing.

On the way toward the northwest, from which they had come, there was an evident movement, which could be perceived in the bright moonlight. Muro pointed to the earth and moved his hand along, and John was quick to grasp the situation and its meaning. He meant that the savages were trailing them by the wheels of the wagon, and this was made doubly easy on account of the heavy rain of the day previous.

The movement in front was plainly visible to those accustomed to such things, and the situation was carried to the wagon without delay. No attack was anticipated during the night, and they had plenty of time to plan their defense.

Who were the enemy? Muro did not know, but it was doubtless those who had thus kept on their trail for two days, in the hope that they would be held in check by the Kurabus to the south of them.

Calling John and Blakely into consultation, the Professor again suggested the plan of sending word to the Saboros through the chief Muro, or his brother, Stut. The wisdom of this course was now apparent, so Muro was called in, and the plan outlined.

He comprehended the situation at once, and immediately called in Stut, to whom he explained the nature of his mission. Without a word, he was provided with all the arrows which could be found, and given one of the spears, and before leaving George had prepared a package of food, which was gratefully accepted.

All this was done with so much celerity and in such a businesslike manner that the boys readily understood that whatever may be said of savages, it impressed on them the earnestness and the obedient spirit that characterized all their movements.