Chapter XII: The Pursuit Intercepted by Fight Between Tribes

The situation was a most exasperating one to John and the boys. They were actually prevented from ascertaining which of the tribes had the Professor, and their way to the south was blocked.

In desperation John suggested that come whatever might, they would ascertain where he was held, even though they had to enter the camps. Muro was consulted and John’s determined attitude was sufficient to enlist his services and co-operation.

During the night the two carefully approached the scene of the battlefield, and secured the various headdresses of the slain and wounded, the object being to effect their entrance to the rival camps by means of the disguises.

The Berees were to their right, and not far from what appeared to be the West River. The Osagas were to the left, and encamped on a small stream which flowed into the West. Beyond the position of the latter stream, and less than three miles distant, was the elevation which John had pointed out as the destination of the team.

Morning came before the headdresses could be obtained, and it was therefore impossible to invade the Berees’ camp that night.

Five days had now elapsed since Stut had been sent off on the mission to his people. There was no news from him, nor did the Kurabus appear on the scene, and Muro began to wonder at this silence from his brother. He felt sure that some word should have reached them during the day, but in this all were disappointed.

Several attacks and counter charges were made during the day, but the positions of the parties were maintained, and night came on none too soon for John. Muro insisted that he and his companion should undertake the investigation alone, and Blakely insisted that John should comply with their request, as he felt that the same object would be accomplished without the risk that might be attended in case John should expose himself to capture.

He reluctantly consented, but insisted on accompanying them close up to the lines, and Blakely and Harry also went forward to assist. The Saboros waited until late in the night, and then made their way to the Berees’ camp, followed by the whites.

At a safe distance John halted, and Muro and Nomo, rigged out as Berees, kept on, and shortly thereafter entered the camp, having made their way through the line without discovery. The Berees had no pickets along their western line, facing the river, as they did not expect an attack from that quarter.

They were gone for a full hour, and returned as silently as they went. There were no captives in camp. If any had been taken the probabilities were that they would have been guarded within the limits of the camp.

A wide detour was now made by Muro and Nomo, in order to gain the southern side of the Osagas. John and Blakely concluded it would be unwise to separate themselves from the wagon to accompany them around the camp, and remained on the north side.

Everything was quiet for fully an hour and a half, when they were startled by a gunshot. This could have come only from Muro and Nomo. John moved up closer, in order to get a better view of the situation, but the darkness prevented him from learning what it meant. There was great excitement in the camp, and the Berees became active at the noise of the gun.

Voices were heard at the right, as well as in the immediate front. It was evident that the Berees were concentrating and moving toward the Osagas.

It was an intense moment for the watchers, and they could do nothing to aid, as they had no idea what caused the continued uproar. It was obvious that Muro and Nomo had been discovered, and that the shot was in self-defense.

To prevent discovery John and his party moved back several hundred feet, nearer the wagon, and Muro immediately reappeared, with the news that Nomo had been captured. Muro’s gun had been accidentally discharged, as they were leaving the camp, and the possession by them of the guns was the very thing which attracted the attention of the warriors to them.

Muro was sure, however, that there were no white captives among the Osagas, and this information added another mystery to the situation.

“My knowledge of Chief’s attitude toward us is sufficient to justify us in going boldly into the camp of the Osagas. I do not believe he will harm us, and it may be the quickest way to solve the whole matter.”

Blakely and the boys questioned the wisdom of such a course, but as John insisted on going himself, and his judgment had in the past proven correct, in all matters of this kind, his views prevailed.

“I will undertake this mission myself, and will give you some instruction to follow in certain emergencies. My mission must be to them during the daytime, so that as soon as possible in the morning I will enter their camp. I intend to carry with me a gun, and one of the pistols will be concealed. They will, without doubt, disarm me, and I shall have to depend on my ingenuity to keep the pistol for the purpose of warning you.”

“If you hear the pistol shot, it will be the signal for you to attack; but do not attempt that under any circumstances, unless you get that warning from me. Each one must be provided with two of the guns, for this purpose, and the six of you can, no doubt, strike terror into them.”

“There is one thing we must consider,” said Blakely, “and that is the attitude, and probable action, on the part of the Berees.”

“I was coming to that. The Osagas will know that the attack is on the part of my people, and the onslaught by you will be more of a mystery to the Berees than anything else. I am counting on the commotion caused by the firing, to effect my escape, and I can do this, if at all, before the Berees have time to collect their wits, and determine on a course of action.”

A hurried breakfast was prepared, and John made all his arrangements for the projected visit. Angel was in a tree, which was at the rear of the wagon, and as John was about to start, he came down and began the telltale chatter which betokened an alarm.

George was at his side the moment he reached the ground, and Angel again ascended and pointed to the north.

“Who are those coming in from the north?” cried out George, in excitement.

Muro saw the commotion, and sprang to the tree. “Kurabus,” was all he said.

This startling announcement was received in astonishment. Had Stut’s mission failed? It was now the sixth day of his departure. It is true that they might easily have trailed the route the wagon had made, but why should they openly and boldly march down into a country belonging to another tribe?

“Either this is debatable ground, and the Kurabus are at war with the two tribes in our front, or they are after us.”

“What course would you advise?” asked Blakely.

“It is entirely out of the question for me to visit the Osagas now. I see no other remedy but to fight, and we might as well give them the lesson of their lives. This is the time to be the aggressors. I do not mean that we shall needlessly expose ourselves, but we must shoot to kill, and not hesitate in the slightest.”

The boys knew what that meant, and it pleased them. The Kurabus came in sight so the tree was not needed to distinguish their movements. The wagon had been put in such a position that it was shielded from their foes on the south, but to the north it was exposed.

“Here, quick, boys, cut down branches of trees and put them up on the north side of the wagon to hide the light-colored top,” was John’s first order.

The nearest bushes were selected, and a fairly good imitation of a bush was prepared in haste, and they awaited the attack. To their surprise they saw several warriors in the lead, as scouts.

“They are getting very wise, in employing the scouting tactics, and this shows they are after some game, whether it is the other tribe’s or some one else.” John cautioned silence, and then continued:

“Their scouts will, of course, discover us before the main body comes up. We must not fire on the advance parties. Wait until they attempt a rush, so we can get enough of them in reach to make it count.”

The advance warriors did not discover the presence of the wagon until within a hundred feet of it, and the scramble to the rear, and the falling and crawling tactics displayed in their eagerness to protect themselves and get away, was too amusing to prevent the boys from laughing.

When the scouts reported the presence of the wagon in front, there was a hurried consultation, and instead of moving forwardly to the wagon, they circled around to the right, keeping away a sufficient distance to keep outside of the range of the guns. They had learned to respect them at the last meeting.

“What a magnificent surprise they will get if they go far enough in that direction,” said John, with a broad smile.

“See, the Osagas and the Berees are at it again,” and the movements of the two parties were plainly evident. Within fifteen minutes the battle began, and the noise of the conflict reached the ears of the Kurabus.

“The information we shall get within the next half hour will be sufficient to decide our course,” murmured John, as he gazed at them.

“Do you think,” responded Harry, “that they will join forces with either of the parties?”

“That is the point exactly. From the manner in which they are acting the Kurabus are after us and not either of the tribes before us. But see what they are doing? Why are they going back?”

They doubled back on their tracks and made a circling movement around the wagon to the right, and in that manner came up behind the Berees.

John quickly communicated his views to the party. “Now is our time to act. Take in the fort at once, and move to the east.”

This looked like a hazardous thing to do, to the boys, but Muro saw the situation at once, and he assisted in the work, and it did not take ten minutes to set the wagon in motion, Blakely leading the way, and John and Muro serving as a rear guard.

The singular thing about this whole proceeding was, that the Kurabus did not even send out scouts to watch the movements of the parties in the wagon. This was one of the reasons why John adopted this apparently rash movement.

Afterwards, when George questioned him as to the reason for taking that hazardous course, he replied: “In war you must never do that which the enemy thinks you are going to do. The more hazardous the movement, the more likely it is to succeed. The history of stratagems is full of such instances. This is the way I diagnosed the situation: The Kurabus marched to the position behind the Berees, either for the purpose of attacking or to assist.

“Now, it is perfectly obvious that in either event, we were at their mercy, as soon as the fight was over. If they assisted the Berees, they would doubtless win over the Osagas. If they attacked to assist the Osagas, they would also be the winners, beyond question, and in either event the two tribes which were successful would, according to their way of thinking, put us at their mercy.”

“The theory then was, that the Kurabus would have considered our leaving a most hazardous thing to undertake, and that was just the risk you considered safest?” asked Blakely.

“That states the position exactly.”

“As subsequent events showed, you were right.”

Directing the course of the wagon down the slight incline, and veering to the left, Blakely soon got the wagon behind the crest of the hill. Ralph came back to assist, and when John saw him he hurriedly whispered to him: “Run to the wagon and tell Harry that as soon as the wagon gets over the crest, to drive forwardly at all speed directly to the east.”

“Have you any objective point to go to?”

“No, no, never mind that. Go to the east; we will know how to follow.”

John and Muro remained on the crest of the hill for a full half hour before they began to retreat. During this time there was no attack by the Kurabus, and another puzzling thing was presented.

Muro did not know that any enmity existed between the tribes, although such might be the case since he had been away. But this half hour was a precious period, and the wagon was now at least two miles away. It is true they were now bound for the Kurabus’ territory, and if the movement could be concealed until night, they might break through the line somewhere during the darkness, and thus get into touch with Muro’s people.

The character of the country now grew rougher and rougher, and the wagon’s movements slower and slower. In some places it was so cut up with ravines that they could not go a half mile an hour. In one respect this was an advantage, as the trails were more or less concealed at various places.

“I am sure they will trail us the moment the issue between the parties is decided,” said John, “and we must, therefore, conceal our track by making a plain one.”

Harry laughed at the contradictory nature of the suggestion.

“Certainly; I mean that, exactly. Did you ever hear the story of Robert Bruce in the Scottish wars, how he deceived his pursuers by reversing the shoes of his horse? The same thing was done by the noted highwayman, Dick Turpin.”

“But the yaks haven’t any shoes to turn around.”

“Then we shall have to adopt another plan.”

“Tell us what to do at once.”

“Get a quantity of the ramie cloth; better still, take off the top and cut it up into eight pieces, and fold it so as to make a boot for the feet of the yaks.”

“I have plenty of cord,” exclaimed George.

“Now hold; don’t be too fast. Some of you go ahead of the team, after it is turned around, and carefully obliterate the tracks made by the animals coming this way. Then drive the animals back along the path before we put on the boots, until we reach the place where we came into this little valley. You see we entered it at about right angles. We must put the boots on at the place where we entered the valley, or a few hundred feet beyond.”

“But how can we hide the tracks made by the wheels?”

“I don’t want to hide them. This will take some careful driving, Harry, as I want you to follow along in the exact tracks made by the wagon in coming this way. The animals’ tracks will now plainly show that the wagon is going to the north.”

The wagon was driven back carefully to the north, and beyond the point where they had entered the valley.

“Now, boys, put on the boots. This seems to be a good place to make the change, as the ground is firmer, and the grass grows closer and thicker. Leave one foot on each animal unshod.”

“This is a new wrinkle, isn’t it?” asked Tom, laughingly.

“I suppose it is,” he answered, “but you will see the point in a moment. Now drive forward for a hundred feet or so. That is right. Take out all the traces of the wagon you can.”

“But we can still see the prints of the unshod feet.”

“That is good. Now put the boot on the foot of the other yak, so only one foot will show in the tracks.”

“How far shall we drive with this one foot showing?”

“About fifty to a hundred feet. Are you getting out of the wheel tracks?”

“Yes. What shall we do now?”

“Put on the remaining boot.”

“Oh, I see; you didn’t want the tracks to disappear all at the same time?”

“That is the idea. You see, this is pretty firm ground. Now, Harry, can we turn the team around at right angles and go up over that steepest part?”

“I am afraid it will be a big pull.”

“All right, then; there are plenty here to help the yaks over. This is a capital place to leave the trail. I imagine they will follow it up along the valley, and not suspect that we have hauled the wagon across the hill.”

The object of this maneuver was now fully comprehended. The most infinite pains were taken to eliminate all traces of the wagon, and Muro was on hand at every point, and was most expert in the art of concealing.

The proceeding amused him exceedingly, as was shown by the constant smile that manifested itself in a chuckle, to the delight of the boys. This was real fun, and surely the boys needed it; but with all that they could not keep their minds from the Professor, and the constant speculations as to his fate.