Chapter XIV: The Wagon in the Fighting Zone of Four Tribes

The Professor had made a most careful examination of the population of the village, and an estimate of the total number of the Berees in the entire tribe. He found that their territory extended to the west and south as far as the ocean, and besides the village in which the chief lived, there were two or three others, smaller, and all contributed their quota to the warring force.

On the night before their departure, he questioned the chief as to the numbers in the different tribes, but of this he could only estimate the warriors.

“How many warriors have the Kurabus?”

“About two hundred.”

“Do you know about the others?”

“The Brabos have one hundred and seventy-five; the Osagas one hundred and fifty; the Saboros the same number; the Tuolos two hundred and twenty-five; and the Illyas more than two hundred and fifty.”

“So that you have about the same number as the Osagas and the Saboros?”

“Yes; about one hundred and fifty.”

“How many women and children have you in all the villages?”

“About the same number as warriors.”

“Are there any more tribes than you have mentioned?”

“No; but there are some wild people who are not members of any of the tribes, but they live near the mountains.”

“What kind of people are the Illyas?”

“They are very mean, and are the enemies of all the others; and so are the Tuolos.”

When the warriors were mustered the Professor found ninety strong, vigorous specimens, the picked ones of the tribe. It need not be added that the Professor unfolded a scheme whereby he hoped to stop all further wars, and to greatly enrich all of them, and it was fortunate that he found in the chief a willing listener to the proposal.

With this explanation it will be the more readily understood with what enthusiasm he placed his people at the disposal of this strange man. He explained the strength of the white man, and showed him how the arts of peace were cultivated, and of the friendship which existed between all the great people of the world.

It must not be thought that the chief refrained from asking a great many questions during the course of their conversation.

“Is the country you come from very large?”

“It is more than two thousand times larger than all of this country.”

“I do not know how much that is. Is it more than two hundred times greater?”

“Yes, more than ten times that number.”

The chief marveled at this statement.

“And how many people are there?”

“I could not tell you, but so many you could not count them.”

“And do you have many tribes in your country?”

“No; we have only one tribe.”

All this was conveyed and expressed, not in the order given, but by careful explanations, and by counting the numbers with pebbles, as they had no numbers beyond twenty which could be indicated by any words in their language.

When the warriors were ready for the start, the Professor was surprised to find that the chief had prepared a litter, to be carried by four of the warriors. This was to be his carriage of state. He did not refuse to accept his place in it, as he knew that it would have been in bad taste, and he was the more gratified when he learned from the boys that it was the chief’s own litter.

The cavalcade marched directly to the north, the speed being about three miles per hour. What a glorious reunion he anticipated with his boys and friends, for he had no fear of their ability to cope with the various tribes, unless all combined, and this he knew would be very unlikely.

He had been careful to get from the chief an outline of the enmities and the feuds which existed, and the knowledge of this would the better enable him to deal with the different ones when brought into contact with them.

Ralsea, the sub-chief, was a powerful warrior, and the Professor found him a most agreeable man. In respect for his position, every order was a request made through him, and it was soon perceived that the deference which the Professor extended, flattered him beyond measure.

Thus, by a diplomatic policy, he made a friend of the next most powerful personage in the tribe. He took him into his confidence, and explained his plans in the best manner possible, to the great satisfaction of the native.

Before the end of the day, an additional band of their own people came in from the north, with tidings of their defeat, and with them were a number of wounded. The Professor was at their side at once, and began the work of ministering to their wounds.

They learned of the action of the Kurabus, in attacking them in the rear, and joining with the Osagas to crush them. The Professor inquired if they had seen his own people, or had heard about them, and they replied that a wonderful people who had fought the Brabos and the Kurabus, were traveling eastwardly into the Kurabus country, and that the latter were now pursuing them.

Questioned whether the Saboros were also in league with them, the answer was, yes. It was thus probable that they had a force of fully two hundred to cope with, as it must be understood these tribes did not, except in the most urgent cases, put all their warriors in the field at one time.

This would certainly be dangerous in the extreme, and consulting with Ralsea, he made the plans for proceeding against the allied tribes. There was no love between them and the Kurabus, but there had been peace for a long time between the Berees and the Osagas, until the new chief took Uraso’s place.

The allied forces were between John’s party and the Professor’s warriors. The defeat administered by the combined forces would doubtless satisfy the Kurabus and Osagas that the Berees would not attack from that quarter.

The plan outlined by the Professor was this:

“The main fighting force of the Osagas is now in the north, and their villages are unprotected against such a force as they had. Our plan now is, to proceed as rapidly as possible to their villages, and capture them.”

“Yes; and destroy them,” answered Ralsea.

“By no means. We have more power with them, by preventing their destruction.”

What manner of man was this, who would not destroy his enemies’ homes if they were put in his power! This was a new thing to him.

“What would you gain by such a proceeding?”

“If we made his women and children and all his goods captive they would be powerless.”

“But they would still be your enemies, and they would be the most bitter, and in order to crush you would unite with the Kurabus and others to wipe you out, would they not?”

“You speak truly.”

“My plan would be to hold them from harm, and to show them that we do not desire revenge, and gain them as our lasting friends.”

The point was gained, and the course was immediately changed toward the country of the Osagas.

“Do you think it would be possible for any of your warriors to pass through the country to the northwest, and inform my people that we are on the way to assist them?”

Ralsea pondered for a time, and then said: “I have a brave man who can go anywhere that it is possible to go; but if he is captured it will be death; and I will order him to go.”

“No; do not order him to go. I do not want to risk the lives of any of the men.”

“But I will order him to go.”

“Before doing so let me talk with him.”

The warrior was sent for, and when he appeared, the Professor smiled. He recognized him, as the leader of the party which had captured him.

It did not require anyone to explain that this man was the ideal messenger, if his physique was any indication. He was the most speedy one in the tribe, and had never been outrun by any other on the island. He was the most handsome savage the Professor had seen.

To this man he explained the need of informing his friends of their intentions, and if attacked to maintain their position at all hazards. That he was well aware of the risk attending such a mission; that he did not wish to order him to go, but if he felt like undertaking the mission he would be rewarded whether he succeeded or failed, and if he succeeded it would be the means of making his people strong and powerful.

The youth, for he was still a very young man, could hardly comprehend the character of such an order. It was so unlike anything he had known in his tribe. “I will go,” was all he said.

There was no paper or other material of like character available, and the boys were called in by the Professor. “Can you find me any plantain leaves?” he asked.

The boys were at a loss to know what the Professor meant.

“Have you noticed what the Berees use to thatch their huts with?”

“You mean the long and wide leaves?”

“Oh, yes; we saw plenty of them near here.”

These were soon procured, long, fibrous, and strong. With a blunt instrument the Professor wrote the following message on the leaf:

“If you are attacked hold out to last extremity. I am coming to your assistance. The bearer, Sutoto, is our friend. Professor.”

“Do you think they will be able to read that?” asked Will.

“In a few moments you will see the message much plainer, as the texture of the leaf is crushed where I have gone over it with this instrument, and the lines will discolor the leaf.”

It was then folded up, and the Professor took a portion of his coat, and made it up into a thin, compact package, which the messenger concealed in his clothing. The boys watched him disappear with wonderful speed, directly to the north.

As this young man will be heard of frequently hereafter and take an important part in the history of the boys, it should be stated that he had wonderful energy and intelligence, and was the favorite of the great Chief Suros, the head of the Berees.

“It is my opinion,” said John, addressing Muro, “that the lesson we gave the Brabos to-day will either make them our friends or the most bitter enemies.”

Muro shook his head. “The Brabos are not good; they do not keep their word. They cheat and try to take everything away.”

“The Kurabus are just the same, are they not?”

“No; the Kurabus are big fighters, but they do what they say.”

“Do you know anything about the Osagas?”

“My wife Osaga; she was Osagas people. Osagas good, but like to fight.”

“What do they fight about?”

“Kurabus want more land for hunting. Osagas got best land. Berees and Osagas have best land for hunting.”

“In whose territory are the big forests to the west?”

“The Berees have the forest, and they have the big water, and the most trees with nuts and stalks like this,” and he pointed to the wild barley.

“Are the Berees good people?”

“They good, strong fighters; old chief; wise man. All like him but Kurabus. I take Berees; let him go; Berees take me; Suros let me go.”

“Who is Suros?”

“Big chief of Berees.”

“Are all the fights about the land?”

“No; when one gets too much the other want it. If Saboros get captive, Kurabus want it; when Kurabus get three or four captive, Brabos want some of them.”

“Do they kill the captives?”

“Yes; the Tuolos, and the Kurabus, and the Illyas.”

“Who are the Illyas?”

“Mean men; we can reach them; close to. Big fighters, and nobody likes them.”

“Are they near the mountain?” he asked, pointing to the east.

He nodded an assent. Here, at last, were the people that John had long tried to find out about.

The wagon was slowly going to the southeast, and near noon John discovered, what appeared to be indications of moving objects. The wagon was halted, and all took observations. Muro was the first to break the silence.

“Kurabus coming,” he said.

“How do you know they are Kurabus?” asked Blakely.

“Too many for Osagas.” It is obvious he had taken an inventory of both tribes on the day of the battle.

All looked to Muro. “Go this way fast,” he answered, as he pointed to the east.

The yaks were driven up and the wagon directed toward all the depressed portions and valleys, so as to keep it in a concealed position as much as possible. A moving object like a wagon is much easier to distinguish than even a body of men, at a distance.

Before they had traveled a mile they were astounded to see another band of warriors directly ahead of them, and moving from the east. Muro suggested that they should call a halt, and determine who the newcomers could be, and also to learn their destination and object, in going toward the Kurabus, who were advancing from the southwest.

“Are you able to make out who they are?” asked John.

“Maybe Saboro,” and without another word he darted forward in the direction of the oncoming host.

This intelligence stimulated the boys, and they danced about in delight at the probability of this being true. Stut had probably reached the tribe at last.

They were doomed to disappointment, however, for when Muro returned with the intelligence that it was either the Brabos or the Illyas, he knew they were not his people.

“What would the Brabos be doing in that direction?” asked John.

“Probably come from Kurabu village, and more Brabos up this way.”

Properly translated this means, that the Brabos, during the absence of the Kurabus, had attacked the latter village, with one portion of their band, and that the other part had gone to the west to intercept the Kurabus from attacking in that direction.

“If you are correct, we are right in the center of the place where the three parties will meet,” said John.

Muro nodded and continued: “May be Osagas coming.”

“Would they come from that direction?”

Muro again replied affirmatively. The only direction now open was to the north. “What shall we do?” asked Blakely.

“Fight!” was John’s laconic reply.

An open place was selected, near a stream, and the fort erected within a few minutes after the halt was made.