THE RESCUE OF FIVE CAPTIVES
The question for the moment nettled John. Here was a prisoner, powerless in his hands, imperiously demanding of his captors what they wanted. It may not have occurred to him that such a question was out of place.
John drew himself up, and with that piercing glance which he could give, leaned forward, and slowly, but with terrible emphasis, answered: "Nothing."
It was now the chief's turn to show a look of surprise. He looked at John, and his eyes wandered to Uraso and Muro. Neither indicated the slightest curiosity at the answer. Not another word was said as John kept his eye on the chief.
Then seeing that he had a different kind of creature to deal with than any he had heretofore met, addressed John in an entirely different tone of voice:
"Why have you captured me and my warriors, and why do you intend to destroy my village and take my women and children?"
"Because that is what you have been doing all your life. We do not ask you to give us anything. We have taken everything you have and shall not ask you for permission in anything we do. We have no desire to injure you or your people, and whether we shall do so will depend on your ac[p. 188]tion. If you will give us certain information it may make it easier for you, but if you do not tell us it will go hard with you."
"I am ready to listen."
"Did you receive the messenger I sent you three days ago?"
"Yes."
"What did he tell you?"
"That you intended to kill me and my people."
"Did he not tell you that we did not want war, but peace, but that you must give up the captives you had?"
"No."
"Send out for that warrior," John ordered, as he glanced at Oroto.
Muro accompanied one of the sub-chiefs, and in a few moments returned with him. He came in with face hanging down.
He was placed before John. "Why did you lie to the chief?"
The savage was mute. He cast an appealing glance at his chief, but the latter did not notice him.
Addressing Uraso, John said: "Take this man out and beat him. He must be punished for lying."
George called in several of the warriors, who were instructed to carry out the decree. In the meantime Uraso called John aside, and stated that the poor fellow had undoubtedly told the truth, but the chief had lied.
"I suspected that," answered John. "I do not want the man beaten, so that you may go and[p. 189] stop the execution of it, but do not let the chief know that the order was not carried out."
"Did you get a second message from me yesterday through one of your own warriors?"
"Yes."
"What did he tell you?"
"He said that you had declared war against me and my people and would kill all of us and take our women and children into captivity."
"Did he not tell you that we came to make terms of friendship, and that all we wanted was the captives which you wrongfully held?"
"No."
"Bring in that warrior."
Uraso went out with one of the sub-chiefs, and when he appeared addressed him sharply:
"Why did you lie to your chief, and not tell him what I told you? Answer me."
The chief merely glanced at the wretch, and the latter bowed his head. The question was repeated, and he was told that he would be protected against the fury of his chief if he would tell the truth. As he was about to reply the chief merely glanced at him, and his lips were sealed.
"Take him out and beat him as severely as you have beaten the other. These people must be taught to learn that they should not lie."
Uraso understood John's look, and acted accordingly. He was taken out, but was not beaten.
Turning to the chief, and acting on the information imparted by Uraso, he startled Oroto by the following question:
"Why did you lie to me and allow your warriors to be beaten?"
The question stunned him for a moment. John did not permit him time to frame an excuse.
"You lied to me when you stated that they had told you the things you said, and I know it. You are deserving of the same punishment as those who were wrongfully beaten. Take him out and see that he is punished as he deserves."
This judgment against the august one was like a death pall on the ears of the sub-chiefs. The chief trembled; his footsteps, theretofore so supple, were trembling, and he held out his hands for support.
The enormity of this punishment to a chief by whipping is the most disgraceful thing that can happen. The person of a chief must not be defiled by a rod, which is intended only for children and for offenses committed by the unruly members of a tribe.
The procession filed out, and John hurriedly called Uraso and Muro to his side, explaining in a whisper that they should intercede to prevent the punishment.
The excitement of the surrounded warriors was intense, as the word was circulated that their great chief had judgment pronounced against him, and was to be publicly whipped.
As they were proceeding across the open space, Uraso and Muro, in well simulated tones, begged that John should forego the punishment, but he refused to comply until they had reached the place selected.
John advanced to him and said: "Your friends, Muro and Saboro, have begged me not to inflict the punishment for lying; I have decided not to do so at this time, as I am guided by their judgment, and I know they are wise. Instead, you and your chiefs must come with me and see the Great White Chief, and he may order that you shall not be punished."
This statement that he was not the Great White Chief was another piece of news that he could not understand.
"And now, I want to know where you have the captives?"
He hesitated. He looked at Muro and Uraso in a different manner this time. Uraso quietly spoke to him: "You cannot escape the vigilance of the white man. The wonderful fire guns can kill all of your people. You do not know what you are doing in trying to resist him. If you do not tell him he will find them, and then I cannot plead for you."
The chief, turning to one of the sub-chiefs, said: "Sama will take you to them."
The boys jumped as they learned the import of these words. They looked at John. The latter turned to the chief and said:
"How far are they from this place?"
The distance was indicated by signs, which Uraso interpreted to mean two hours.
"Bring in the wagons at once, and unload one of them; then take the other, with twenty-five men well armed, and carry Sama with you. The poor fellows are not, probably, in a condition to[p. 192] walk." Then, again turning to the chief, he asked: "How many prisoners have you?"
He held up his hand with fingers outstretched, indicating five. There was no delay in preparing the wagon, and Jack and Jill, the two old trustworthies, were hustled along, to show the path of freedom to some of the boys' former companions and associates.
John's last injunction was: "Be sure and take plenty of food along." The order was unnecessary. The boys had thought of this, and the wagon, held precious little but articles of comfort for the unfortunates.
Sama directed the wagon to the north, and Muro's son Lolo accompanied them on the journey.
"Do you know," said Harry, "we are going straight toward the Cataract?"
"I had quite forgotten that," answered George. "How I would like to go back again to the dear old place!"
"I have just been thinking, what a wonderful life we have had since we landed here. We had nothing when we came, and now we have everything!"
"Yes," answered George; and he stopped, while his eyes took on a blurry feeling, and the lashes began to blink at an alarming rate. "All but home!"
Harry looked at George. There was an inflection, which he caught.
"Of course; I mean that, too. But we haven't lost them. When this business here is settled we[p. 193] are to go to work on the big vessel. When I think of that it eases my mind."
"That is the great comfort to me, too. It makes me happy when I think of the joy we are bringing to the people here. I really love every foot of this island. It has been a wonderful experience to us."
"And," responded Harry, "to think that we have aided in restoring so many to freedom; John and Blakely, and the four boys, and—I wonder who the ones are that we are going after now?"
"That is what I have been thinking about all along. But did you ever see such bricks as Uraso and Muro?"
Lolo had learned many things in the short ten days that he had been with them. The boys had attained a remarkable knowledge of the language, and Lolo was a constant instructor for them. He was so simple and unaffected in his ways that they grew to love him.
Within two hours the location of the village was sighted. It was distinctly noticed among the trees, perched on a hillside, and the excitement of the boys was intense. Stut was in charge of the warriors.
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, won[p. 194]dering 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 God! 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[p. 195] 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[p. 197] 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,[p. 198] as they heard little snatches 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.