As soon as the novelty had worn off, the chief, whose name was Otari, escorted the party to one big hut, where they were to remain at night during their stay at the village.
“Plenty of room here,” observed Joe, glancing about the thatched walls.
“Yes,” Bob agreed. “Not a bit crowded. It’s one of the best dwellings in the settlement.”
Much room as there was, however, there were only a few pieces of native furniture and implements. A large box-like table, assembled with wooden pegs, stood in the middle of the room. Beneath it were five or six clay pots and containers, each washed clean. In one corner were two bows and arrows and a blow gun.
“They sure use poor taste in furnishing a house,” grinned Bob. “But I suppose for them it’s sufficient.”
Professor Bigelow thought it wise to bring in their belongings from the boats, but the others were a bit dubious about the safety of them.
“We can leave the crew to guard them when we are away,” he said. “I don’t think even that will be necessary, for I have a light, portable safe that I take on all expeditions such as this.”
He opened a large box and took out several flat pieces of metal. To his friends’ astonishment they were easily lifted, although they looked to weigh seventy pounds each.
“They are magnalium,” he explained. “About the lightest and strongest metal there is.”
There were lock clamps at the edges of each piece, and these were fitted into each other. In a short time a large safe stood before their eyes.