All of them laughed at this complimentary allu[p. 107]sion, as it must be understood that all the scouts taken from the island had learned to speak the English language, and some of them, like Uraso, were exceptionally skilled.
When the different ones had gone over the ground thoroughly, John asked the opinion of the searchers.
"From my count there must have been twenty-four," remarked Uraso.
Muro smiled, as he said: "Uraso is mistaken, there are twenty-five." Uraso was not at all perturbed, but walked over to the surveyed plot and said: "The most prominent one is the fellow with the spreading toes. See! here is his left foot. See that broad foot is all around the place. This broad foot with a toe missing, is another fellow; and here are two with rather long feet, you can see them all about, and they are, no doubt, active fellows."
"Well, that is picking them out plainly enough," remarked Harry.
"But," continued Uraso, "I want you to look at this foot. It is the largest I ever saw."
"I am satisfied that fellow is the Chief," remarked Muro.
"There is evidence of that here too," said Uraso, as Muro nodded his head.
Harry looked on in bewilderment. "Assuredly that is something new. How do you know that?" he asked.
"The best indication is," said Uraso, "that the fellow with the big feet does very little walking, and all the other fellows have danced about him."