John gave strict orders that no one should fire a gun during the night, and that a double line of guards should be maintained. The course pursued during the campaign was as follows: Thirty pickets were selected for the watch, five from each tribe. These formed fifteen posts, two warriors being at each post, and it was arranged that the two should be of different tribes, and as all were in supporting distance of each other, in case of an alarm, one of the two watchers would thus be in a position to quickly alarm the camp.
An advance set of pickets was also thrown out, under the personal command of Muro, to watch the enemies' camp. Fortunately, there was no alarm during the night. Early in the morning the forces were put in line for approaching the Illyas' camp.
When the first advance came within sight of their camp, the utmost consternation and confusion resulted, showing how carefully John had concealed their movements.
Muro's scouts had the fortune to capture one[p. 146] of the Illyas, who was evidently one of the hunters, and the captive was brought in at the time when some of his own men had advanced uncautiously too far.
He was brought before John at once, who addressed him as follows:
"Why have your people started out on the warpath against us?"
"Because you killed our warriors in the last battle."
It is singular how the natives in all their interviews of like nature, always found it convenient to refer to the last and most immediate act as a particular reason for their enmity. In this respect they were veritable children.
They might have been, as they were in this case, the original aggressors, but if an attempt is made to repay them the original cause of the strife is forgotten, and the last act only is considered. John knew it would be of no use to argue the matter with him.
"You may go back to your chief and tell him that we have come to get the captives he has. You must tell him that we have no desire to injure him or his people. Tell him that all the tribes are now united, and that if he does not give up the white people and all others, we will take him and his villages, and give his lands to the other tribes.