"Do you know why Uraso thought so?" asked John.
"No; I can't understand why he ever had such an idea," replied Tom.
"You forget it has been our custom, ever since I can remember, to go to Observation Hill, each day, to watch the sea, in the hope that a vessel might be sighted. Uraso thought that was intended as a tribute to the flag."
"After all," said Ralph, on reflecting, "they are not so much out of the way, and the flag is really our talisman, isn't it?"
"Yes; because it is a real protection, and not a fancied one. It is a symbol, behind which lies all the power of a material kind, which is able to help us everywhere, and among all people. The charm which the savage wears, is a symbol to him, and that typifies protection from some unknown power. To us that is a reality, and we know where the power is."
The dear old Cataract home. How the boys roamed over every part of it, and went down where the cattle were still ranging around. The place was a study for the warriors.
"Now, boys, for the first day entertain your visi[p. 25]tors, show them everything, and amuse them in every way possible; and after to-morrow we must commence work in earnest," was John's injunction to the boys.
What could be more natural than to start the water wheel in motion? The warriors stood on the bank, watched them push it in place, and then the sawmill was started. The process of turning out lumber with the saw was marvelous. Every part of the shop was filled, as the boys set the grindstone, the lathe, and the gristmill into motion.
When a log was finally secured to be cut into shafts for spears, and they saw the wood-turning lathe make the shaft round and true, their enthusiasm knew no bounds.
"Tell them, Muro, that is what we want them to do," said John, and they opened their eyes at the possibilities.