What he saw was, really, a surprise. Taking the hint from the sodding operation which the women had noticed around the boys' quarters, he found that they had actually borrowed the wheelbarrows and made some nice lawns.
The Professor called in at the places, and congratulated them on the beautiful appearances, and the nice manner in which the work was done What a wonderful thing that was to those poor women, to see the Great Chief take such notice of their work.
He went into the cottages, and examined every room, and suggested many changes, and offered advice in the manner of keeping the houses clean, and in taking care of the children. This work of beautifying their homes was, of course, crude, but it had a remarkable stimulus to the others.[p. 202] On every hand this was taken up. It was a spirit of emulation that was worth encouraging.
When John left with the forces, the Professor consulted Blakely, and ordered the erection of three larger and more pretentious cottages. Each of these had five rooms, all plain, but arranged in good taste, and the furniture was also being made, and the large number employed enabled them to complete the buildings ready for furnishing before John's party returned.
The working force was now ready to put up a still larger building. "Do you know what this is for?" asked Ralph, as the timber was being taken to the new location.
"I suppose this is to be the Town Hall," replied Will.
"No, indeed; it is the schoolhouse." And the boys laughed at the idea. But it was an idea that was well considered and determined on, long before John left on the expedition.
But the town was growing beyond all comprehension. Daily new families arrived, and Blakely was the busiest man in the place, in his efforts to find work for them, while the Professor and the boys were often at their wits' end to know how and where they would house them. The Saboros were the most numerous, followed by the Berees and Osagas. But now the Kurabus were coming in—the families of the warriors with John.
The Chief Oroto saw and marveled at the sights. During the entire time he had been there, he had never suggested the idea of returning. The Kurabu medicine men who had been brought down[p. 203] with him, were still under the charge of the Professor, and one day one of them accosted Ralph in broken English.
He looked up in surprise. It was the first inkling that the so-called wise men were being taught the language. Ralph had quite a conversation with him, and reported the information to the boys.