"Yes."
"Then I will go in, and show you that the Great Spirit will not harm me."
"How shall I know that you go in?"
"You must go with me and stand at the opening."
The chief's eyes now wandered about. He was visibly affected at this bold declaration, and John saw hesitation in his demeanor.
Without giving him time to waver, he continued: "The great Chief Oroto must not show his people that he is afraid. He must show them that he is greater and wiser than the medicine men, and that the wise men who have told him those tales have not told the truth."
Turning to Uraso he said: "Prepare the wagon, and we will start at once." The chief and two of the sub-chiefs were taken out and placed in the wagon. Harry, George, Uraso and Muro, with a picked company of twenty-five men, were selected to accompany them.
The wagon was a curiosity to Oroto. He enjoyed the ride immensely and admired the manner in which Harry handled and guided the yaks.
Their course was directed due east for a mile,[p. 215] and then moved along a well-beaten path diagonally up the hill in a southern direction. After proceeding thus for a half mile farther the ground, became rough and cut up by innumerable gullies.
"How much farther must we go?"