Sutoto begged to be permitted to go there and inform them of the danger of attack, and Blakely consented, and without waiting for the morning, was on his way. He traveled most of the night, reaching the place in the afternoon, and was received by John and the others with the most effusive welcome.
"What are you here for?" asked John hurriedly.
"The tribes are coming this way."
"I have just learned from one of our runners that they went far to the north of you, and assumed that the intention was to attack us."
"The Professor should be warned at once," was Sutoto's response.
"I have instructed that to be done," answered John.
The scenes around the Cataract were intensely interesting to him. He wandered around with the boys, and asked questions on every conceivable subject. Blakely had given him one of the guns, and he was taken to the workshop and told[p. 38] how they were made. These things so fascinated him that, hungry as he was, he could hardly be induced to take time for his meals.
The boys admired him immensely, and together they acted like boys. The water wheel; the sawmill; the two stones which served as the gristmill; the grindstones; the lathes; and the little foundry were entrancing.
When the boys took him to the blacksmith shop, and he saw the forge, and the numerous spear heads which John had turned out, as well as the bolos, his eyes showed the intense delight the sight afforded him.
The next morning one of the runners appeared and stated that the tribes were still waiting, and also imparted the further information that Blakely and his party were at a safe distance, and unknown to the hostiles.