Their silence after a peace message was sent them could only be interpreted to mean one thing, on the part of the Tuolos.
"The Illyas will not dare to injure the captives they have with such a warning as we gave them, and if they intended to destroy them it is possible that has been done already. Under the circumstances a little patience on our part may show them that we mean business."
Muro, who understood the Illyas' character better than the others, was of the opinion that the Professor's views were most likely to accomplish the purpose without bloodshed. On the other hand, he was of an entirely different opinion with respect to the Tuolos.
A few weeks of active work, first, in completing all preparations for defense, and second, in organ[p. 75]izing the tribes into a working unity, would be of the greatest importance to the community.
The shop and the laboratory were completed, and most of the things in the wagons were now in place. The important thing was the disposition of the treasure. For the safe keeping of this a large pit was dug beneath one end of the shop, and an underground vault constructed, the brick for this purpose being made from a natural silicate found in the hills near by, and which hardened without burning. The interior was also plastered with the same material, and a strong door, small, but thick, was constructed to close the opening.
During the night John, the Professor and Blakely, with the boys, carefully stored the treasure there, so that the different tribes had no idea of the use to which the vault had been put.
Two of the simple looms had been made, so that there were now three ready to turn out goods, and the fiber was in such shape that it could soon be utilized. In the meantime the boys concluded that as the weaving process was the slowest operation it would be well to construct several additional looms, and two of them capable of making goods four feet wide.
One of the first acts of the Professor was to scour the hills to the north for minerals. He was in search of copper, and taking a half dozen of the natives with him, and one of the teams, a load of copper ore was brought in.
The furnaces and smelters had been set up by the boys, previous to this, and within ten days[p. 76] a hundred pounds of copper were run into clay receptacles, to be used for the various purposes.
"What do you suppose the Professor wants with so much copper?" asked Ralph.