In the meantime John with the rest of the warriors came up quietly in the rear, and, after con[p. 97]sulting with Blakely and Muro, the village was surrounded.
The boys saw the large hut where they were confined, after being captured, and from which they were rescued. Calling John's attention to it, Ralph said: "That big house is the place they kept us, and that is where you found us."
John looked at them in surprise. He did not know this, as at the time the boys were rescued he was in mental darkness, and did not recall the incident.
It was obvious that some tragedy was being enacted. While awaiting the result of the conference Muro was away instructing the pickets who were around the village. He soon appeared, bringing with him two Tuolos whose dress betokened them as belonging to the same order as the individuals who had been sent into the village.
Calling John aside he said:
"The Tuolos have two rival sets of medicine men. These belong to the other set, and are the ones who perform the religious rites."
"Where did you find them?"
"Directly east of the village."
"Were they going to the village?"
"Yes."