"That is a beautiful sentiment. Hurrah for Unity!" and George raised his hat to start the shouting.
As the expedition against the Illyas was about ready to start, the time for the departure was set for the following day. Two of the wagons were brought into requisition, and loaded with sufficient provisions to prevent the necessity of foraging too much.
George and Harry begged to be taken along, as[p. 128] they had put in some strenuous times during the two months at Unity, and this was readily granted. The other boys were to remain and take charge of the active work. John had command of the expedition, and Blakely had now too much work at the new town to enable him to take part.
Over three hundred warriors were mustered for the expedition. One hundred of the picked men had the muzzle-loading guns, and an ample supply of ammunition was stored in the wagons, and each gun bearer had twenty-five rounds.
The Professor said, on the eve of their departure: "I have every confidence in the ability of Mr. Varney to make it unnecessary to give him any advice, but I must say a word to all the warriors. You are going to the tribes, not for the purpose of revenge. We know they have captives in their possession, and we have demanded their return. They sent us an insulting message.
"Notwithstanding this, we must consider that they have sent us this reply out of ignorance of our true purpose. Each man must conduct himself as the chiefs dictate. There must be no killing except in self-defense."
Muro and Uraso, as well as Ralsea, were to accompany them, but the other chiefs were kept at home, this arrangement having been made because the others really preferred to continue the work in the factory and field.
It was a glorious day to begin the campaign. George and Harry were in their element.
"What a wonderful thing it is to look at these people now, and recall what our situation was a[p. 129] year ago," said Harry, as they drove down the road which had been made from the village to the east.
"Yes; a year ago, we were having some troubles, as it was about that time we got the first intelligence that these people were on the island," answered George.