John announced that he intended to visit the tribe to the north, and purposed starting the following day. The Chief advised him to take with him all the warriors in the village, because he felt sure they would have a hostile reception.
"It seems to me," replied John, "that would be the wrong thing to do. I do not wish him to think that my mission is a warlike one, and a large force will be in the nature of an invasion of his territory."
"Perhaps you are right; but we have found him a difficult Chief to deal with. He is not like a man. He cannot stand up straight, as we do, and he kills and eats all who fall into his hands."
This information was regarded by John as one of the imagination, purely, so it did not weigh heavily on his mind. What seemed to impress him most was the fate of the poor fellows who had voluntarily sought the protection of the cannibal Chief.
"I would like to have your opinion as to the course which the Chief will take when the Korinos fall into his hands?" asked John.
The Chief mused for a while, and then said: "They have no Korinos and do not believe in them, but they may tell the Chief that we tried to offer them as sacrifices, and he may use them with his people to stir up feelings of revenge against us."
"But," replied John, "the captives you took, and who have escaped may tell him of our treatment of them and this may work in our favor."
"I do not think so," he replied. "We have had[p. 128] many instances where they have refused to make friends with us, and for that reason we always had war."
"But have you not often sacrificed their people when you have taken them in your wars?"
"We have always done so."