“I believe they have some captives. Look at the bunch of warriors to the right, and the struggle of the different ones to go near; their actions, and the dancing around that group, are sufficient to convince me that the new arrivals have just brought them in.”
“Yes; I can see them,” exclaimed George in excitement. A fire was now being lit, and another, and finally the glowing lights were all around the group, and when the warriors stepped outside of the circle of fires three bound victims were plainly seen.
“That method of confining their captives within a circle of fires is a common one with two of the tribes here, one of them being the ones which first captured me. The Saboros, however, do not adopt that method.”
“Look at the one nearest us. He doesn’t look like a native.” John could not resist the impulse to move forward, but he did it with the greatest prudence, and as he returned, said:
“You were correct. He is not a savage. That is, he seems to be different from the other two. Probably he is from some other tribe, and—”
The man referred to raised himself up, and turned his position; this brought his face into view. He was a bearded white man, and at the sight John could hardly restrain himself.
“Let us return to the wagon at once.”
When the wagon was reached they found the greatest excitement, and learned that the Professor had gone forward in order to ascertain whether the noise from the savage camp was in any way connected with John and George.
While debating the subject the Professor reappeared, to the relief of the party, and John recounted their experiences, and the sighting of the village.
“I felt assured,” said the Professor, “as I approached the camp, that you could not have been taken, because not a shot had been fired, and it would be quite unlike you to be captured without giving us that warning signal.”