“If you are able to talk with Stut and his friends better than I can we might learn in what direction their tribe is located, and if the village is between us and their friends, we might move our camp to-night to the other side of the river, and thus get between the village and the warriors.”
Blakely listened intently, and replied: “I know where the Saboro village is; we shall have to go directly south to reach them. The tribe from which you rescued us is called the Brabos. Somewhere to the southeast of them are the Kurabus, the meanest devils of the lot, outside of the Tuolos on the western shore.”
“Why Chump and his friends are Saboros, so we have two hostile tribes before we can reach aid in that quarter. Do you know,” said John, continuing, “anything about the Osagas?”
He reflected a while, and then answered: “I am not so sure, but they are to the south and still farther to the west, but the route would be inaccessible for the wagon from this point, on account of the immense forest which is in the way. I know something about that forest, as it sheltered me for the greater part of a year.
“We have very many interesting things to talk about, but we must not delay the contemplated movement another moment.”
The Professor gave the word of command, and the celerity with which the taking up of the fort and storing it away was accomplished was a delight no less to the rescued warriors than it was to Blakely. The wagon was headed for the southeast, and John, beckoning to Stut and his relative, started out ahead. The other Saboro ran forward and begged to be allowed to accompany them, and John willingly assented.
Directing the Saboros, by motioning, to scatter to the right and to the left of him, the four formed a guard for the wagon, and in their movement to the river the Saboros kept John in sight.
“Fortunately this is not a deep stream, and we will not have difficulty in crossing,” said Blakely.
“That doesn’t trouble us in the least,” answered Harry. “We use the fort sections as floats.”
Blakely eyed Harry for a moment. “Do you mean that you ford the deepest streams with these cattle?”