The Wonder Island boys

by Roger T. Finlay

“We must follow them,” answered John, “but the wagon cannot travel fast enough for that. Muro and one of the Saboros will accompany me, and Blakely, you remain with the boys, and follow as I direct.”

Then going to the highest point of the hill, he pointed to the south. “See the end of the forest in the distance, which may be five miles beyond. You will see the glimpse of the river there. To the east of that is an elevation, with trees very distinctly outlined. That will be your objective point. Make for that place as rapidly as possible, unless you get information from us to the contrary.”

“That is the forest where I made my home,” said Blakely. “I know every foot of this country, and all down beyond that point. Within ten miles of that place is a savage village, and my opinion is that they are the ones who have the Professor.”

“Muro has just informed me that the Osagas live in that neighborhood, or somewhat farther to the west, and beyond the river is another tribe called the Berees.”

The boys looked at John. “Weren’t you captured by them, and was not Chief from that tribe?”

“Yes, but my impression is that the Osagas are to the east of the place indicated.”

If the Osagas captured the Professor there was some hope, because they did not believe Chief would permit him to be ill-treated. They had still to account for one, if not two, tribes in the south of the island, and of whom they knew nothing, except the slightest rumors.

John selected six of the guns, and an ample supply of ammunition, and as the chief and his associates had been drilled in the use of the weapons since the last fight, it was felt that with the spears they carried they would be a match for a pretty good force.

Thus equipped they plunged forward in the direction of the disappearing band.

Let us follow the movements of the Professor. In his eagerness to collect samples, he went much farther than he intended, and left the wagon without taking anything in the shape of a weapon. When he had proceeded less than a half mile from the wagon, he was surrounded by a dozen warriors, whose headdress proclaimed them to be a tribe entirely different from any that they had formed the acquaintance of, and as he saw resistance was useless, quietly submitted, and tried by all his arts to induce them to accompany him.