It was this battle that brought the wounded and the captives into the village where the Professor was. When the fight terminated John had no idea which was the victor. Judging from their standpoint, the side securing the greatest number of captives won in the encounter.
While the battle was going on, the team came up and it was hurriedly concealed. Muro knew that neither tribe would come to the north, until driven in that direction by force of numbers, so the wagon was comparatively safe.
The boys were very low-spirited, when they learned of the battle in their front. To move farther during that day and night would be folly. The way in front must be cleared. The next day the two forces were still facing each other. In spite of all the wit and ingenuity of the Saboros and John not a glimpse could be obtained of the Professor. They had no fear for him if he was in the hands of the Osagas.
It was not until the fourth day that the Professor began to have some doubts and misgivings on the part of his own people.
He knew a battle had taken place somewhere, but he did not connect it with the conflict which John and Muro had witnessed. With a view of learning something of the tribe with which the warriors were engaged, he went to the miserable hut, almost in the center of the village where they had been taken on the first day.
There, cooped in a small place, were seven prisoners, two of them very small in comparison with the others, and both exceedingly filthy. The moment the Professor made his appearance one of them ran to him screaming, and crying out: “Professor—how did you come here?”
He was too much overpowered to answer for the moment. The other boy turned and burst into tears. “Oh, help us,” was all he said. The cries of the boys brought the inhabitants to the hut. The guards made no opposition to the Professor’s movements.
The chief appeared immediately, and as the Professor saw him approaching, put his arms about the boys, and led them out. Then walking up to the chief, with a terrible frown in his face, demanded why they had been treated in this manner. It was a strong, bold play, but it accomplished the purpose, for when the Professor pointed to the filthy rags that covered the poor fellows an order from the chief was quick to bring them clothing.
The boys cowered when they saw the peremptory manner in which he approached the chief, and the boys could not help the tears from coming, at the joy of deliverance.
“Oh, tell us, Professor, why you are here? Have you seen any of the other boys? There are some others on the island, but we do not know where they are.”