This information tallied exactly with the news given Uraso when he was their captive, as to the men, and also explained that another tribe had the boys. Things were beginning to clear up.
During the evening of the sixth day, the warriors began to come in rapidly, with news of their defeat. In the hurried conversations and animated snatches of information which the boys could gather, the names of the Kurabus figured most prominently, and this led the Professor to inquire the facts more particularly from the chief.
The Professor gave the chief this information:
“We were on our way to see you, when we found ourselves opposed to the Kurabus and the Saboros, who attacked us. We tried to inform them of our peaceful intent, but they refused to listen to any proposals. We resisted them and during the night the two tribes attacked each other.
“We captured two of their wounded, and took them back with us to our home at the eastern end of the island, and on this trip brought them with us. We learned that one of them was the brother of the Saboro chief, whom we rescued from the Kurabus, nearly two weeks ago. The chief and another of his tribe are now with my friends, where your warriors captured me.”
“Was Muro the chief?” he inquired.
“Yes.”
“And he is my friend.”
Without making explanations of any sort, the chief summoned his warriors, and stated to them that the Professor was their friend, and had beaten the Kurabus, and that the act of taking the Professor from his friends was a wrongful act. He commanded them to follow the Professor, and be guided by his directions. Preparations were now made for the departure.
The Professor now plainly exhibited his delight, which, had it been shown in the presence of his boys, would have made them view him with wonder. The evening meal was brought in, and the boys, as well as the Professor on this occasion, sat at the ring around which the food was spread, and the first act of the Professor was to partake sparingly of the different things offered.