We had some difficulty in making our way back through the forest, for the stream, we found, took a turn away from the settlement, and it led us further from it than we had supposed. The captain highly approved of the stones we had brought. Arthur and Tim had already arrived, each of them having found only one stone adapted to the purpose of hammers; but they were large and heavy, and were just what was wanted. They had, however, brought several large pieces of hard stone of flinty nature and wedge or axe-like form, which the captain pronounced to be of the greatest value.
“I thought so when I discovered them,” observed Arthur. “It seemed to me that by chipping or grinding them, sharp edges might be formed so as to serve either for wedges or perhaps even for axes.”
“They will form axes, though some labour will be required to sharpen them,” exclaimed the captain. “We could then easily fix them in handles; and they will be of the greatest use, if not for cutting down the trees, at all events for scoring the trunks for the wedges, and for smoothing the planks when split. You must search for some more of the same character; and if you find them, as I have no doubt you will, we shall all have tools, and be able to make rapid progress.”
The three Indians at once undertook not only to put handles to the hammers, but to sharpen the stones intended for axeheads.
“It will take some time,” observed Kallolo; “but in our country we do not think much of time, and patience overcomes all difficulties.”
“We must not, however, forget the necessity of finding provisions for our settlement,” observed Uncle Paul. “Kallolo has undertaken to supply us, if he can find time to form a blowpipe; it will be wise, I think, to allow him to do so before he attempts to execute any other work.”
The captain agreed to this, and begged that Kallolo would endeavour to find the materials for the instrument he proposed to make.
The Indian’s eye brightened. “Yes, yes, I will start to-morrow morning,” he said. “I will search also for the ingredients for the poison, without which the blowpipe would be of little use. In the meantime I will labour at the hammers and axes, which Maco and Polo may complete while I am employed at the zabatana.”
Marian, on seeing all the rest of the party busy, begged that she also might have something to do. “I will gladly act as cook for you, though, unfortunately, I am very little acquainted with the art; but with some hints from Sambo, I may in time become proficient.”
“I think we may find pleasanter employment than that for you, my little maid,” said the captain. “Some of us are in want of hats, and we shall require a large amount of matting to serve as bedding and clothing, and also to form sails for our vessel. I have thought that if you and your father, assisted by your brother Guy, would turn your attention to the matter, you would render great service to our little community.”