CHAPTER XIX
FIGHT WITH NATIVES AND RETURN TO WONDER ISLAND
When the _Pioneer_ sailed for Unity it was with the understanding thatshe was to return within a week or ten days. At a cliff in the headland,which jutted out on the southern side of the bay, a sort of post officestation was established, because if the ship should return while theywere in the interior, it would be well for the commander of the_Pioneer_ to know where to go in the event that the eastern or thenorthern coast should be much more convenient for John and his party.
It was nearly a hundred miles from the Island to Wonder Island, andthere would be no occasion for the Professor to hurry back a relief,except to supply additional ammunition, because they did not for aninstant expect to meet a tribe that would give them such a fight.
There was still enough to provide, probably five rounds per man, so thatit made them a pretty respectable fighting force. The weather was suchthat the force on the island did not require tents for shelter, and withthe native fruits the party could well subsist for quite a time withoutassistance.
It was agreed that the party should keep together, and no straggling bepermitted, as it was evident they had a very bitter foe to deal with.The severely wounded Chief, who was taken along, was under the personalcharge of the Professor, the understanding being that as soon as hiswounds were satisfactorily progressing, an effort would be made to openup communication with him, and through that channel they could reach theinhabitants of the island, and thus advise them that they did not meanto do them an injury.
"I wonder if that isn't the real reason why John does not want to go forthe fellows who attacked us," asked George.
"That may be so. It never occurred to me before. It seems to me,though," answered Harry, "that they will get but little out of thatfellow in a week's time. You know they are very much reserved at times."
"Or stubborn," suggested George.
One of the things that John was careful about related to theorganization of the force, so that it would at all times be ready foraction. In order to carry out this idea and make it effectual, hedivided the fighters into two squads of twenty-five men each, under thecommands of Uraso and Muro, the arrangement being such that one squadshould have charge of the patrolling and picketing for a period of twodays, and then the other should take charge for a like time.
There was always the most perfect accord between the two Chiefs, andJohn wisely allowed them to arrange those matters in such a way as wouldbe most satisfactory to them.
Before noon the following day the force marched out from SecurityHarbor, as they had named the bay, and took up the trail made by Johnand his party two days before.
"We have names for the two islands, and for about all the principalpoints, but we have no name for this place," said Harry, as they weremarching along.
"Quite true," answered George, reflectively. Then, with a laugh, hesaid: "As they have cannibals here, according to the evidence so fargathered, I think _Maneta_ would be a name that would tell the storyabout as well as anything." And George laughed as he made thesuggestion.
He was an adept in applying names, being generally the first to makesuggestions in that direction, and he was rarely at a loss for an aptdesignation.
The route was over a country which was rich in vegetation. During thefirst ten miles the ascent was gradual, and the fruit and nuts wereabundant, while new species of trees and flowers attracted the boys.
"Harry and I have found a plant that has flies and other insects allover the leaves, and I believe it actually catches and holds. Here is asample," said George, as he presented a branch to John.
John examined it carefully. Then he said: "This is a plant of which wehave several in the United States, but none which are as active. This iscalled Venus' Fly Trap."
"That is curious," remarked Harry. "I wouldn't have paid any attentionto it but I saw a fly alight on it, and these little feelers seemed toclose around it, and hold it."
"It works on that plan exactly. It is in that way it gets its food."
"But why should the feelers be able to grasp the fly the moment ittouches the leaf?"
_Fig. 16. Venus' Fly-Trap._]
"Do you recall about what the Professor told you of the peculiar powerof plants to absorb food of particular kinds by a faculty called_irritability_?"
"Yes; I remember."
"By means of that, plants are enabled to select just the kinds ofsubstances that they want, and can digest. If you will carefully noticethe leaf, after it has seized a fly it will be observed that the leafexudes a watery substance, and that has the property of digesting thefly, or of converting the liquid part of the insect into a form of foodwhich is taken through the leaf, and from the leaf it goes into theplant itself."
"I thought plants got their food from the roots only?"
"Leaves are just the same as roots. They are terminals, and moisture aswell as foods, such, for instance, as nitrogen, is absorbed and fed tothe plant through the leaves."
As they progressed they could see evidences of human occupation, and inmany places the remains of fire. It was while making a detour from theregular route taken by John that they saw the first startling thing.
It was found at a place where a rude hut was discovered in a dilapidatedcondition. Directly behind the hut was a raised sort of dais, supportedon two posts, and this was filled with human skulls, all in an advancedstage of decay.
It was noticed only by accident, as the area around the hut was thicklygrown up by the vegetation. The boys were naturally startled at thesight.
"What does that mean?" asked Harry.
John replied: "This is evidence that the people here are head hunters."
"What do you mean by _head hunters_?"
"Certain savages have the belief that their importance depends on thenumber of heads they can capture."
"Where do they get them?"
"It is necessary for them to kill their enemies, and impale the heads,or nail them up to their huts."
"Is it a religious ceremony?"
"In some cases that is so. In some tribes the object is merely to showbravery and manliness. The more heads a man possesses the braver he is."
The vicinity of the hut was carefully examined, and Uraso brought toJohn a very curiously arranged shell, with a handle to it. It was, infact, a rattle. John took the article, and after examining it for sometime, remarked:
"These people will be difficult to deal with; very difficult."
"Why do you form that conclusion from the examination of the rattle?"
"This is a vele."
"A _vele_; and what in the world is that?"
"A vele is a sort of hoodoo; it is something that many natives believein with such tenacity that if any one having this rattle points to himand declares him veleed, and announces that the veleed one will die thenext day, he will lay down and actually expire as predicted."
"Do you believe such tales?" asked Harry.
"Of course those stories are hard to understand, but the missionaries onthe Melanesian Islands vouch for many things similar to that. In 1871,Bishop Patterson, one of the missionaries, was murdered by the nativesof those islands, and many of the facts in regard to their customs werethen established."
"But how do they work the vele?"
"The place where the vele is worked to the most unlimited extent is inthe Island of Guadalcaner, one of the Solomon Islands, although it hasits counterpart in many other places. The vele rattler is carefully keptin a bamboo box, and when the owner wishes to destroy an enemy he takesthe vele, and searches for him.
"In doing so he must not be seen by any one. If he is seen the vele willnot be effective. When he finds his enemy the vele is pointed to theman, and the rattles shaken, and while doing so the one exorcising thespell must turn his face away and utter curses. As soon as his enemyhears this, he turns to see who has veleed him, and he then glancesaround to see if any one has seen the vele."
"Are you sure that the rattle is for that pur
pose?"
"There is no question of it, and it is an evidence that the natives areintensely superstitious, and such people are very difficult to dealwith."
"I suppose we shall have witch doctors to deal with here?" asked George.
"That is a very natural supposition."
"Did you see some of these things when you came over here yesterday?"
"Yes."
It was evident to both boys that they were going direct to themountains, and the general character of the surroundings reminded themso much of the mountains on Wonder Island, that they felt assured Johnwould be able to find the cave for which he was searching.
That night they encamped on a small stream which was, no doubt, formedby a spring, as its waters were deliciously cool, and refreshing.
During that night, shortly after twelve o'clock, the boys heard the mostpeculiar noises, like a doleful, continuous cry, echoed and reechoedfrom hill to mountain,--something indescribable, but they refrainedfrom saying anything to John about it.
Some of the boys who were present and heard it were singularly affected,and it must be said that the boys themselves, notwithstanding theexperiences they had passed through, were not altogether composed intheir minds.
When Uraso and Muro appeared next morning, after a night of scouting,they were startled by the accounts which were furnished, as to thenumber and warlike character of the inhabitants, and a council was heldto decide whether it would be advisable to proceed with their limitedforce.
If they knew, beyond question, that the island was occupied by anothertribe, it might enable them to make peace with one of them, and thuspave the way for approaching these people.
It was unfortunate that the first contact with the natives brought theminto open hostilities, much as they desired to avoid it, but it was toolate now.
"From your investigations," said John, addressing the two chiefs, "canyou give any idea of the number of natives in this tribe?"
"We were unable to get near the village, but during the night we touchedthree different parties, one over by the high ridge, one a mile to thefront, and the other over in the open ground not far from the place wehad the fight. If I can judge anything by that I should say they have anumber of warriors," answered Uraso.
"That does, indeed, look as though they are ready to meet us fromwhatever direction we may attack them," remarked John.
"The thing which is the most singular to me," remarked Muro, "is the waythey are coming at us after the fight over there. If they were a weaklot they would draw off, and keep away from us, and that makes me thinkthey have a lot of warriors, and are simply waiting until they cancollect all of them."
"We must do one of two things," ventured John, on reflection. "Either togo on with the men we have, or to wait until the _Pioneer_ returns, andthen go back with her and fit out a force of ample size to meet them. Itis our wish to win over the people by peaceful means, but our weaknessmay be the worst possible way of accomplishing that purpose."
Uraso and Muro were both in favor of returning and waiting for the_Pioneer_, as they knew it would be likely to show up within the nextthree days, and their views decided the matter.
"Under the circumstances we must leave this place before it is too latein the day, or we may have trouble in reaching the landing, although wecan easily hold them off with our rifles, but we must avoid bloodshed,"and on this point John was insistent.
The camp was astir and all the equipment in hand within fifteen minutes,although they had not yet partaken of breakfast. Uraso took the firstturn, as commander of the rear guard, while the main body hurried on tocross the valley, before the savages could get the first notice of theretirement.
Notwithstanding the great caution displayed, several shots were heardbefore the slope on the other side was reached, and they knew that Urasowas engaged.
It is difficult, sometimes, to know just how information travels amongsavage people, but in this case, the peculiar beatings of the drumswhich could be heard in the dim distance, was sufficient to satisfy Murothat they had watchers, and a signaling means from treetops and from thecrests of the great hills all around them.
An hour afterwards Uraso's men were seen in the distance, and, althoughthey had fired no more shots, it was evident that the natives were nowin force and pressing against him with all their might. Only theconsummate skill of Uraso prevented them from rushing the men under hiscommand.
But the top of the hill was reached; the landing was not much more thana mile beyond that, and John hurriedly took a half dozen men, and Georgeand Harry with him, in order to select the final line of defense withinreach of the landing place, while Uraso and Muro held them in check.
The boys were ahead of the little party, swinging along and trying toget to the elevated point which John indicated as the most availableplace, when two powerful natives sprang across their path, and beforeeither could draw a weapon, they were pounced upon and seized by twomore who approached from the rear.
With great presence of mind Harry cocked and fired the gun which hiscaptors were struggling for. The shot went through the arm of the nativewho had seized George, and the latter, now free, raised his rifle andbrought it down with all force on the nearest one.
John and the men with him needed no further information as to thesituation. They were practically surrounded. That was his first thought;but, as no more natives appeared, and the two remaining savages startedon a run it began to be evident that they were only scouts who expectedan easy capture of the two boys.
There was no more straggling or running ahead after that. Uraso and therear guard came up with a rush on hearing the shots, but were reassuredwhen they saw the party intact.
The heights were gained, and before they could arrange for the defensethe natives appeared from three quarters, and held off a quarter of amile beyond.
During the following day John tried to establish communications with thenatives, but they rebuffed all efforts, and the arrival of the _Pioneer_was anxiously awaited.
On the third day the natives were observed closer at various points, andthey began to grow bolder, but at noon of the fourth day the sharp eyesof Muro discovered the glimpse of a sail to the west.
Within two hours the form of the ship could be seen. The _Pioneer_ wasmaking for the landing, and a cheer went up from the men at the welcomesight.
There was not much difficulty in descending the cliffs and establishingcommunications with the vessel, and within an hour they were aboard andthe natives could plainly be seen coming down the opposite slope wavingdefiance to the ship.
The next day the _Pioneer_ sailed up Enterprise River. The people inUnity were anxious to learn of the new island, and to hear of theexploits with the savage tribe which the boys had encountered.
"The Treasures of the Islands," the next book in this series, relatesthe further experiences of the boys upon their return to Rescue Island.
THE END