"Do you believe such tales?" asked Harry.
"Of course those stories are hard to understand, but the missionaries on the Melanesian Islands vouch for many things similar to that. In 1871, Bishop Patterson, one of the missionaries, was murdered by the natives of those islands, and many of the facts in regard to their customs were then established."
"But how do they work the vele?"
"The place where the vele is worked to the most unlimited extent is in the Island of Guadalcaner, one of the Solomon Islands, although it has its counterpart in many other places. The vele rattler is carefully kept in a bamboo box, and when the owner wishes to destroy an enemy he takes the vele, and searches for him.
"In doing so he must not be seen by any one. If he is seen the vele will not be effective. When he finds his enemy the vele is pointed to the man, and the rattles shaken, and while doing so the one exorcising the spell must turn his face away and utter curses. As soon as his enemy hears this, he turns to see who has veleed him, and he then glances around to see if any one has seen the vele."
"Are you sure that the rattle is for that purpose?"
"There is no question of it, and it is an evidence that the natives are intensely superst.i.tious, and such people are very difficult to deal with."
"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 the mountains, and the general character of the surroundings reminded them so much of the mountains on Wonder Island, that they felt a.s.sured John would be able to find the cave for which he was searching.
That night they encamped on a small stream which was, no doubt, formed by a spring, as its waters were deliciously cool, and refreshing.
During that night, shortly after twelve o"clock, the boys heard the most peculiar noises, like a doleful, continuous cry, echoed and reechoed from hill to mountain,--something indescribable, but they refrained from 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 the experiences they had pa.s.sed through, were not altogether composed in their minds.
When Uraso and Muro appeared next morning, after a night of scouting, they were startled by the accounts which were furnished, as to the number and warlike character of the inhabitants, and a council was held to decide whether it would be advisable to proceed with their limited force.
If they knew, beyond question, that the island was occupied by another tribe, it might enable them to make peace with one of them, and thus pave the way for approaching these people.
It was unfortunate that the first contact with the natives brought them into open hostilities, much as they desired to avoid it, but it was too late now.
"From your investigations," said John, addressing the two chiefs, "can you give any idea of the number of natives in this tribe?"
"We were unable to get near the village, but during the night we touched three different parties, one over by the high ridge, one a mile to the front, and the other over in the open ground not far from the place we had the fight. If I can judge anything by that I should say they have a number of warriors," answered Uraso.
"That does, indeed, look as though they are ready to meet us from whatever direction we may attack them," remarked John.
"The thing which is the most singular to me," remarked Muro, "is the way they are coming at us after the fight over there. If they were a weak lot they would draw off, and keep away from us, and that makes me think they have a lot of warriors, and are simply waiting until they can collect all of them."
"We must do one of two things," ventured John, on reflection. "Either to go on with the men we have, or to wait until the _Pioneer_ returns, and then go back with her and fit out a force of ample size to meet them. It is our wish to win over the people by peaceful means, but our weakness may 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 next three days, and their views decided the matter.
"Under the circ.u.mstances we must leave this place before it is too late in the day, or we may have trouble in reaching the landing, although we can 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 first turn, as commander of the rear guard, while the main body hurried on to cross the valley, before the savages could get the first notice of the retirement.
Notwithstanding the great caution displayed, several shots were heard before the slope on the other side was reached, and they knew that Uraso was engaged.
It is difficult, sometimes, to know just how information travels among savage people, but in this case, the peculiar beatings of the drums which could be heard in the dim distance, was sufficient to satisfy Muro that they had watchers, and a signaling means from treetops and from the crests of the great hills all around them.
An hour afterwards Uraso"s men were seen in the distance, and, although they had fired no more shots, it was evident that the natives were now in force and pressing against him with all their might. Only the consummate skill of Uraso prevented them from rushing the men under his command.
But the top of the hill was reached; the landing was not much more than a mile beyond that, and John hurriedly took a half dozen men, and George and Harry with him, in order to select the final line of defense within reach of the landing place, while Uraso and Muro held them in check.
The boys were ahead of the little party, swinging along and trying to get to the elevated point which John indicated as the most available place, when two powerful natives sprang across their path, and before either could draw a weapon, they were pounced upon and seized by two more who approached from the rear.
With great presence of mind Harry c.o.c.ked and fired the gun which his captors were struggling for. The shot went through the arm of the native who had seized George, and the latter, now free, raised his rifle and brought it down with all force on the nearest one.
John and the men with him needed no further information as to the situation. They were practically surrounded. That was his first thought; but, as no more natives appeared, and the two remaining savages started on a run it began to be evident that they were only scouts who expected an easy capture of the two boys.
There was no more straggling or running ahead after that. Uraso and the rear guard came up with a rush on hearing the shots, but were rea.s.sured when they saw the party intact.
The heights were gained, and before they could arrange for the defense the natives appeared from three quarters, and held off a quarter of a mile beyond.
During the following day John tried to establish communications with the natives, 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, and they began to grow bolder, but at noon of the fourth day the sharp eyes of Muro discovered the glimpse of a sail to the west.
Within two hours the form of the ship could be seen. The _Pioneer_ was making for the landing, and a cheer went up from the men at the welcome sight.
There was not much difficulty in descending the cliffs and establishing communications with the vessel, and within an hour they were aboard and the natives could plainly be seen coming down the opposite slope waving defiance to the ship.
The next day the _Pioneer_ sailed up Enterprise River. The people in Unity were anxious to learn of the new island, and to hear of the exploits with the savage tribe which the boys had encountered.
"The Treasures of the Islands," the next book in this series, relates the further experiences of the boys upon their return to Rescue Island.
THE END
THE BOY GLOBE TROTTERS
By ELBERT FISHER
This is a series of four books relating the adventures of two boys, who make a trip around the world, working their way as they go. They meet with various peoples having strange habits and customs, and their adventures form a medium for the introduction of much instructive matter relative to the character and industries of the cities and countries through which they pa.s.s. A description is given of the native sports of boys in each of the foreign countries through which they travel. The books are ill.u.s.trated by decorative head and end pieces for each chapter, there being 36 original drawings in each book, all by the author, and four striking halftones.
1. FROM NEW YORK TO THE GOLDEN GATE, takes in many of the princ.i.p.al points between New York and California, and contains a highly entertaining narrative of the boys" experiences overland and not a little useful information.
2. FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO j.a.pAN, relates the experiences of the two boys at the Panama Exposition, and subsequently their journeyings to Hawaii, Samoa and j.a.pan. The greater portion of their time is spent at sea, and a large amount of interesting information appears throughout the text.