Another mile was traversed, but the first lesson was heeded, and the enemy did not come close enough to enable the gunmen to get an opportunity to shoot. But now an unforeseen obstacle presented itself.
They had been marching along the more or less elevated bank of the stream, and directly in their path was a stream flowing into the main one, with steep and rocky sides, so precipitous that it would be impossible for the wagons to cross them, heavily laden as they were.
The Illyas appeared in force behind them, and apparently none were to the front, thus indicating that they did not believe the wagons could cross, and in this they were right. It was growing dark. Harry suggested that they make camp and arrange for protection during the night.
This was done, the two wagons being placed thirty feet apart, and the fort sections were used to connect the rear ends of the wagons, so that a U-shaped fort was thus provided, the open end of the fort being toward the river, which was the side they had no fear of, so far as the savages were concerned.
While these preparations were going on no attempt was made to attack them. "They are either waiting for morning, or for reinforcements," was Stut"s comment.
"Do you think it would be possible to get a messenger through to John?"
asked George.
"Yes; but it would be better to send two."
"We can easily spare them," responded Harry, "and you had better select them at once."
Two intelligent warriors, one a Saboro, well known to Stut, and an Osaga, were delegated to run the risk, and they started to the north along the river.
The night was intensely dark, but notwithstanding this Muro pushed forward to the south, and the utmost speed, under those conditions, was not more than a mile or mile and a half an hour.
It was known that reinforcements were on the way from the south. They might meet such a force, and the utmost caution was necessary. It was fortunate that the two messengers from Stut heard Muro"s warriors, and for the purpose of determining who they were, approached closely, and made themselves known.
This intelligence was sufficient for Muro to act. The scouts guided them back, and as it was beginning to grow light the cracks of several guns were sufficient to indicate the direction of the wagons, and the fact that the attack had begun.
Muro was a tactician. The scouts stated the situation, with the impa.s.sible ravine to the north, and the attackers to the south of their position. His force was on the eastern side of the river, and moving back a sufficient distance to prevent knowledge of his presence from reaching the Illyas, went to the south, and crossed the river in their rear.
The attack of the savages was in force against the wagon, and the spirited cracks of the guns showed Muro that he must make haste if he would have a part in it.
Harry and George were seasoned fighters, but in this case they were entirely in the dark as to the numbers which opposed them. This lack of knowledge was the only thing which gave them any concern. They knew that sooner or later John would rescue them in force. The problem was to resist and gain time.
The Illyas had heretofore proven themselves wonderful fighters and remarkably tenacious. This attack was a more determined one than they had ever witnessed. There was no cessation in their forward advance, and they were most skillful in seeking cover.
The boys looked at each other, but neither spoke his fears, if he had any; to say the least, it was the most businesslike of anything which they had witnessed.
Suddenly, they heard the noise of a volley behind the Illyas, and the latter made a concerted rush for the underbrush to the west, as Muro, with his men, sprang forward through the clearing; and the boys, with Stut, sprang from the wagon and started the cheering, followed by the warriors.
Muro rushed up and embraced Stut and the boys. A hurried breakfast was prepared, and the fort sections replaced. There was no time to lose.
They must get back to John and be prepared to take part in the capture of the great village of the Illyas.
CHAPTER XIII
THE REMARKABLE DISCOVERY AT BLAKELY"S MOUNTAIN HOME
It was the custom of the Professor to take the boys each week for an outing in some direction from Unity. The most attractive part was toward the great forest, west of the large river. Several boats had been made, which were used princ.i.p.ally for fishing, and one of these was usually taken. They would then sail down the little branch stream, on which the town was located, and cross the large river.
During the entire time they were at the village Blakely had not gone across the river, although he frequently indicated a desire to do so, particularly to look up the location of the home on the hill at the forest"s edge, where he found seclusion from the savages for nearly nine months.
The Professor and the boys insisted on his accompanying them on this occasion, and having given instructions to the men, they manned the large boat and were soon on the western sh.o.r.e of the river.
The large quant.i.ty of driftwood, which was in evidence here, as elsewhere, attracted the attention of Jim, as he turned to the Professor.
"I have often wondered why it is that there is so much driftwood on the western sh.o.r.e of this stream, and hardly any on the eastern sh.o.r.e."
Blakely, his attention having been drawn to it, remarked that he had found this to be the case in a number of streams, not only on the island, but elsewhere.
"That is a singular thing," replied the Professor. "It is accounted for by the rotation of the earth, which is from west to east. The rotation of the earth in that direction also accounts for the prevailing trade winds which are from the east to the west."
"In what way should the rotation of the earth cause the drift to move westwardly?"
"There are two forces which act on a free object on the surface of the earth, namely, centrifugal and centripetal. The first named is that action which tends to throw an object outwardly, like dirt flying out from a rapidly moving wheel; and the latter action is that which draws inwardly. Thus the spokes might be likened to centripetal force. The attraction of gravitation in the earth is the centripetal force, and its rotation produces the centrifugal force. When an object, like a plumb bob, or an article floating on the water is free to move, it is found to lag behind the movement of the earth surface, this r.e.t.a.r.ding movement being sufficient to cause it to creep to the west, with the result you have noticed."
The hill pointed out by Blakely was fully three miles west of the river.
The four boys, Ralph, Tom, Jim and Will, with Blakely and the Professor, all armed with guns, made a party strong enough to enable them to successfully withstand the attack of any animal, and it was proposed to make a trip through a portion of the forest, so as to get some idea of its character.
To carry out this plan, their course was directed to the west, and within an hour and a half were well in the thick of the wood. The first thing that attracted the attention of all were the magnificent trees, among them a species of pitch pine, together with immense redwood trees, and numerous oak species abounded.
Before they had penetrated a mile the first animals were seen. They had never been hunted, as the natives kept away from the forest fastnesses, and it was singular to see the familiarity of the animals. An immense panther, or tree leopard, fascinated the boys, and they maneuvered to get close enough for a shot. He was very wary, however, and Blakely and the Professor kept in the background while the boys stalked him from tree to tree, and finally Ralph had him in range and fired.
He crashed down but alighted on his feet, and without waiting for any explanations bounded over to the spot where Ralph and Will were crouched behind a fallen tree. Will saw the movement and called to Jim and Tom, and the latter, taking careful aim, fired, without, apparently, checking the animal.
With a powerful spring he landed on the tree, not five feet from the boys, and Jim shot the moment he landed, the shot taking effect in the left eye, and he dropped his head and lay still, hanging over the fallen tree.
This was exciting, while it lasted, and gave them something to talk about for the rest of the day. Blakely dragged the animal down, and Ralph and Will, trembling as they were, had their knives out when Blakely commenced to skin the panther. It was a fine trophy, made doubly valuable, as it had been their first attempt to secure big game.
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 16. THE MARMOSET]
The boys regretted that Angel had not accompanied them, as they saw numerous orang-outan; and here for the first time they came across whole tribes of monkeys, particularly the marmoset, an interesting little creature. The most striking ones were the proboscis monkey, the face being not unlike that of an old man with an extremely long nose, with whiskers around the neck.
Blakely and the Professor made many notes of the trees, and discussed the uses to which they might be put, and the boys had their eyes open for the wonderful display of animal life on all sides.
It was fully two o"clock before their steps were turned toward the north, so that the hill could be reached, and when they emerged from the forest, Blakely pointed out the spot and the best way to reach it. The boys went forward with a rush, and mounted the hill, but while they searched in every direction could not locate the rocky recess occupied by Blakely.
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 17. PROBOSCIS MONKEY]
The latter came up smiling. "I told the Professor you would have some trouble in finding it. Look directly above you."
About twenty feet from where they stood was a projecting rock, and to the left of it another, extending out at right angles.
"But how are we going to reach it?" asked Ralph.
"Go around farther to the right, and you will find a vine. I used that as a ladder."
Around to the right the boys scampered, each trying to get there first.
There was no vine in sight. Blakely was coming up, as the boys turned back, disappointed.