The boys eyed him sharply, and finally Harry said: "That is what you suggested the new wagon for, was it not?"
John nodded an a.s.sent.
"Did the Professor say anything to you about bringing it along?"
"He did say it might be taken if you thought so."
"Didn"t he suggest that we should do so?"
"No; he said the matter was left entirely to your judgment, and that I should not say anything about it, unless you proposed that course."
"Well, I am thinking we shall have a pretty good load for one team with what we get out of the place," said George.
"It will make a good load, but we can add to it the lightest parts of the stock we have at the Cataract."
Before reaching the mouth of the cavern, a messenger hurried over from the Cataract with the information that two runners had arrived from the Professor and from Blakely, and they drove back as quickly as possible, and reached there to learn that another had just arrived from Blakely.
The two runners first to arrive conveyed the information stated in the previous chapter, but the last carried the additional news that there had been a fight between Blakely and the tribes, and that he was slowly moving back to the Cataract, but there was no occasion for alarm.
The latter part of the note read as follows: "Do not be alarmed and continue your work, and if the matter should be at all serious I will advise you by runner in ample time, and shall in any event send another in the next four hours."
John called in Muro and said:
"The forces with Blakely are having a fight with the tribes. I want you to take fifty men, and also twenty-five guns, and a.s.sist Blakely and his warriors, and keep me informed of the progress of events. Tell him that by day after to-morrow we shall be on our way. In the meantime you should draw them this way, as we do not want them to go back. For that purpose keep up the show of retreating, and hold them until day after to-morrow."
Within an hour the column was ready and moved toward the scene with celerity, equipped with the new guns, and an ample supply of ammunition, together with the new arrows which had been made.
CHAPTER IV
THE SURRENDER OF THE KURABUS
It was late that afternoon before John and the boys again drove over to the hill, and lost no time in entering the cave. The first care was to bring to the steps at the entrance all the vessels in the first recess.
Some of them were so heavy that it was necessary for four to carry each load. They then proceeded to the inner recess, and here a search was made for every trace of the treasures there, the time required thus making it almost dark before they were able to carry out all the different lots.
These were all stored in the bottom of the wagon. It was dark as they started for the Cataract. As they were leaving they heard the night cry of a bird which had often been noticed before, and Ralph shuddered, as he said:
"It makes me tremble whenever I hear that doleful sound. It was above our head all of the night before the Tuolos captured us, and since that time it always sounded like an omen to me."
John turned to him, as he replied: "That is the voice of the bird called by the Spanish, Alma Perdida."
"Well it isn"t a pleasant sound, to say the least," added George.
"It is very significant at this time, however," remarked John.
The boys all turned to him, as he continued: "It is the "Cry of the Lost Soul"; that is what the name signifies."
And the boys thought of the terrible tragedy in the cave they had just left. The silence on the way home was significant.
The next morning marked the greatest activity in and about the buildings. The wagons were first loaded with the things contained in the shop, the laboratory and the home. Numerous packages were made up in form for the warriors to handle conveniently. Nothing was permitted to remain, as it was felt that the things they had made were too valuable to leave behind. It was past noon before the last articles were secured in bundles.
"You should explain to them, Uraso," said John, "that we shall have to give them pretty heavy loads for the first part of the journey, as the different things can be distributed to the others when we reach them."
"It will not be necessary to do this," he answered; "they are only too glad to carry the heaviest loads." And he refused to apologize to the warriors. This is referred to for the purpose of showing the spirit in which all of them worked to bring the things to their own country.
After the loads were all provided for, and the different ones instructed as to the parts which should be taken by each, John said:
"There is one thing which must now take our attention, and that is the bringing in of the flag."
The boys had forgotten this. "You may tell the warriors," said John, addressing Uraso, "that we intend to go to the hill and bring in the flag, which must be taken with us."
As Uraso interpreted this to the people it had a remarkable significance to them. Uraso begged permission to take all of them on the expedition, and this was readily a.s.sented to.
The warriors all armed, as though going forth to battle, ascended the hill, with the boys in the lead. Arriving there John formed the column in a circle around the staff. Angel was present, and he shambled toward the pole and mounted it. He remembered the little wheel at the top, which had afforded them such an amusing incident when it was erected.
This time he came down without much solicitation on the part of George.
"As George and Harry were the ones to hoist the flag, I shall delegate them to lower it," said John.
The boys went forward, and at the quiet suggestion of John took off their hats. At this signal John took off his, and Uraso followed suit, and the hint was sufficient for the warriors, who stood with uncovered heads while the boys reverently lowered it.
The wonder and amazement depicted on the faces of those who witnessed it was a spectacle. What an impressive thing it was to them; it was the mystery, which to the savage mind is always an important factor, and John knew it.
The flag was folded with the greatest care, the natives watching each move with intense interest, and was then wrapped in cloth, as though it was the most valuable treasure in the world.
"We want them to feel that it is something they must love and protect.
It is safe to say, that after this exhibition, everyone of the warriors would have fought to the death to preserve that emblem of power, like the Israelites of old, who regarded the Ark of the Covenant as their fortress and strength."
The last night at the Cataract was a sad one for the boys. For a year and a half it had been their home. They had built every part of it. Each portion had some delicious memory connected with it, and all must now be left to the ravishes of time. Only the water wheel would be left.
It hardly seems possible that the acc.u.mulations at the Cataract would make over one hundred packages, aside from the contents of the wagon.
When the entire stock of material was arranged the next morning, it was an interesting sight.
The two wagons were driven out from the yard, Harry and Tom in charge of one, and George and Ralph of the other team. Twenty-five light loads had been made for the advance warriors, so that in case of scouting work, one could take the loads of two, and thus leave at least a dozen free for that duty when required.
A quant.i.ty of lumber had been cut over six months before, and this was well dried, and would be very valuable to them in beginning operations, and the loads on the wagons were so great that but little of it could be taken in that way. Uraso saw the utility of the material and insisted that it should all be taken.
Besides the packages thus arranged the most expert of the warriors carried the thirty-two guns, and they had been instructed in their use.
Each also carried a bow and set of arrows, and some of them were provided with spears.
During the preceding day no message had come from Blakely, but he knew that the party would leave the Cataract on this day, and they felt no apprehension on his account.
One of the runners from John reached the Professor on the day the train left the Cataract. While the latter tried to prevent the knowledge of his occupation of the Kurabus village from reaching the ears of the warriors, the scouts sent out by the Professor intercepted and tried to capture the messengers which were sent to inform the allies, but failed in their efforts.
When John and his party left, Blakely had drawn the allies to a point within eight miles of the Cataract, and with the reinforcements, headed by Muro, he made a stand. During the night, after a consultation with Muro, the latter, with fifty of his warriors, made a wide detour to the north, and swung around to the west, thus taking a position behind the allies, and this was effected without their knowledge, as they believed.