The Wonder Island Boys: Conquest of the Savages | Page 8

and the inhabitants.
Runners were sent ahead to inform the people of the expected arrivals. This was the first time in the history of the island that a foreign tribe had ever visited them, except in a hostile manner, and the curiosity of the women and children was intense.
Oma, the chief, had graciously ordered the best hut for the Professor, but he declined it with many thanks, and presented the chief's wife with one of the mirrors, which delighted them. Some of the warriors were designated to procure game, and others to bring in wood for the fires, and the most skilled were selected to scout to the northwest to determine the movements of the enemy.
In the morning, John and his party, with the wagon, started for the Cataract home. Uraso and Muro were designated to accompany them, and you may be sure that to the boys this trip had in it every enjoyment that could be brought to them.
"What a difference there is in things, now," mused Harry, as he drove the yaks along. "I hope they will have no trouble with those treacherous tribes until we get back."
"It makes me sad to think that we have to give up the Cataract," said George. "The past year has been a happy one to all of us, even though we have had serious times. And what shall we do with the flag?"
They had made a beautiful flag, which floated from a tall staff on Observation Hill. It would have been a grief to permit it to remain.
John overheard the conversation. "Yes; we shall certainly take it with us, and teach the natives here to respect it." And the boys applauded the sentiment.
In two days more the party sighted the Cataract, and saw "Old Glory" floating from the mast. When they saw it again, they took off their hats and gave three cheers. This so astonished the natives that they could not understand it, and Uraso told his people that the flag was worshipped by the white people.
"Did you hear what Uraso told them?" asked John.
"No; what was it!"
"He said that white people did not carry individual charms to ward off troubles, but that they had the flag for that purpose, and the one flag was the charm of all the people; and he also told them it was made a certain way for that purpose."
CHAPTER II
BUSY TIMES AT THE CATARACT. THE ALARMING NEWS
The flag incident, and Uraso's interpretation of it, amused the boys immensely.
"Do you know why Uraso thought so?" asked John.
"No; I can't understand why he ever had such an idea," replied Tom.
"You forget it has been our custom, ever since I can remember, to go to Observation Hill, each day, to watch the sea, in the hope that a vessel might be sighted. Uraso thought that was intended as a tribute to the flag."
"After all," said Ralph, on reflecting, "they are not so much out of the way, and the flag is really our talisman, isn't it?"
"Yes; because it is a real protection, and not a fancied one. It is a symbol, behind which lies all the power of a material kind, which is able to help us everywhere, and among all people. The charm which the savage wears, is a symbol to him, and that typifies protection from some unknown power. To us that is a reality, and we know where the power is."
The dear old Cataract home. How the boys roamed over every part of it, and went down where the cattle were still ranging around. The place was a study for the warriors.
"Now, boys, for the first day entertain your visitors, show them everything, and amuse them in every way possible; and after to-morrow we must commence work in earnest," was John's injunction to the boys.
What could be more natural than to start the water wheel in motion? The warriors stood on the bank, watched them push it in place, and then the sawmill was started. The process of turning out lumber with the saw was marvelous. Every part of the shop was filled, as the boys set the grindstone, the lathe, and the gristmill into motion.
When a log was finally secured to be cut into shafts for spears, and they saw the wood-turning lathe make the shaft round and true, their enthusiasm knew no bounds.
"Tell them, Muro, that is what we want them to do," said John, and they opened their eyes at the possibilities.
There was still quite an amount of barley which had not been ground, and the willing warriors helped the boys bring a lot to the mill and the production of the flour before their eyes was such an amazing thing that they could not even give vent to their expressions.
Early in the day one of the bullocks had been killed by