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

you while we are away."
"It might also be well," remarked Blakely, "to have the different chiefs
select the most competent men in the four tribes to whom instructions
might be given in the use of the guns, and I will drill them and show
how to handle them to the best advantage."
The four chiefs selected the men for the expedition from the respective
tribes, and the four boys who had been together for so long, begged that
they might be of the party also, and the Professor could not deny them
this privilege.
Early in the morning the entire force started on the march for the
Brabos' village, and before night arrived at the main one, where the
Professor and his party had the first close sight of the village 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,