The Wonder Island Boys | Page 7

be no assurance.
Meanwhile they had not for a moment forgotten to keep in sight the
warring factions, for now that they were much closer the character of
the meeting could not be misunderstood.
"Look at them," cried George; "the other tribe seems to be victorious.
They are coming this way." Such seemed to be the case. The retreating
forces were coming directly toward the wagon, and the situation now
began to take on a very grave aspect.
"What shall we do, Professor, if they come on to us?"
"We are here on a peaceful mission, and should fight only in

self-defense," was his reply. This did not exactly suit the spirit of the
boys, but they deferred to the wisdom of their friend.
It was plain that the tribe first seen was defeated and was being driven
back to the river, and the Professor advised them to prepare for any
emergency. The camp was not more than one hundred and fifty feet
from the edge of the river, and they had a plain, open view before them.
Beyond the river was a bare shore, the shrubbery did not grow near the
water, so that there was an open space of fully three hundred feet or
more on the other shore, thus giving them ample time to note and act,
whatever the circumstances might be. The Professor hoped that the
pursued might deviate from their path and bring them to the river below
their camp, but in this he was disappointed, as the first of the savages
made his appearance from the brush directly across the river, soon
followed by a dozen or more, all in precipitous retreat.
They now had the first close view of the savages. They were almost
wholly naked, and had more the appearance of the North American
Indians than of the South Sea Islanders, which their fancy had pictured
them to be. Each carried a short spear and a bow, and the Professor
called attention to the apparent lack of arrows, as the bows were strung
on their backs, and they carried the spears as though they depended on
them for protection.
"I think they have been beaten because they are out of ammunition. It
will not take them long, however, to make up a supply, and it is
possible that is what they purpose doing."
The victorious party now came in view. Without waiting the defeated
party dashed through the stream not two hundred feet below the wagon,
and before they had fairly landed, espied the wagon. The surprise at
seeing it was almost paralyzing to them for the instant. They sheered
off down the stream, gesticulating wildly.
The pursuers crossed the stream higher up, and, therefore, nearer the
wagon. "Watch the party which has just crossed, so we can see what
their course will be."

"They are circling around behind us."
As they did so the victors emerged from the stream and made direct
toward the location of the Professor and his party. Here was a situation
not counted on. The wise savages had calculated on this chance to
arrest the pursuers, and they showed wisdom in the move.
"Now, boys, we must stop them, but do not shoot to kill at the first shot.
Before anything is done I will try to stop them by peaceful methods."
The Professor, with a gun in his hand, suddenly stepped out from the
brush, and held up a hand. It may well be imagined that an apparition
was as startling to them as it had been to the others. They stopped for a
moment, and then with a whoop, fitted arrows to their bows, and darted
forward. The Professor stepped back, and calmly said: "Now, boys,
shoot low, and don't get excited."
At the word, and before the savages had gone twenty feet, the boys and
John leveled their pieces, and a volley rang out. Several were seen to
fall, but were only wounded, as they were at once taken in charge by
their companions. The moment the first round was fired, the Professor
ordered the relay guns to be grasped. But the savages, stunned by this
change of affairs, did not wait for the second shot, but rushed back to
the stream as fast as they could go, with the three wounded men.
But where were the other savages? Had they seen the result of the fight?
The Professor hoped that the result would be such as to win them over.
They lurked at a distance beyond the wagon, and as the Professor
advanced toward them and held up a hand, they continued to retreat. He
beckoned to them; but in spite of all efforts they refused to come near.
CHAPTER II
TWO SAVAGE ATTACKS
To all intents and purposes they had two foes, one in