The Wonder Island Boys | Page 8

front and the other
in the rear. They possessed a fine position, however, due to the
Professor's foresight. The river was close enough to get the needed

water for themselves and their yaks, and the thick clump of bushes, on
the river side of the wagon, afforded protection for the animals, while
the wagon itself served as an admirable fort.
They could not believe that the band which had been driven across, and
which was now at their rear, would attack them, and it seemed that the
present danger of a night attack might be expected from the pursuing
party. Indeed, the actions of that tribe, after the attack, led the Professor
to believe that they must expect a fight during the night.
The wagon was now brought up close alongside the clump, and with
their bolos a considerable space of the densest part of the brush was cut
away, so as to form a retreat for the yaks, and thus assure them from
harm by any attacks with arrows or spears. Before dark, Harry and John
went to the river several times to bring water for the cattle and for their
own uses, and with the extra boards which the Professor had wisely
brought along, the principal portion of the space below the wagon body
was closed up.
When all had been arranged for defense all felt satisfied they could
withstand a hundred savages armed with spears and arrows. One thing
had to be considered, and that was, whether or not those people
poisoned their arrows, as many races in southern islands do.
As a further precautionary measure, all protecting bushes within two
hundred feet of the wagon were cleared away, so as to afford an open
view in all directions.
Darkness set in, and the eternal stillness all about was oppressive. Two
watched while the other two slept. John appeared in his element. At the
least sign of disturbance in any quarter, his hand was up, and to further
attract attention his hand would be laid upon the arm of his fellow
watcher.
Thus passed away the first half of the night, and then for the first time
Angel began to grow restless. George, who was asleep at this time, was
awakened, as he interpreted Angel's actions with greater facility than
the others.

"I am sure from his actions that something is coming near us. See, he is
motioning toward the forest side and not toward the river." It did seem
as though his perturbations came whenever George pointed toward the
woods.
To the watchers, there was no sound to alarm them, for fully a half hour,
when John slowly moved his hand over to George, as he peered out to
the north, and as he laid his hand on his arm, arose and silently moved
out to the end of the wagon, and slipped to the ground. George tried to
restrain him, and immediately woke the Professor, to whom he related
the circumstance.
There was, indeed, a movement in their front, at the margin of the
clearing. Forms appeared here and there, but the utmost quiet was
observed. Suddenly the report of a gun rang out, and with a shriek, a
form was seen to bound upwardly and fall, just as a shower of arrows
fell against the wagon.
The shot came from John's gun, and he had fired from a position fully
fifty feet away from the wagon, and this is what disconcerted them.
They were expecting the defense to come from the wagon, and here
was a shot, away from it, and it undoubtedly appeared to them that
there must be a number of them defending it, to enable them to put
watchers so far from the wagon.
"That was a shrewd action on the part of John, although it was a
hazardous one, in case they had determined to rush us. But the die is
cast, and we must now fight it out."
John came back to the wagon, and took up the other gun mechanically.
The Professor patted him on the back, as he again stole out. This time
he boldly marched toward the fringe of the clearing, and the Professor
urged Harry to run after and detain him, but he did not heed.
He remained there a full hour before any sign was made by him, but at
the end of that time he came back, and by signs indicated that the
savages were back again.

"Which band do you think has attacked us?"
"It looks to me as though the fellows who were pursued are the ones;
what is that John has brought back?"
He held something in his hand. It was an arrow and a cap, the latter of
which had blood on it. This was determined when a light was struck in