The Wonder Island Boys: Conquest of the Savages Part 10

"Down near the large river the banks are full of these. Can we make any use of them?" asked Jim.

"Why that is a variety of Chica," he answered.

"What is Chica, anyhow?"

"The seeds are good for making burning oil. The inner bark furnishes a fiber which resists all moisture; and the nuts possess a substance which is well known all over the world as mucilage. It is recognized in commerce as gum tragacanth."

"I saw different kinds there. Are they all useful?"

"Some species contain nuts which are very fine, but are never eaten raw.

They must be roasted."

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Fig. 10. Chica The Gum Plant._]

"When Jim and I were down there this morning we saw at least a dozen different kinds of plants growing together in a s.p.a.ce not three feet square. We both wondered why each kept on growing in its own way, from the same kind of soil. Now, don't the plants get all they are made of from the same soil? And if that is so, why don't they grow to be the same things?"

"Of course, like the animal kingdom, the germ of each is different, but each takes the identical substances from the same soil, and converts them into entirely different products. One will make a gum; the other produces a kind of milk; others will turn out a hard substance, like the outer portion of the nut; some will make a vegetable good to eat; others will yield a poison, and yet all are from the same soil."

"That is what I mean. Even though the plants are different, why is it that one will extract one thing and another something else?"

"It is due to what is called irritability or sensitiveness in plants.

One plant is sensitive to the flow of certain juices, and is irritated, so that it is set into activity when different kinds of substances are carried along the pores or deposited in the cells. As a result, this irritation causes the plant to take only certain ones and reject others, and its tissues are thus built up only by such elements as its sensitiveness selects."

The training of the warriors with the new guns was a stirring sight for the boys, who could not help but be present during most of the time during the two days preceding the departure for the country of the Tuolos.

Ralph and Tom begged permission to accompany the party, and this was a natural request, because they had been rescued from this tribe the year before.

It thus happened that the party of warriors, equipped as they had never been before, left the village, with one of the wagons, which was loaded with provisions and ammunition, and the boys took charge of the team.

CHAPTER VII

THE EXPEDITION AGAINST THE TUOLOS

It was decided to go north until they reached the level country, which would afford easy travel, and then move to the west and cross the large river which separated the Brabos from the Tuolos, as it would be better to meet them on the extreme western side of the ridge which they occupied.

"Do you remember, Blakely, what kind of country is to be found directly west of their princ.i.p.al village?" asked John.

"I have been over that entire country," responded Blakely.

"When I recovered, the morning of the wreck, I went inland at once,"

remarked John, "and I never saw the sea again. When you related your story about seeing a certain tribe offering up victims you must have been on the western side of the village."

"Yes; I came up from the sea."

"Well, you see I came down there directly from the north, and I reached the village on the eastern side, and I saw the sacrifice of the captives at the same time you did, but on the opposite side of the village."

"That is very probable. On the western side the country is high, but not difficult to travel across."

[Ill.u.s.tration: "_The act was such a startling one that they threw themselves on the ground in terror_"

[See p. 95]]

"That is the exact point I am aiming at. I know that all the way down, from the place where I struck into the interior, it would be almost impa.s.sable for the wagon."

This settled the route to be taken, and they moved westwardly, after crossing the river, and before night the boys caught the first glimpse of the broad ocean.

In the morning they put out scouts, which went well in advance of the column, and Muro was in charge of them. His instinct as a trailer was inimitable.

Before evening of the second day the scouts announced the first signs of the Tuolos. The village could be reached within two hours' march, but John advised waiting for the following morning before approaching.

During the early evening, however, Muro returned on a hurried trip from the front. "They are having a great feast at the village, and it appears that they will make sacrifices to-night, or to-morrow, so that we should approach as close as possible, and if we find that is their intention, prevent it."

This news stirred all into activity. The column went forward with the utmost caution, although it was dark, and the wagon had to be guided along with great care.

The movement proceeded until nine o'clock, and during the night march Muro had arranged a constant line of communication with John, through his runners. A festival was in progress, and the two victims were plainly seen by John when he and Muro went through the gra.s.s and inspected the village.

The inaction of the whites had entirely disarmed the Tuolos. Indeed, as afterwards learned, they began to think that fear prevented an attack on their village, and no sentinels were posted to warn them of any approaching foe.

While waiting for the return of John and Muro, Ralph and Tom also wandered around the section surrounding the camp. They were in a valley, on both sides of which were ridges running north and south. The moon came out before ten o'clock, and they remembered some of the scenes about them. They had been brought from the south through this identical valley when they were captured by the Tuolos.

They were on the hillside, not five hundred feet from their camp, and were about to descend the hill, when Ralph started back, and grasped Tom's arm.

"What is that dark object directly ahead?"

The dark object was an opening into the hill, but as it was by the side of a projecting rock, it had the appearance of an object. They looked at each other for a moment in silence.

"I wonder if this is another cave, or the one John spoke about?" asked Tom.

"No, that is on the east side of the village. We are below the village.

Do you think we had better make an investigation?"

"Yes; but I wish John was here. Come on; we have plenty of help here if we need it."

The opening was approached as noiselessly as possible. It showed a typical cave entrance, through solid rock, or, rather, through what appeared to be a cleavage which had been spread apart. They had no light of any kind, but the discovery was one which interested them, because they knew of the treasure caves existing on the island, and two of them, at least, were within their knowledge, and contained immense h.o.a.rds.

"Can you strike a match, so we can get some idea of it?" asked Tom.

"I am going to try it at any rate." So saying, the match was lighted, and its beams penetrated the interior. In their eagerness the match was m.u.f.fled, and went out, but they caught sight of a huge white cross, far beyond, and it seemed to be moving.

"Did you notice that?" asked Tom excitedly.

"Do you mean the cross?"

"Yes."

"It seemed to move up and down."