The Wonder Island Boys: The Tribesmen
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Roger Finlay >> The Wonder Island Boys: The Tribesmen
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"I do not remember ever having been here before," answered John.
They had forgotten that John visited the place before he had recovered
his memory.
The log was evidence that some one above the falls used it as a raft,
and from its position could not have been there many months, and
probably was washed there at the time of the last severe rains about ten
weeks previously.
John removed the rope, and put it in the wagon, and the boys noted the
approving manner of the Professor as he did this.
They passed up around the falls, and camped for the night on the bank of
the river. In the morning the stream was followed for ten miles, and the
Professor stated that, owing to the rough character of the country
adjacent to the stream, it would be advisable to leave the valley and
pass to the right.
During one of the previous trips they were compelled to do this, but
that brought them to a dense forest, which was almost impenetrable in
many places, and they had to avoid this also.
Before evening this forest appeared in view, and a halt was called for
the purpose of reconnoitering the position, and to ascertain if it could
not be avoided. John and Ralph made a long trip to the north, and it was
found that it extended in that direction too far to make the long
detour.
"As the forest will be a very trying course to take, I suggest that we
turn directly south and either cross the river or investigate the
country on the other side in the direction of the mountains. We have
never gone there, and it is likely the country is not as rough, and what
little wood is in that neighborhood may not impede us much."
The suggestion was followed, and before night they again encamped on the
shore of South River.
"Before taking the team across let us make an investigation for several
miles, at least to see the traveling conditions, and if Ralph will
accompany me, it will be no difficulty to get back in time for a fairly
early start."
Ralph was only too willing to accompany John, and a raft was improvised
for the occasion, and they plunged into the rising ground beyond. As
they advanced it was apparent that the surface was much better than at
any part of the journey from the falls, and the return journey was made
as quickly as possible.
After crossing, the river was followed for a time, and then the rising
ground was considered more favorable, and good time was made during the
day. At the end of the second day the encampment was made for the night
by the side of a little stream which flowed from the mountains to the
left of their course.
During the previous nights Angel was quiet, but as darkness set in his
uneasiness gave George sufficient information to indicate some trouble,
and the boys attributed it to the presence of the wild animals, which
they knew abounded on the south side of the stream.
Two were delegated to watch during the night, and at recurring intervals
Angel manifested alarm. From midnight until the break of day he was
constantly awake, and showed his alarm, but when it was daylight a
hurried survey of the immediate locality betrayed no signs of an enemy.
Within a mile of their camp they came across a camp fire, around which
was strewn the bones which were left from the feast. The Professor and
John were up in an instant and carefully examined the litter surrounding
the fire, as well as the indications of footprints. The latter were
unmistakable at many places, and both announced that the savages had
been there, beyond question.
This meant the appointment of a scouting party for the advance of the
team, and John took this duty on himself, stipulating that the different
boys should alternately accompany him, and thus adapt themselves to the
serious work that scouting meant.
Harry was the first detailed to go with him, and at intervals he would
go back and signal the team to follow, so that they made fair time along
the immediate vicinity of the stream, and thus progressed with some
speed, in what now appeared to be the country where the savages lurked.
In the march John found numerous marks of the savages, and before noon
was halted at the remains of a fire still glowing, that the savages had
quitted not an hour before.
"How many do you think are in the party?"
"Not more than a half dozen."
"It seems to me we ought to stop a day, so they could get ahead of us,
or we might run into them."
"I am making every effort to catch up with them. We are out to meet the
savages, and the sooner we get a chance at them the better it will be."
Harry had not taken that view of it, and concluded John's plan was the
proper thing to follow out.
"I think myself it would be better to meet a half dozen than the whole
tribe." But that, even, was not John's purpose.
When they reached the wagon, after the glowing camp fire had been
discovered, John hurriedly gave his views: "The band is in our immediate
vicinity. If we hurry up we can catch up with them before night. I have
trailed them now for three hours. I will continue the pursuit as fast as
possible, and it would be well to follow me as fast as the yaks can be
driven through the brush. We must meet them and capture them before they
reach their main band, so that we can get such information as they may
have for our guidance."
John, Harry and Ralph now plunged forward, so that the two boys would
enable him to make a chain of information back to the wagon, and it was
understood that the moment they were sighted, the wagon was to be
hurried forward to the spot selected by John.
It was not anticipated that the band would be numerous enough to require
them to establish their traveling fort, and the sole object was to
capture one or more of the savages in the first engagement.
For some reason John did not report sighting them during the entire
afternoon, and they were again compelled to camp without getting a sight
of the enemy. On this occasion the fort was put up, but no attempt was
made to light a fire.
As soon as darkness set in, John motioned to Tom to follow him, and
together they quietly made their way to the southwest, in the direction
of the trail they had followed during the day.
Within an hour both returned, and announced that the camp had been
discovered to the front and right of their position, and George and Tom
went in that direction, after being cautioned by John to observe the
strictest care not to disturb them by approaching too close.
The Professor and John had a long conference as to the wisest course
under the circumstances. "I am of the opinion that we should never allow
them to leave that camp," was John's observation, "because we are in a
much better position to dictate to them during the hours of darkness, if
we surround them."
"My only doubts about that plan maybe summed up as follows: We can
easily defeat them in a hand-to-hand fight; but we do not want to
slaughter them. If we can make them captives we shall have a strong
lever to work with in treating with the main band. In the night time it
is always a hazardous enterprise, and we cannot afford to risk the lives
of the boys."
"Then," John responded, "let us wait until morning, and before the sun
is up we can surround their position, and when it is light enough to see
approach them from the six quarters and demand surrender."
"I like that suggestion better than the other. It looks like a safe
plan, and it will prevent needless bloodshed, without risking the lives
of any, unless they show a bitter fight."
When the two boys returned the decision to surround the camp before
daybreak was announced, and the night was a long, long period of anxiety
to them. They had no fear of the results, nor would either hesitate for
a moment to engage in it, because all had become seasoned with the
perils of the past year.
It was the unexpected, the exhilaration of knowing that they had the
strength to attack the savages, that made them restless and to long for
the morning hours.
The first appearance of the slightest gray in the east was the signal
for preparation.
John led the way. As they were starting, John said: "This is a most
important step, because if we succeed we may be able to dictate to at
least one tribe, and that tribe the most powerful and vindictive on the
island. When we approach within a certain distance the Professor, Harry
and Tom will remain at the spot selected, and you, Ralph and George must
follow me. In order that you may know the plans fully, I will state
that together we three will turn to the left and make a detour through
the woods around their position, and I will leave Ralph at one point in
the circle, and with George follow around to a point exactly opposite
this place, when he will go on around the camp toward your direction.
"When you think we have about reached the positions indicated, Harry
will take up his position to the left of the Professor, in the circle,
and Tom to the right, so that our respective positions will be in this
order: First, the Professor, then in order to the left, Harry, Ralph,
myself, George and Tom.
"Each has two guns, and I have also the pistol. The signal will be the
firing of the pistol. The moment you hear that all must rush forward in
the direction of the camp, and I will endeavor to reach the open so as
to attract them first and demand their surrender. After you have shown
yourselves, do not advance until I give the word, but have your guns
ready in case they attempt to make any resistance."
The party stole forward carefully, and the Professor with the two boys
waited a sufficient time to be sure they had selected the proper places
in the circle, when Ralph appeared, and held up his hand in token of
silence, and all he said was: "Back to the wagon as quickly as
possible."
The "Capture and Pursuit" will relate some of the most thrilling scenes
in the entire history of Wonder Island, following the adventure here
related.
GLOSSARY OF WORDS
USED IN TEXT
Archeological. Pertaining to the study of man, or of relics.
Attributed. To describe as belonging to; to refer, as an effect
to a cause.
Amalgam. The unity of any metal with mercury.
Accretion. To add to; an addition.
Antiquity. Ancient. In olden times.
Anticipation. The looking forward to the future.
Analysis. To separate; to find out the principal parts.
Aphasia. The term used to define the loss of memory.
Abruptly. To cut off short; at once; speedily.
Admonished. Warned; advised beforehand.
Alacrity. Quickly; without delay.
Animated. Lively, or quickened action.
Attribute. A quality; as a kind act.
Aspiration. A desire; a wish for another condition or state.
Benighted. Not advanced, or civilized.
Bolero. A Spanish dance illustrative of the passion of love.
Brandished. A motion of the arms or body; the menacing motion of
a weapon.
Caches. A hidden or concealed spot.
Castilian. Pertaining to the Spanish.
Calcareous. Lime formation.
Celerity. With speed.
Celestial. Pertaining to the heavens.
Cereal. Any edible grass, seed or grain.
Chaparral. A thick tangle of shrubbery or brush.
Cotillion. A square dance for four couples.
Cosack. A Russian dance.
Contracted. Made smaller; reduced, compass.
Conformation. In the same form; in the like manner.
Concerted. By agreement; all together.
Confirmation. A proven fact or thing.
Consternation. Awe inspiring; fearful.
Constellation. An arbitrary assemblage or group of stars, or a
portion of the heavens occupied by such group.
Complication. Mixed up; without an intelligent or designed
arrangement.
Coincidence. One thing happening with another.
Commodious. Ample in size. Very large.
Contend. To argue in favor of.
Corrosive sublimate. A deadly poison; sulphid of mercury.
Crouching. A low-bending attitude.
Cracovienna. A graceful Polish dance.
Crucial. The test; trying; decisive.
Derision. To make the object of mockery or ridicule.
Devolved. To throw the burden on. To assume the responsibility.
Decomposition. To change; to put into its original form.
Depletion. To take away from. To lessen.
Denuded. To uncover.
Disposition. To make the arrangements for.
Discerned. Discovered; noticed.
Discomfiture. Being beaten.
Discarded. Thrown away; to dispense with.
Diversion. To do something different; otherwise.
Disclose. To show; to inform concerning.
Disseminated. To spread broadcast.
Disdain. To look down upon.
Disjointed. Not in good condition; all awry.
Divined. Understood; having knowledge of.
Disquieting. Not at ease.
Domesticated. Tamed; not wild, or in a wild state.
Economic. Pertaining to the means or methods of living well.
Effective. Well organized. Strong.
Egotistic. Having a good opinion of one's self.
Exhilarating. Joyful; brightening; happy condition.
Elude. To evade; to circumvent.
Enigma. Concealed; difficult to comprehend.
Emaciated. Thin from want of food.
Emergency. The appointed time for a difficult matter.
Equinoctial. Referring to the time when the sun passes the
celestial equator.
Eventually. Finally; when a certain time has arrived.
Extricated. To rescue from.
Factions. Parties; tribes; clans.
Faculty. That quality or attribute of the mind or body, like
intelligence or strength.
Fandango. A Spanish dance in triple time.
Facility. Ease; without difficulty.
Fixed star. A heavenly body, supposedly like our sun, around
which certain planets revolve.
Flanking. Going around; at the sides.
Foundering. To sink, or to plunge downwardly.
Gangue. The dross matter in ore.
Gallopade. A brisk German dance in rapid measure.
Geologist. One who studies the structure of the earth.
Genial. A pleasant disposition.
Gravity. The attraction of mass for mass.
Guttural. A sound issuing forth from the lower part of the
throat.
Guardian. An individual appointed to care for the person of a
minor.
Harassment. To cause difficulties, troubles or worries.
Hemisphere. One half of a globe.
Heralded. To advertise; to notify; to inform.
Hornpipe. A very lively English country dance for one person.
Horizontal. A line at right angles to the center of the earth.
The surface of water is horizontal.
Hoodoos. Coined from the cry "hoo" of a child, and the Scotch
word "doo," meaning the cry of the dove. The general meaning
now being low characters.
Hypnotism. That quality which enables certain persons from
influencing others by some power of the mind.
Impervious. Of such a character that water will not go through.
Imbued. To instill in; to convince.
Impenetrable. So that it cannot be passed through or into.
Intricate. Not easily solved. Difficult to understand.
Installed. Set up; put into order. Built up.
Interpreted. Made plain. To decipher a foreign tongue.
Inevitable. Bound to come to pass; the natural course of events.
Incessant. Continually; without stopping.
Indescribable. Difficult to explain or set forth.
Inflamed. To become heated; usually applied to a wound in the
process of healing.
Intuition. The condition of the mind where conditions are easily
understood without explanations.
Inaction. Not active; not disposed to take part.
Integral. The principal element. A part of. Constituting a
completed whole.
Impetuosity. Being prompt; quick.
Iodide. A compound or salt in which iodine is used.
Jungle fever. A malarial or intermittent fever, well known in
Africa and India.
Jig. A light gay dance with a very lively music.
Lashed. Beaten with a whip.
Loathsome. Exciting extreme aversion or disgust.
Matured. Complete in the mind; a perfect plant, flower, fruit.
Magnitude. Largeness; immensity.
Mazurka. A lively round dance resembling the polka, intended for
four or eight couples, based on the Polish national dance.
Merge. To assimilate; to go into; to come together.
Mechanically. Done with precision; partaking of mechanism.
Metallurgical. Pertaining to the study of minerals.
Minuet. A stately dance in triple measure, dating from the 17th
century.
Mimicry. To imitate in a comical way.
Morose. Not a happy or bright disposition.
Monotonous. Without change; in one tone; a continual similarity.
Momentarily. For the instant; immediately.
Monsoon. A terrible wind that blows in the southern hemisphere at
regular intervals.
Negative. No; the opposite of yes; not decisive.
Nitrate. A salt of nitric acid.
Nonchalant. A state of mind indicating lack of interest.
Nonplussed. Confused or disconcerted.
Numerically. Considered from the standpoint of numbers.
Nutritious. Anything that has the quality of sustaining life, as
a food.
Obeisance. An act of courtesy.
Obliterate. To wipe out; to destroy.
Orgy. Wild or wanton revelry.
Ostentatiously. Open; to be readily seen.
Quadrille. A square dance for four couples, dating from the 18th
century.
Quarantine. A system of police and medical regulations,
established at frontiers and ports.
Pathetic. Arousing tender emotions.
Parallelogram. A figure longer than its width, with the two
opposite sides parallel with each other.
Petrified. Turned into stone, literally; seemingly rigid.
Ostentatiously. Having the appearance of doing certain things.
Perturbations. Disturbances. Worried.
Perchance. By the way; a chance happening.
Piracy. On the high seas an act of robbery, or unlawful taking of
goods.
Physics. The science of energy. That which treats of the
phenomena of all matter.
Posture. Position; condition.
Portentous. Important; making a show; greater than ordinary.
Propounded. An offer; a question.
Proficient. Ability; well equipped.
Precipitated. Thrown down; settlings; coming from above.
Primitive. The first; original way of doing a thing.
Prolific. Many; a great variety.
Providential. Very fortunate; a happening of great value or
importance at the right time.
Protestations. To assert earnestly.
Precipitous. Quick action; doing without waiting.
Predisposed. Having the desire beforehand; a set opinion.
Precautionary. Acting slowly and wisely; taking advantage of
something ahead of the time to act.
Psychological. Pertaining to the science of the human soul and
its operations.
Ramie. A fibrous plant, used in making fabrics of various kinds.
Rankling. A feeling of resentment.
Secluded. Hidden; carefully kept out of sight.
Shrouds. One of the stout ropes, often made of wire, that are
stretched from the mast-head of a vessel to the sides or to
the rims of a top, serving as a means of ascent and as
lateral stays for the mast.
Spasmodic. Not regular; in fits.
Sortie. A term applied to rushing tactics in battle.
Spectrum. The term applied to the scientific division of the
light rays projected from an object.
Stoically. A brave exhibition during pain, or when unfortunate;
bearing up bravely.
Strenuous. Vigorous; working diligently.
Stipulate. Making an arrangement; a contract, or parts of an
agreement.
Stupefied. Rendered dumb or speechless for a time.
Stanchion. A standard, post, or other upright.
Sulphate. A metal having sulphur as its principal element in
combination.
Superficially. On the surface; not well considered.
Tarantella. A lively Neapolitan dance in triplets for one couple.
Tension. Stretched; a mind under stress.
Tendon. The strong band or cord of connective tissue forming the
connections of the fleshy portions of the muscle.
Temporary. For the time being only; for a little while.
Terminated. Ended; the stopping of a certain thing.
Tenacity. Strong; fixed in purpose.
Theodolite. A portable instrument for measuring horizontal and
vertical lines. It comprises a telescope and a graduated
circle, showing degrees.
Toggle. A pin or short rod, properly attached in the middle as
to a chain or rope, and designed to hold something by being
passed through a hole or eye.
Traversed. Gone over; traveled over that area.
Transit. Passed; going by.
Trophy. Something captured; usually applied to spoils in war.
Tribute. A compliment; a reward.
Tributary. Something which applies as a smaller to a greater; as
a small stream which flows into a greater.
Veered. Changed in direction; going aside.
Vindictive. Bitter; hostile; with a desire for revenge.
Volatilized. Changed from a solid into a gas.
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