The Wonder Island Boys: Conquest of the Savages Part 11

"I thought so, too."

"I don't care about going any farther without we have some one with us and can have a decent light."

The boys hurried to the camp, and waited for John. When he came they hurriedly related the experience.

"That will do to investigate."

"We saw a cross in there, moving up and down."

"Have we any of the candles with us?" he asked.

"Possibly; I can soon tell."

Tom came back with the news that he had found a box of them.

"As the village is quieting down, we shall have plenty of time to make the examination to-night. We must wait until Muro returns, so as to get the latest news, and can then start out."

Muro returned shortly after, and together with the boys, went up the hill, and entered the mouth of the cavern. Three candles were lighted.

The great cross was before them, but it was such a different thing, now that they were face to face with it. The end of the chamber, which the light penetrated, had four openings to the chambers beyond, two above and two below. These openings were separated from each other, and the white walls between the openings appeared to form the white cross.

It was wonderfully realistic, this fanciful and fantastical carving of nature through the rocky structure.

"But I saw it move; that is sure," said Tom.

"Did you see that move, or was it the light of the match that moved?"

asked John. "Imagination plays many a trick, during the excitement of the moment."

John took the light, and by moving it up and down showed how the beams, shining past the glistening walls, would cause the illusion of the cross moving.

The cavern was found to be much broken up as they advanced, and reaching the second set of chambers, it was evident that some one had lately occupied it. Penetrating farther into the interior, they were surprised to see articles of savage clothing, and long reeds, that had been burned at the ends, together with utensils for cooking.

"We have entered one of the homes of the medicine men of the Tuolos. I have no doubt they are now at the village attending the festivals, and we had better leave as quickly as possible."

Before the entrance was reached they heard a great commotion outside, and their own people rushing to and fro, and as they were emerging three fantastically garbed natives met them. John ordered them to halt in the native tongue, and they stood there irresolute. The boys also leveled their guns at them, and they submitted as Muro and his men rushed up.

The appearance of John and the boys startled Muro beyond expression, as the latter said: "These are the medicine men of the tribe."

"I knew it," responded John. "We have just been investigating the place they live," and he pointed to the mouth of the cavern.

These were the men who performed the sacred rites of the Tuolos, and were called the Krishnos, as they learned from Muro.

"Take them to the camp," ordered John.

Without more ado, they were hustled down to the wagon. It seems that when the Krishnos returned from the village they found themselves in the immediate vicinity of the camp, and in the effort to escape aroused the sentries, who rushed upon them.

If they could have reached the cave, not one of the warriors would have dared to enter it, as their superst.i.tious fears would have prevented them, but outside the cave they had no such feelings. It was fortunate, therefore, that John and the boys were there to prevent them from entering.

As they were going down the hill, John exhibited a curious cross, He had found it in the cave, just before he advised the boys to go out. It was made of stone, and one of the limbs had a hole near its end, which indicated that it had been carried as a charm.

"Isn't that singular? Why should the natives have the Christian sign of the cross?"

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Fig. 11. Stone Cross found in Cave._]

"That is one of the earliest symbols that the world knows. Its use goes back beyond the earliest period of history. It was the favorite figure used by the astronomers and astrologers of the ancient Babylonians, fully four or five thousand years ago. The clay tablets and stone monuments of the Persians contained them; the Hitt.i.tes, in the earliest Jewish times, used them; and the ancient Egyptians decorated the High Priests officiating in the temples with figures of the cross."

"It seems to me that if it was used by peoples in different parts of the earth, there must have been some reason for it."

"One of the well-known forms found in the inscriptions shows the cross within a circle. This seems to be the meaning of the phrase in Isaiah which says the 'four ends of the earth.' In Bible times the earth was known to be round, so that the expression used in the Bible about the 'circle of the earth,' and the four ends, seem to point clearly to the cross within the circle, to indicate the four points of the compa.s.s."

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Fig. 12. Ancient Crosses._]

"So the Christians took an old form and made it their symbol?"

"Yes; the Roman cross, used at the crucifixion, had the lower stem longer than the other, and from this fact that form became the Cross of Christianity."

The uproar created by the pursuit attracted the attention of the warriors in the village, who ran to and fro, and soon learned the cause of the disturbance.

The camp was kept quiet, however, but the scouts watched the excitement created, and reported the results at frequent intervals. Muro knew they would not desert the village, as they would not be likely to leave it at the mercy of their enemies, at least without a fight.

John confronted the medicine men as soon as the wagon was reached.

"Why do your people make war, and refuse to treat with us?"

"Because you have no right to come and try to kill us."

"Why did you imprison our people, and offer up some of them as a sacrifice?"

"Because your people fought us."

"You lie; you took those who were defenseless, and had no weapons. You do not tell the truth."

"The Great Spirit told us to kill you."

"Why do you try to lie to me. I do not believe you. The Great Spirit never told you so. He would not speak to you."

"The white man does not know. He speaks to us."

"Where does he speak to you?"

"In the sacred cave."

"How does he tell you?"

"With wonderful signs."

"Tell me some of the wonderful signs."

"He makes a great light, and we read it in the light. He makes a great noise, and we know what he says."