The Wonder Island Boys: Conquest of the Savages Part 14

The boys took complete satisfaction in going over to the large hut, to again witness the place where they had spent two weeks in terror, expecting that each day would be their last.

But we must return to the Professor and the colony. Two days after the departure of John and his force, the second insulting message came from the Illyas, in which the statement was made that they and the Tuolos had united to drive the White Chief from the country and to destroy the tribes who were allied against them.

A messenger was sent after John, but this was not necessary, as the Tuolos were in their power before the messenger came.

The Professor had ordered the building of a number of small houses, each containing two or three rooms, and these were plainly fitted up for comfort. Some of the natives became quite expert at putting up these structures when once directed.

George and Jim were set to work, with a half dozen of the men, at building chairs and tables for the houses, and the work of weaving the cloth goods was not interrupted for a moment. As stated, the women began to drift in, and the Professor welcomed them. When they arrived, many of them with their children, the Professor a.s.signed them and their husbands to these cottages.

This was an intense delight to them. Each cottage had a small patch of ground surrounding it, and the first care was to advise them how to lay off and plant flowers about the place, to make the surroundings attractive.

It must not be thought that the houses were gifts. It was not the purpose to instill the idea that this work was one of charity. Instead each head of a family was made to understand that he must pay for the home, and this was done in as simple a manner as possible, so it would be appreciated and understood.

Individual effort was stimulated on the part of the different workers.

As fast as the members of a worker's family arrived, they were installed in houses, and then began a new system of providing for their keep.

Hitherto, they had boarded at the expense of the common fund; but now this was gradually changed, and they were informed that each family must provide its own food, and that those who did so would receive a larger number of coins.

This resulted in each one trying to find some new direction in which they could get the coins. It is curious how this new phase of living brought out traits common to humanity everywhere. Some more eager than others, and having less honesty than the common run of natives, sought to get their sustenance by resorting to trickery and thievery.

In their native state this was not considered a crime. It was commendable, unless detected. But by constant talk, on the part of the Professor, and by example, he instilled into the policemen, which he had installed, the principles of honesty. He awarded those who were vigilant, and the result was that they were most acute to detect the rogues.

The first thief was caught the day after John's party had gone. He was immediately brought before the Professor. The arrest of a thief was such a new proceeding that the workers could not be kept at work, and the Professor suggested that they should all be present at the trial.

The inquiry was conducted with decorum, Harry being appointed to prosecute him, and George to defend the prisoner. George did it vigorously, too, but it was a plain and palpable case, and he was found guilty. This proceeding was another entirely new manner of treating an offender, and the people marveled at the attempt to defend the thief.

The Professor saw the cause of the wonderment, and said: "We do not defend the wrong, but we believe that each man who is charged with a crime should be permitted to defend himself. If he does not know how to properly defend himself, then it is our duty to see that he is protected in all his rights, for he is not a criminal until it is proven."

"He has tried to explain why he took the goods, but you know what he has said was not true, and he must be punished for it. He must work two moons without getting any of the coins, and if he repeats the crime, he must work until he restores the value of the goods taken, so that each one will know that a thief cannot take things from another without paying for it."

The incident for a long time deterred anyone from repeating the offense.

It was an object lesson, because it instilled a respect for a law which was fair to all.

Suros, the chief of the Berees, was the most impressed by the scene, and could not express himself too forcibly at the wonderful effect which the principle would have on the tribes in their dealings with each other. He was really an intelligent native, far ahead of the others in his comprehension of the duties of one to the other.

The fact that he was regarded with reverence by all but the Kurabus, and was even respected by them, was a strong factor in determining the Professor to set in motion a form of government which it was hoped would forever terminate all bitterness of feeling between the tribes, and which will be detailed hereafter.

During the day on which the Tuolos submitted, the two chiefs, together with John, Blakely and Muro, were frequently in consultation.

"The Great White Chief, who rules all of us, wishes to see you, and you must bring fifty of your warriors with you to his village," said John.

"He will show you how you can be made strong, and your people happy. He will tell you what our purpose is, and what the Great Spirit asks you to do. We will start in the morning."

The chief, to the surprise of all, did not demur at this. That night John called in Blakely, Muro, Ralph and Tom.

"I want you to go with me to the cave on the hill to the east. There are some things which belong to us. We shall take them, since they are of no use to the people here, and we may be able to put some of the things in such a condition that they will be of value to the people on the island."

The wagon was taken along, and the people wondered at the strange proceedings. Many of them followed, but Muro warned them to remain behind. It was evident to all, however, that they were going to the Krishno cave, and its purport was a mystery to them.

John's sense of direction did not deceive him. He soon found the entrance on the village side, and, lighting the candles, immediately entered the cavern. John led the way, as his experience in its hollows enabled him to point out the direction to be taken.

The interior, lighted up by the candles, was most weird and beautiful.

The stalact.i.te hangings were not ma.s.sive, but showed the most delicate tracings, in the first chamber reached. This was the western wing of the great interior cross which John had previously described.

CHAPTER IX

PLANS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE NATIVES

Directly beyond this chamber, and on a line with the entrance pa.s.sage, was an extension which led to the other side of the hill. The chamber formed an immense cross, in its plan section, and the two lateral extremities were the points of interest.

The party first went to the left, and there found the habitation of the Krishnos. Peculiar implements and instruments were discovered, and all of these were taken, and placed together, Muro and the boys looking on in wonder.

Among them were found a number of crude crosses and numerous charms or amulets, the kind that they vended, and which the natives gave their souls and bodies to acquire.

"The possession of these will be of great service to us, as the people reverence them, and we must not expect to change their beliefs in a fortnight."

"You said there was a lot of treasure here," remarked Ralph.

"That is in the other wing of the chamber. As we have everything from this place that is serviceable, we will go to the south wing."

The recessed part of the chamber at this place had the appearance of being carved from the rock, and decorated with the universal calcium.

The floor was covered with stalagmites, rough and uneven, showing that the place had not been trod, perhaps for centuries.

"What are those curious things?" asked Tom, gazing at the square-shaped objects, which were arranged in one corner.

"By opening them we shall see."

"Here is one, partly opened," exclaimed Ralph in great excitement.

"Yes; that is the one I tried to get into," answered John.

"Notwithstanding it was a hazardous thing to do at the time, I took the risk. The Krishnos were at that very time at the other wing which we just left."

The receptacle was brought out and examined. The wealth of gold and silver was amazing. Blakely could hardly believe the testimony of his eyes.

"Your ship, the _Adventurer_, is floating around in pieces on the Pacific, but I imagine there is enough here to compensate you for the loss of the vessel," remarked John, as he noticed Blakely's wondering look.

"How can we ever get all this stuff on the wagon?" asked Tom. "The boxes are all falling to pieces."

"The Krishnos have plenty of copper vessels, as well as others, which they have gathered up from the wrecks on the coast. You know the best of everything goes to them, and the chiefs are not strong enough really to prevent them on account of the superst.i.tious fears they inculcate."

True enough, the eastern wing had a h.o.a.rd of vessels, some of them of the greatest value, which were arranged about the chests of treasure, and the work of filling the receptacles was industriously undertaken.

This occupied them for fully three hours, and the greater task of carrying them to the wagon was begun.

When they emerged from the cave at four in the morning they were tired beyond all description, but they had a ma.s.s of treasure, that did not pale in comparison with the amount taken out of the caverns near the Cataract.

In the morning the Tuolos were selected, and the chief invited to enter the wagon. John went to the large hut, and released the Krishnos. They were unbound, and directed to follow the marching column, surprised at being free from the captive bonds. They could not understand such treatment, and this was heightened when John ordered the aged Krishno, who walked with difficulty, to take a place in the wagon.