"Do you think I have been to a health cure?" he asked.
"Certainly; the best kind, for one in your condition." And John laughed.
"Probably you took me away before the cure was effected; but as I always was magnanimous, I shall forgive you this time."
There was a continuous fire of conversation, which cheered the patients, and added greatly to their store of knowledge.
Harry, who had been outside, rushed in, and exclaimed excitedly:
"Did you haveInvestigator'sLifeboat No. 3?"
"Yes," exclaimed the boys.
"Who wrote the note we found in it?"
"Did you find our boat? Where did you get it?" asked Robert.
"We found it on a river to the north of this place."
"How in the world did it ever get there?"
"But who wrote the note?"
"What note?"
"The message signed Will."
The boys looked at each other, as they all shook their heads.
"That is one of the mysteries which George and I thought you could solve."
"Mysteries! Did you have many of them?"
"Many of them! We had over a dozen, and some of them are still on the puzzle board. Do you remember Raggy, the drawing teacher? Hep. 208always liked to call some of our drawings the unsolved puzzles. I wonder where he is? We had enough mysteries the first three months to supply headaches for a year."
"We want to know about them."
"We'll tell you all about them; and some were mighty thrilling. We had some just as exciting as any you ever read of in the last boys' series that we had about two years ago."
"You see," said George, in a sage-like tone, "Harry and I don't read books of that kind any more; we simply act them." And the boys, and men, too, laughed at this sally.
"Stop your talking for a while and eat something," continued George.
"Good, but it's awful hot," said Min, as he puckered up his mouth and drew in a breath of cool air.
"I made it hot so you wouldn't eat too fast," chuckled George.
Just then a great commotion was heard on the outside, and George, Harry and Robert rushed for the door. Beyond the village a scrimmage was taking place, and a few shots were fired.
John and Uraso were racing across the open place, and dozens of warriors were following. Muro was seen as he emerged from the combatants, and he was smiling as John came up.
"The reinforcements from the south village came too late. I suspected they would be here, and I had a number of the men in wait for them. They have captured all of them."
John nodded his head with approval at thep. 209course of Muro. The warriors brought in the prisoners, who were astounded at the unexpected welcome which awaited them. Forty-five were in the party. They were put under guard with the others.
The utmost care was observed during the night, as the Illyas were known to be very foxy, and half the force was detailed to keep guard.
Early in the morning John's first care was to make an investigation as to the character of the provisions on hand, and to arrange that foraging parties should be sent out to bring in vegetables.
He was surprised to learn that the Illyas cultivated many kinds of garden products, and fruit was growing in abundance. This was found to be a prudent thing to consider, when it will be remembered that the village now had to feed over three hundred of the allies, and that the penned-up Illyas were not in a position to go out and bring in the daily supply.
The boys were fed at intervals during the night, but before four they all felt so much restored that sleep overtook them, and John advised them to permit sleep, as that would be the best restorer, and they were not disturbed until they naturally awoke during the forenoon.
A plentiful supply of broth was prepared, and administered during the day. But Harry and George were simply wild to explore the buildings. The excitement had been too intense to enable them to give it much thought. But now something must be known about the buildings and the reason for their erection at that place.
p. 210
John had questioned various ones about the buildings, but none seemed to know anything concerning them. Uraso and Muro were just as much surprised as the whites. Neither had known of the existence of a place with such buildings.
It appears that the Illyas never allowed captives to be confined in the village, and this was a wise thing; because the escape of anyone would be sure to inform the other tribes of the existence of the Forbidden City.
The remarkable thing about it, aside from the buildings, was the plan upon which the town had been built. It was regularly laid out. There were three main buildings; the first and largest being the one facing the west, with the Doric front. The next largest had its front facing the south, and this had Ionic columns. The third, and which was not noticeable from a position west of the village, was smaller than either, with a front of Tuscan architecture.
What did these buildings mean? By whom were they erected, and for what purpose were they intended? These were questions ever uppermost in the minds of John and the boys.
p. 211
"It may be there are some sort of records or tablets somewhere about the buildings which will indicate what they were erected for; but my investigations thus far leave me just as much in the dark as when I first saw them," remarked John, as they were examining the structures.
"I wonder if they have corner stones? Sometimes they put records there," observed Harry.
"I made an examination in that direction also, but the character of the underpinning is the same all around, and the corners have no distinguishing stones."
"It must be a very old custom to have cornerstones for buildings."
"It was a custom to have cornerstones, or memorial stones, in all buildings in ancient times. They were well known in the time of Job, and buildings thousands of years prior to his day contained them. It is not known from what the custom arose."
"Didn't you say that the treasure charts showed the existence of caves to the southeast of the cave we found at the Tuolos' village?"
"Yes, and that is something that we shall have to investigate to-morrow. To-day the patients still need our care, but they will be well enough to enable us to be absent to-morrow."
p. 212
"I think we ought to make sketches of the plan of this town. I have a presentiment that we shall know something more about this place in the future," said George.
Fig. 20. The Peculiar Illya Village.Fig. 20.ThePeculiarIllyaVillage.
"By all means have it prepared during the day. Later on I may be able to give a pretty good guess what all this means." And the boys looked at each other significantly.
If the chiefs, or any of the lower order, knew anything about the origin of the town, they did not make it apparent.
"Do you notice one singular thing about this town and the people in it?" asked John.
Neither of the boys could guess.
p. 213
"Where are the medicine men, and those who perform the sacred rites at their festivals?"
The boys again looked at each other for an answer. George replied: "I think they are at the caves of which the charts give some indication," finally exclaimed Harry.
"That is the case, undoubtedly. That is where we shall have the difficulty. The chiefs will not disclose their hiding places. Before going on the search we must question the chief."
In the early morning John and the boys called on the chief in company with Uraso. A complete change had come over him. Two days before he was sullen and moody, after the first lesson had been given him. Now he was different and agreeable.
"Before we start for the village of the Great White Chief there are some questions I would ask you. How many medicine men have you?"
"Ten."
"Where are they?"
"In their dark homes."
"Where are those homes?"
"To the east. Sama will take you to them, but you cannot go in."
"Why not?"
"Because you will be destroyed."
"How do you know?"
"Because they have told us so."
"Do you believe them?"
"Yes."
"Do you sacrifice your captives because they tell you the Great Spirit demands it?"
"Yes."
p. 214
"Then I must tell you that they lie to you. The Great Spirit does not tell them to sacrifice. It is not death to enter their homes."
"But we know that no one has ever come from them alive."
"Does the Great Spirit kill them when they go in?"
"Yes."
"Do you want to know whether they tell the truth?"
"Yes."
"Then I will go in, and show you that the Great Spirit will not harm me."
"How shall I know that you go in?"
"You must go with me and stand at the opening."
The chief's eyes now wandered about. He was visibly affected at this bold declaration, and John saw hesitation in his demeanor.
Without giving him time to waver, he continued: "The great Chief Oroto must not show his people that he is afraid. He must show them that he is greater and wiser than the medicine men, and that the wise men who have told him those tales have not told the truth."
Turning to Uraso he said: "Prepare the wagon, and we will start at once." The chief and two of the sub-chiefs were taken out and placed in the wagon. Harry, George, Uraso and Muro, with a picked company of twenty-five men, were selected to accompany them.
The wagon was a curiosity to Oroto. He enjoyed the ride immensely and admired the manner in which Harry handled and guided the yaks.
Their course was directed due east for a mile,p. 215and then moved along a well-beaten path diagonally up the hill in a southern direction. After proceeding thus for a half mile farther the ground, became rough and cut up by innumerable gullies.
"How much farther must we go?"
"To the place where the great trees are." And he pointed to a group of trees less than five hundred feet beyond. Progress with the team was impossible, and all alighted. Leaving three of the warriors with the team, the others ascended the slight elevation, and before them was the mouth of the cavern.
The opening was not more than eight feet in height, and not over six feet wide, with irregular sides. Arriving in front of it, John advanced to Oroto, and said: "I am about to show you that the Great Spirit will not injure me!" And saying so boldly marched in.
He remained for a full half hour, and the chief became uneasy. The boys, as well as Uraso and Muro, affected not to be disturbed. What John did was this: It was evident to him that the occupants of the cave had no knowledge of the approach of the party.
They knew that the White Chief and the allies had captured the village and the chiefs. They felt a certain sense of security in their home, because in all the tribal warfares the medicine men and the wise men of the tribes were regarded with fear and reverence.
When John entered the cave, he went in a sufficient distance to be surrounded by total darkness. He remained concealed long enough so that he could become accustomed to the darkness, andp. 216slowly moved toward the interior, as he felt assured the occupants' presence would sooner or later be revealed by their lights.
In this he was not mistaken, and he was surprised to find them much nearer the entrance than he anticipated. It would be more impressive to remain for some time than to emerge at once, so he sat down to observe the wise men.
There was the most oppressive silence when he first observed the light, but as he neared them, a more or less animated conversation took place. Much of this was understood by John, as his knowledge of two of the dialects gave him some key to the words uttered. From this it was evident that they knew of the rescue of the captives.
The chief had told them of ten belonging to the order. John could count only eight. Possibly two were in some other part of the cavern, and he moved along at the opposite side of the large chamber to discover what was beyond.
Brushing along the wall, a hanging stalactite was dislodged, and it fell. The noise did not give even a momentary start to the company. John was surprised. He stopped and reflected, and the reason soon became plain. They supposed that it was caused by the absent ones returning.
But John waited and the two did not return, and they began to glance about. At this time he was on the opposite side of the chamber, so that the medicine men were between him and the mouth of the cave.
A half dozen of them had arisen, and John stepped forward with his gun in position. In a stentorian voice John shouted:
p. 217
"I am the Great White Chief. Go to the door of the cave. If any refuse he will die. Go!"
It might be stated that before leaving for the cave Uraso had fully instructed John how to use the above phrases. His sudden apparition on the side opposite the mouth of the cave was most startling to them. Not a word was uttered by either.
"Go!" again shouted John. They seemed to be paralyzed. By a common impulse they moved toward the entrance, and as they marched out and saw the party there waiting to receive them, together with their own chief, the consternation was most marked on the faces of all.
Addressing the chief, John said: "Here are your wise men. The Great Spirit is not there. They have lied to you."
It was now apparent from the actions of the chief why he was considered such a power and a terror to his own people and to the tribes. He was every inch a chief. He strode forward, and would have crushed them with his own hands, but John interposed.
"We shall take care of them. They will never again lie to the great chief Oroto." And so saying they were ordered bound, and Uraso instructed to take them to the village and carefully guard them.
"You may take the wagon with you, Uraso, as the boys and I want to attend to some matters on our own account, and we shall soon follow you."
When the cavalcade passed from their sight, John said: "I suppose we shall now have an opportunity to examine the place. Have you any candles?"
p. 218
Harry had not forgotten them, and the boys smiled as John also drew forth several, and thus they entered the cave. John marched direct to the place where the wise men had their quarters, and their lamps were still burning.
"By the way, we came in too soon. Two of them are outside, or are somewhere in the cave. We want them as well as the others. If they find us here, they will be likely to get away. But we are here now, and we must find out what we can, and as quickly as possible." The lights at the habitable part of the cave were left burning and the three plunged into the passageway which led to the east.
"This is the cave noted in the chart. How fortunate it is. You will note that this, like the other cave, has also a cross-shaped formation, and the treasure should be at the south branch."
"Here it is," whispered George.
"What, the treasure?" was Harry's eager question.
"No; the south branch."
"You are undoubtedly right. There is no other opening."
This branch was followed less than a hundred feet, when a solid white wall appeared in front, and it was readily seen that the channel terminated in the chamber.
The floor of this chamber was one mass of uneven projections, entirely unlike the other parts of the cave, and what was more singular still, it was fully six feet higher than the floors of the other portions, but it was absolutely devoid ofp. 219any treasure, or anything which could contain such a hoard as the chart seemed to indicate.
"It is just as well," said John, resignedly. "I suppose we have enough for our purposes."
While crawling down the rough portion which formed the elevated floor of the chamber Harry slipped, and broke off a portion of the stalagmite overlaying the side. It was dark beneath.
Fig. 21. Diagram of the Cross-shaped Cave.Fig. 21.DiagramoftheCross-shapedCave.
"This is not calcareous matter," exclaimed John.
"What is it?" asked both in a breath.
The lights were concentrated on a sample, and as John raised his head he looked at the boys, and slowly uttered one word:
"Copper!"
The boys did not at first grasp the true significance of the word. It was marvelous to them that copper should be found there, but John thought of something else. It offered a possible explanation to the origin of the buildings. Where werep. 220the mines? Were they in the cave itself? This was not copper ore. It was a partly refined product.
It was evident to John, and further verified that the entire chamber, which was fully sixty feet long and fifty feet wide, was covered with a layer of this copper for a height of six feet. A calculation of the value could be readily made.
John and the boys made their way out and past the fires that were still burning, and which would be relighted no more. The two absent ones were not found. They had not returned. The reason was explained when the village was reached. They were captured by Uraso before they had left the cave a thousand feet.
During the day and the succeeding night the patients improved each hour. Both of the invalid boys were able to sit up. Rogers wanted a full meal, but still none were allowed to indulge. John announced that a start for home would be made in the morning.
There was intense bustle in the village the next morning. The chief was informed that he and two of his sub-chiefs would be required to accompany them, together with one hundred of his warriors. The ten wise (?) men were also to be of the party.
There was mingled feeling of emotion in the minds of the people when they saw their great chief for the first time in the knowledge of the people humbled and taken captive by a foreign tribe.
It was well to leave them with that impression. They would soon learn otherwise, and for the firstp. 221time begin to appreciate that the white man's way is superior to their own.
The boys and Gustave were in the wagon with the Chief Oroto. The others were on foot. Occasionally John would take a place and delight in the chatter of the boys, and sometimes would listen to remarks about Oroto, that would not have been pleasant for his ears.
John didn't blame them a bit for it either. The pale, drawn faces of the two boys made them pitiable objects, and when he saw them he felt like cursing the chief who would permit such cruelties to innocent boys. But he remembered that the chief knew no better. He lived according to the best that was given him. Why was he to be blamed?
There was hardly a subject but was canvassed by the boys. The chief soon became interested, and he frequently asked Lolo questions. Before the journey ended the boys changed their opinions about Oroto. Perhaps the vivacity of the boys attracted him.
But later on, through Lolo, he began to learn things which astounded him. Muro had told his son Lolo that Harry was the one who made the wonderful guns, and this was communicated to the chief. Harry was a hero to him from that time on. Lolo told the chief about the wonderful things which they were making at the new town, and long before they sighted the place he was interested just like a common mortal.
But the Saboro village was in sight. "Moro," asked John, "how long will it take to get your family ready?"
p. 222
"We shall go on with you this afternoon."
They were ready and waiting when the train came in sight. Lolo was out of the wagon and sprang to his mother, just like any other boy would do, and he told her in two minutes what had happened in fifteen days. An American boy could not have done better than that.
Was Stut's family going, too? Certainly! The boys laughed merrily. One wagon was given over to the families, containing seven women and fourteen children. But the wagons were lightened of their heavy loads of provisions and easily accommodated to emigrants.
This was a happy party. The natives never knew of such an outing. It was quite a cavalcade. Just imagine four hundred warriors, the two wagons, the women and the children, the men chanting a peculiar song as they marched, occasionally interspersed with laughter, and a constant flow of talk about the new and wonderful place they were going to, of the great white chiefs, and above all the real and unaffected pleasure that grew out of the knowledge that there would be no more war.
On the second day after leaving the Saboro village, Unity came in sight. George crawled to the top of the wagon, and, raising his hat and waving it, began to cheer. Every warrior did likewise when he saw the signal. It was a bedlam for a few moments. The Illyas chief saw it and smiled.
Unity heard the cheers. There was no more work that day. The men in the fields came in. Those in the workshops deserted their posts, andp. 223lined up along the newly made sidewalks that had been carefully arranged several days before.
The women were out in force, and the children in evidence everywhere. The two wagons were in advance, Harry being in the lead. Not a man left the town to rush out and greet them. The Professor suggested that a more fitting welcome could be given by forming lines to receive the warriors as they filed by.
The wagon was now within five hundred feet of the end of the receiving line of the villagers. Angel, the orang-outan, was in the line also. The sight of the wagons was too much for him. He scampered along the street in that peculiar shuffling gait that all the villagers knew, and started for the wagon.
He was the only one in the town who disobeyed the orders of the Professor. He knew that George was in the wagon. He passed the first one, driven by Harry, but he was up in the top of the second in an instant, and he made his way to George's side, and looked up in his face. George put his arm around him, as he was accustomed to do, and this was sufficient for him.
The children screamed in delight, but Angel didn't mind, because he saw that George didn't. When George put his arm around Lolo's little baby sister, Angel looked at George, reproachfully, at first, but when George laughed Angel emitted his well-known chuckle, which always indicated delight, and he knew that all jealousy had vanished.
p. 224
Great was the surprise of Oroto to find that Marmo, chief of the Tuolos, and Tastoa, chief of the Kurabus, were in the town. Greater still was the marvel to know that they were entirely free to go and come, and when Uraso announced to him that there were no restrictions on his liberty, he wondered why he had been brought from his village.
This proceeding was most unusual. During the preceding day, when they marched into the town, he had been kept in one of the buildings under guard, and had not seen the Professor, as the latter first desired to confer with John, and learn all about the facts about the chief and his actions.
Oroto was most anxious to see the Great White Chief, and when Uraso announced to him that he was prepared to receive him, he was eager to go. John thought it would be much better for them to meet alone, because it was desired to avoid all cause for jealousy among the different chiefs, and it would, probably, be disagreeable to have them present. All must be present, or none.
Uraso conducted him to the door of the Professor's apartment, and left him. As he entered, the Professor came forward, and grasped his hand, and put his arm around him, and in that manner conducted him to a seat.
The chief looked at him, and saw the strong,p. 225handsome face and the white beard and hair. He appeared to be awed by the sight, as he was affected by the kind reception. He was far from assuming the defiant attitude with which he met John.
"I welcome you," said the Professor. "I know we can be friends."
The chief was overcome by the greeting words. It was plain that he had prepared for an entirely different kind of meeting. He did not answer, but sat there with eyes riveted on the Professor, and the latter continued:
"I hope my warriors have treated you right, and that they have not injured any of your people."
When Oroto had recovered from his surprise he responded:
"Why do you call me your friend?"
The Professor smiled, and he answered: "Are you my enemy?"
This was a question which was unexpected. What manner of man was this? The Professor saw the struggle in the chief's mind, as he tried to frame a reply.
"I was your enemy; but I do not see why I should be. I was told that you were a terrible chief."
"Who told you so?"
"The wise men."
"Do you believe them?"
"No; I shall kill them, because they have lied to me and my people."
"Why do you wish to kill them? Will that do you or your people any good?"
p. 226
"Then what can I do with people who deceive us?"
"Teach them to understand and know that it is better to tell the truth than to lie. When you do that you are also teaching the people what is right. If you kill them you are teaching people revenge, and revenge will not help them."
"You are telling me something new and strange. My people would not understand that. They would think I feared to punish."
"The white man does not think so. He believes that each man is entitled to his life. If he does wrong, he may be deprived of his liberty, and made to labor for others, and pleasures kept from him, but that his life should not be taken from him, unless he has committed the greatest crime against the people."
"What is the greatest crime?"
"The killing of another."
"I am in your power. What do you want me to do? What will you do with me? I did not know you taught such things."
"You are in my village; but you are free to go where you will. My chief did not bring you here to humiliate you, or to punish you. I told him to bring you here so you might know how the white men live, and how they try to make the people happy. You can see these things for yourself. Then you can understand."
"I am told that you have people here from all the tribes, and that they live together in peace and in contentment."
"Yes; and why not? Because one man was born and lives in one place, is that any reason why hep. 227should be the enemy of one who lives somewhere else?"
"But how can we prevent them from fighting each other?"
"Let all the chiefs agree to do what is right to each other, and to their people; and treat each man the same, whether he belongs to your tribe or to some other. Do not seek revenge, but justice."
"I shall forever be the White Chief's friend."
"But you must be not only my friend, but the friend of all the chiefs. They have agreed to live together in peace. We will find work for all your people to do, so they can become happy and strong, and I want you to go with me to see the things we are doing to help the people. Before we do so you must talk to the chiefs who have been here and who know what we are trying to bring about."
Oroto sought out Marmo at once. He was the nearest in kin to the Illyas, and the Professor noted this action on his part with the greatest satisfaction. Soon Tastoa, of the Kurabus, was brought in, and no restraint was placed on any of these conferences.
When all the whites met that night you may be sure that there was a jollification that knew no bounds. What a wonderful thing had been accomplished. All grasped the Professor's hand, and many tears were shed in the joy of the meeting. Six boys and three men had been rescued from the jaws of death by the Professor and the two boys.
In less than two years they had transformed an island of savage races into some semblance of orp. 228derly life, and inspired the people with a new impulse. It was the first time the chiefs of the island had ever met together. Within a week all were on friendly terms with each other.
At the conference that evening the Professor remarked: "We have now put in nearly two years of hard work, and accomplished the most wonderful results. The boys want to go home, and it is right that they should. Owing to the peculiar conditions existing here, we have not been in a position where we could take any organized steps to go home. As long as any of our friends were in captivity it was our duty to remain."
"The situation is different now. We have really started a little empire here. This is the 'Empire' that Harry spoke about when we landed here. He little knew how prophetic that was. We now have the men, the material, the energy, and the ingenuity to make anything that is made anywhere in the world."
"We must build a ship—"
But the Professor could go no further. The boys were wild with excitement at the news, as they gathered about him.
"But I am coming back again," cried one after the other.
"But I am not going away," added the Professor, "because I am afraid I should never be able to come back again."
There was a tone of sadness as he said this, and it touched all the boys. It was hard to tell whether this was an occasion for joy or sorrow.
All knew what the Professor and John andp. 229Blakely felt, and that it would become their great field for future work.
Here was also a field for the energies of the boys, whose abilities could be directed into useful channels. Commercially the island was of immense value, if properly used. So long as John and the Professor were there no wrong speculative efforts would dare to be attempted by unscrupulous adventurers.
John, together with Harry, Tom and Jim, who were the engineering force of the island, soon began the work of preparing the material for the ship which would place them in communication with the great world.
The three new boys were initiated into the crafthood which was ever widening and gaining new recruits. The natives showed remarkable aptitude for the various branches of work. But the Professor and Blakely had other ideas than to train too many of them to labor in the mechanical lines.
Here was a land, rich in soil, capable of growing any crop, or adapted to give up its bounty in the form of many valuable kinds of produce. Rubber, coffee, spices, cocoanuts, the finest fibers, in variety, and all of them now growing wild.
This land must be occupied and tilled by a people adapted to the soil and climate. The principles of agriculture must be instilled. What a wonderful work to contemplate!
The schoolhouse was ready, but there were no books. Robert had taken the preliminary lessons as an artist, and was very handy with the brush and pencil. Entirely on his own initiative, hep. 230prepared a set of letters, containing the caps of the alphabet, and these were cut out by him, and the work so delighted the Professor that he instructed the boys how to cast the whole series at one time, so that a good stock of type was finally turned out.
The party plunged into the forest, taking the direction which Tom and Ralph had gone on the former trip"The party plunged into the forest, taking the direction which Tom and Ralph had gone on the former trip"[See p. 235]
[See p. 235]
"I have an idea," said Robert, "that it would be a good thing to put some pictures in the primer; just enough to make it look attractive."
"That would be fun," answered Min. "Don't say anything to the Professor about it."
The latter had already arranged a simple press, but when the latter was nearing completion, Roy burst out laughing, as he remarked: "Type is a good thing, and so is a printing press, but I am interested in knowing where we are going to get the paper."
"Paper?" exclaimed George; "lots of it growing all about here." And he looked at the boys a little maliciously. "All we need to do is to go out and gather it."
"Paper growing? Well, I have seen many things here, but that is something new to me."
"Do you know what the plantain tree is, the tree, with the big sprawling leaves? Those leaves will make good sheets for printing on."
The Professor heard the last part of the conversation, and remarked: "We might as well make paper, and I have already asked Harry to make a grinder for furnishing the pulp. We have the finest paper stock in the world."
"Yes," exclaimed George; "the ramie."
"No; not that. There is a reason why hemp,p. 231and many other fibers are better than that. Do you recall the peculiarity about ramie?"
Harry remembered. It resists moisture, and while it makes an excellent paper would be difficult with their crude means to turn it out satisfactorily. The grinding machine was a simple affair, and the fiber was fed through again and again, until it was cut up into short lengths.
Fig. 22. Paper Making Machine.Fig. 22.PaperMakingMachine.
The principal thing, however, in paper making is to get it the same thickness. "It will take toop. 232long to make a cylinder, which makes the paper even, and distribute the pulp perfectly, and in the absence of that I have ordered an apparatus which will turn out a sheet at a time."
The Professor then exhibited a drawing, and continued: "Notice the box, which is two feet square inside and two feet high. See this cleat all around the inside, six inches from the top. That is to hold the frame of a cloth web, which fits in the box exactly."
"At the bottom of the box is a pipe, right in the middle. This pipe is for the purpose of carrying the water into the box. Below the box is a larger box, and this contains the water which has the pulp mixed with it, just enough of the pulp to make it look cloudy.
"The water in the box is carried into the box by the pump. When the screen, or web, is placed in position, and the pump set to work, the water, carrying the pulp, moves upwardly in the box, and the fine particles of pulp are caught by the screen and held there, the little fibers lying crisscross over each other.
"Every minute or so the screen with the paper mat on its underside must be taken out and another put in, and the matted paper on each screen put under a press, and the water squeezed out, after which it will readily peel off the screen, and when it is dried it makes a good blotting paper. To make a writing paper of it, the sheet must be run through a number of heavily weighted steel rollers, but we don't need that for printing our books."
p. 233
The paper was made in that manner, and the Professor was delighted when he saw the illustrations. Thus the first serious attempt was made to begin the teaching of the children, and when the books were ready the boys were all happy to undertake the work of teaching. It was here that the Tuolo medicine men were utilized, and it may be said to their credit that they found the new calling agreeable and pleasant.
But there is still so much to be said about the town, the people, the actions of the chiefs, the work that was being prosecuted, the farms and plantations that were started, the manufactured articles turned out, the new houses erected everywhere, and the intense interest exhibited by the people under the new order of things.
The boys knew they had been a great factor in the regeneration of the island, and were proud of it. Lolo, and boys of like ages with our boys, were given special training, due to the suggestion of the Professor. Some were taught the theory of medicine, as the necessity of proper medical treatment was essential. Many received the rudimentary knowledge of carpentry and other occupations from John.
The ship was the principal topic of conversation, and to that the main energies were directed. The finest oak trees were cut and brought in; a new and larger sawmill installed; the machine shop was busy day and night in the making of two new lathes, a planer, and several drilling machines.
During the rush and the excitement of all thesep. 234new enterprises, the boys could not forget their earlier experiences, and about the mysterious things which formed parts of their adventures.
To enumerate all of them would take too much space, and be unnecessary, but some of them had an intense personal interest, and they recalled how the missing flag was accounted for when John appeared; the removal of their boat at the Palls of South River was explained; the discovery of the light beyond the West River really indicated the location of the savage village.
But there were other things still unaccounted for, and the boys craved a solution to the mysterious happenings. Who wrote the message found in theInvestigator'slifeboat, No. 3? Who took the flagstaff at Observation Hill? Who placed the crude oars and the strange ropes in their boat which was found stranded on the sea beach ten miles from the place where they left it?
The boys determined to know these things, and they trusted to the future to be able to give the answers.
Little of the time was devoted to pleasure now. The great forest to the west was looked on by the boys with longing eyes many times. They had heard about the experience at Blakely's old home on the hill. One day Harry said: "There is one thing lacking in the town."
"What is it?" asked Tom.
"The American flag."
"Good! We must get a fitting flag pole for that."
All the boys conspired together that night.
p. 235
They would go to the great forest and bring in the finest pole to be found. Jack and Jill and Angel must go with them; and Lolo and his best boy friend were invited.
Early in the morning, without giving anyone an idea of their intentions, the guns and the bolos were loaded on the wagon, and plenty of provisions, you may be assured. George and Ralph manned the large boat, so that the crossing of the river would be facilitated. The wagon still had the fort sections, which were taken along so that could be floated across.
Within an hour the main river was reached and the float sections attached, so that the yaks plunged in and drew the wagon across, while the boat was drawn up on shore to await their return.
The party plunged into the forest, taking the direction which Ralph and Tom had gone on the former trip. Quantities of game were bagged, but there was no exciting incident. The pole was the main thing, after all, and when they tramped in every direction the selection was narrowed down to two fine specimens of shellbark hickory, and one was felled and trimmed, and after hoisting one end on the wagon, the other was put on the truck and the party drove into Unity in the afternoon.
The inhabitants swarmed the streets at the novel spectacle. The Professor, John, Blakely and Rogers instantly divined the meaning of the pole.
"Where shall we put it up?" asked Harry.
"Right in the center of the town," was the Prop. 236fessor's response. "To-morrow is flag-raising day, and it shall be a holiday!"
Before night the hole had been dug, and the immense pole erected.
When "Old Glory" went up the next day there was nothing lacking but the music; the hats of everyone came off as the flag slowly ascended, and the cheers that came from the throats of the natives could not have been more intense, nor the enthusiasm greater, if participated in by genuine Americans.