Chapter 9

THE WORK AT THE CATARACT. MAKING WEAPONS

The directing hand of the Professor, assisted by John, who was present everywhere when work was to be done, was manifested when the hour for retiring came. There was an abundance of clean, sweet straw, and the boys temporarily took up their quarters in the shop, while the Professor, John and Chief occupied the living room.

All this had been arranged for by John, so that when they went to bed that night happy and contented, it was to take a rest that was free from troubles and worries, and it was a welcome relief after two weeks of wandering, coupled with the most exciting adventures.

The boys had hardly quieted themselves for the night, when a peculiar scratching and scraping noise appeared at their door. They intently listened for a while, and George quietly slipped to the door. He heard a familiar sound from without. Red Angel was there, and next morning the Professor laughingly said that it is likely he did not relish the company in the house, as he came down to the door after the boys left, and by his peculiar style of talk said he wanted to get out.

In the morning the Professor called the working force together, and suggested that as good living was a necessity, and could also be made a pleasure, they should so divide the different occupations as to make each feel that he had some special responsibility.

He pointed out four things which were essential to their welfare. First to replenish their store of vegetables; second, to secure game or meat of some kind; third, the cultivation of the garden; and fourth, the manufacture of clothing, of which all stood in need.

When John came to their home he was supplied with practically all of the surplus goods on hand, and a new stock of ramie fiber had not been prepared since that. The boys' clothing had been supplemented by the goods taken from the wagon top, and while heavy garments were not required, it was noticed that the articles first made from the ramie were growing threadbare.

Footwear was really of more immediate necessity than clothing. Ralph and Tom had no shoes whatever, as the only ones they had were taken away when first captured. It is singular how hard the feet can become when deprived of protection. Throughout Africa, where the natives never wear them from the cradle to the grave, the soles of the feet become hard and bony, and thus enable them to travel over any kind of surface without injury.

It was fortunate that they had three tanned hides, and when John looked at the denuded feet of the boys, and at his own condition, the sight of the hides was enough to set him to work. The first thing that engaged his attention was the making of a set of lasts, and then the ramie fiber was twisted for threads; after which he sought out the lumber pile to make pegs, and selected some of the dried shellbark hickory for this purpose. Thus he imposed one very needed duty on himself.

At George's suggestion a new stock of the ramie fiber ought to be supplied, and he, with Ralph, took the yaks, and their guns, in order to do double duty, to bring in a new quantity, and at the same time supply the table with game. As they were leaving the Professor called out: "If you go near the ledge of iron ore bring in a few hundred pounds, and also some clay. You ought to take the picks and shovels along."

Harry and Tom went across the river to visit the garden, which was now overrun with weeds, and the entire day was spent in putting that in order, as they hoped within a few weeks more to commence gathering supplies from that source. The garden had been started before they sailed away on the voyage which ended so disastrously to their vessel.

While all this was going on it must not be thought that the determination to again visit the enemy's country had been relaxed. Before going on another trip preparations must be made, and they did not intend to run short of ammunition the second time.

With that object in view, the moment the present need for food and clothing was provided for it was agreed that all efforts should be made in the direction of preparing weapons and ammunition. There was still a good supply of copper at hand, as well as lead, which had been previously extracted.

Thus the party put in several days of ardent work in the directions indicated. One morning, while the garment-making was in progress, Angel appeared wearing one of George's discarded jackets. He strutted around in the most comical way, admiring himself, and, apparently, enjoying the sensation of being clad. It was amusing to see him hunch his shoulders as he looked at the jacket.

George laughed, and so did Angel. "Well, we must make you a suit sure." Everyone, even to the Professor, took a part in the proceeding, but John couldn't see a way to fit him with a pair of shoes.

As usual, whenever opportunity offered, the Professor was out prospecting in the hills. When he returned several samples of new minerals were deposited in the laboratory, and when the party gathered there that evening Ralph was the first to notice a reddish ore which had been found during the day.

"What is that, Professor?"

"It is a very fine sample of Cinnabar."

"I never heard of it before. What is it used for?"

"It is the ore from which quicksilver, or mercury, is extracted."

"Wouldn't it be fun to make a looking glass?"

"It is used for that purpose, but we have use for it in making a thermometer, as well as a barometer," answered the Professor.

"Will it be much trouble to take the quicksilver out of the ore?"

"No, it is a very simple process. Metallic mercury is easily volatilized, and separated from the gangue, at temperatures far below redness. Our closed retort would be admirable for the purpose."

"Do you mean by volatilizing that it is put into a steam?"

"Volatilizing means to convert it into a gas, and this gas, on coming into contact with a cooling surface, is converted into a mercury, which we have in a liquid state, and is called the metallic mercury."

"Are there other kinds besides metallic mercury?"

"Oh, yes; it may be in the form of a nitrate, a sulphate, a chloride or an iodide. The chloride is very poisonous, and is known as corrosive sublimate. It would be just the thing to rid the stable of the rodents that took the barley."

One morning the Professor called the boys together and informed them that it had been the custom to take a certain day each week for hunting or other recreation, and suggested that they continue the practice.

"I should like to go over to Observation Hill and see the flag you made," said Ralph. All agreed to this heartily, and the merry party set out, after being fully equipped, as was always the custom. Red Angel formed one of the party, of course, and in lieu of a gun, George had made a stick in imitation of one. He was immensely proud of this acquisition, and actually hugged it when it was presented to him. From that time forward it was his constant companion.

When the Hill was reached, Angel made for the pole, and with his gun in hand, scrambled to the top, giving out his peculiar chuckling noise, which indicated delight.

"Why the gun doesn't seem to make any difference in his climbing," exclaimed Tom.

They scanned the broad sea, and who shall say what their thoughts were as they silently stood there. For some reason when they started to go down the hill they were not so jolly as when going up. Their course was directed to the east, but just why no one knew. It seemed as though they were simply drifting, each with his own thoughts; but Harry soon banished their reveries.

"Let us follow the beach down to South River," he suddenly exclaimed, and all were glad that something had been said or suggested. It was so easy to turn them from gravity to cheerfulness, and probably Harry was trying some of the Professor's medicine on the boys.

At every step of the way, and in every action, the boys now realized that the work of the Professor had been imprinted on them. Tom and Ralph went along glancing superficially at the various objects, but it was entirely different with Harry and George. Every depression, and each succeeding elevation, or clump of trees, or any object beyond the ordinary, was closely scrutinized by them.

This course soon became noticeable to the boys, and called forth a comment from Tom. "Yes, we are always hunting for something. That was a trait which the dear old Professor taught us, and it would surprise you to know how many things we found out by that quality. We have always since found it a pleasure in doing so."

Ralph reflected a moment, and he replied: "I can now see where we made many mistakes during the past year by not adopting that plan."

They passed to the east around the bend, and then followed the small bay which indented the shore, and finally moved out along the peninsula, which terminated in a cape east of the mouth of South River.

"I have often thought," observed Harry, "since we have lived here that it would be a good plan to name the different capes and bays, just as we did with the rivers and streams."

"Good idea," answered Tom; "but I think we ought to make a survey of the place. Have you never done that?"

"No; but we talked of it several times. Let us get the Professor to help us with that on our next holiday trip."

From the cape where they now stood an unobstructed view was had to the south. To the southwest were the mountains, beyond which Ralph and Tom had their bitter experiences. An explanation was made of the course of South River, the mouth of which was plainly visible; the story was told of their trip up the stream with the first boat which had been built by them; how, after they left it at the foot of the high Falls, ten miles inland, it had disappeared when they went for it; the recovery of the boat at the beach to their left, some months afterwards, when it contained strange oars and ropes; their second trip to the Falls, and the finding of the _Investigator's_ lifeboat; and their hunting experience in the forest below the river, and the discovery of the huts.

All this made a wonderful impression on the boys. The story of the lifeboat was the most remarkable to their minds, because it brought up the first recollections of some inklings which they had heard about other castaways.

"Don't you remember, Tom, when the second tribe got us, we saw some trinkets, and a few pocket knives, and when we tried to find out about them they removed them?"

"Yes, and Illoga, the Chief, I am now sure, tried to tell me about them, because in the effort he held up four fingers, which we couldn't make out. Don't you remember? I think they took the knives away, because they were afraid we would take them. Didn't you ever notice how jealous they always were of their own property?"

The party now went inland, and devoted the rest of the day to hunting, and brought home a splendid lot of game.

That evening the foregoing conversation was related to the Professor, who remarked: "If there is one thing savages and all low orders of people are noted for, it is the tenacity in retaining their property. Of course, that is not an uncommon trait with all people, but it is particularly well developed in the savage. One phase of this came to my attention some years ago, when a merchant told me that the poor people of India bought more locks than all the rest of the world combined. He further stated that in the principal cities there immense stores could be found which handled nothing but locks. Those statements were so remarkable to me that I inquired the reason, and learned that every native, although he may have trinkets worth less than a dollar, would invariably have a lock, worth half as much or more, to keep it securely."

"We have been thinking over the plan of surveying this part of the island and giving names to the main points; what do you think of the idea?" asked George.

"The plan has my hearty approval."

"It occurred to us that on our next holiday we could devote the day to that purpose."

The Professor burst into a fit of laughter, to the surprise of all. That didn't seem to be very comical to them, and they looked inquiringly, as they joined in the laughter.

"So you are going to do work on your holidays hereafter." And he laughed again.

"Well, that wouldn't be work; it would be fun;" and, after reflecting a moment, Tom continued: "Probably it wouldn't be fun to do it every day, right along."

"I think you have struck the keynote of the whole subject of recreation. The word comes from re-create. It means the refreshment of the strength and spirits by some diversion. The great difficulty with most people is that the recreation they take is really a burden to them; when, therefore, you can take a holiday, where you accomplish something, and make fun out of that, you have solved the greatest problem of civilized life."

"Well if we are to survey the island we ought to have an instrument for the purpose."

"That is not necessary. It would be much better to have a theodolite, but it will take some time and very careful work to turn out such an instrument."

"In what way is the instrument so much more useful than without, and how can we do surveying without it?"

"It does two very important things: First, the telescope, which is a part of it, enables the observer to see much farther and with greater accuracy; and, secondly, it has a graduated scale in degrees which shows the angles. Without these two important qualities we should be compelled to run our lines for short distances only at each sighting, and at each observation it would be necessary to provide a means to get the exact angle with reference to the last line projected. Those features, together with the compass, make the instrument an important requisite for correct surveying."

The boat house was one of the places last to visit, because there was so much to do in the various directions that they had little time to devote to the marine end of their various enterprises. Harry suggested that sailing would be a most desirable outing at different periods, and all consented to the task of rigging out the lifeboat.

The Chief was now so interested in everything he saw that he indicated a desire to take a hand. The Professor was delighted at this beyond measure. He was gradually acquiring the language, as a child would, and his troublesome leg was healing rapidly. The one fear was that, as they had no means of confining him, he might take the first opportunity to leave them, and this was an occasion of more than one talk; but all agreed that no serious consequences would result from his desertion, since it was the belief that he would not attempt to bring his tribe against them.

The only possible danger from his returning was the likelihood that sooner or later his captivity and the knowledge of their location on the island would find its way from tribe to tribe, and in that way at least two of the tribes with which they had come into contact might seek revenge.

Chief went to the boat sheds for the first time, after the events above related, and the one thing which caught his eye was the lifeboat. He started at first, and then made his way toward it, and looked at the Professor, whose eye was quick to note the movement. He was asked if he knew anything about it, and answered affirmatively, but when he was questioned whether his tribe had possession of it at any time, no intelligent response was made, as he evidently misunderstood what was asked.

One of the first weapons which they constructed, after iron had been recovered from the ore, was a bolo, and a number were subsequently manufactured. To this they added several spears. All weapons were kept out of Chief's reach, and the boys were cautioned against permitting him to learn the mechanism and use of the guns. He always looked longingly at the bolos, from the time he had witnessed their dextrous use.

On this occasion the Professor handed him one of the spears, and he was not only pleased but appeared to be extremely gratified at the act. He balanced it in his hand, and held it up in the attitude of throwing it. When they were returning to the shop, Chief balanced the spear, and without the slightest effort threw it fully fifty feet against a tree, striking a light portion of the bark which he had evidently aimed for. This was the signal for applause and clapping of hands.

Harry ran for the spear and returned it to Chief, and all ranged up alongside to witness his performances. The boys secured spears, also, and made the attempt to throw them, but they fell far short. When Harry attempted to make the trial, Chief seized it, and took his hand, and showed how to hold it to make an effective throw.

The trick consisted in grasping the stem tightly between the thumb and edge of the palm, with the little finger below the stem. The boys watched the proceedings with interest, but could not understand why that method of doing it was most effective.

The Professor came to the rescue. "The throwing of the javelin, the proper term for all weapons of this character, was an interesting thing from the earliest times. The lighter weapons are thrown by grasping them between the thumb and the two first fingers; but the heavy ones like this need a firmer grasp, and on account of their weight are not so easily kept in a horizontal position when in the act of impelling it forwardly. When, however, the spear is grasped in the manner shown you, the little finger, and the next finger to it, both act to guide the stem, and by practice they can be thrown with great accuracy."

This javelin-throwing match was the means of bringing the Chief and the boys nearer together than anything else that had transpired, and it began to make them take an interest in him, which was not the case theretofore. What really affected Chief more than anything else was the confidence imposed in him some days after, when Harry gave him one of the bolos. It was almost touching to see the joy he expressed. The Professor thought it would be a stroke of policy to have the present come from the boys.

Although he was still limping and unable to move around with any celerity he was out using the bolo at every opportunity. Here was an opportunity, as the Professor explained, to show how intelligent direction would not only be serviceable to the Chief himself, but that its possession would turn its use into channels that would be of value to him.

The gift made him particularly grateful, and so several days afterwards Harry and Tom, by a concerted arrangement, took the yaks, and the truck which had been previously made to haul in the flagpole, and, motioning to Chief, set off for the woods. A fair-sized tree was selected, and the boys, without a word to indicate that they wanted him to assist, began to cut down the tree.

He looked on wistfully for a time, and then edged his way over and made a motion to take Harry's place, to which he assented. It was now impossible for Harry to regain his place at the tree, and when it fell he acted and looked like a conqueror, and Harry patted him on the back as a token of his good work. A section of the butt of the tree was cut off, and loaded on the truck, and dragged to the sawmill. The end had to be squared off, and Chief insisted on doing this, the use of the exceedingly novel tool being the greatest pleasure, evidently, that he had ever enjoyed.

The fixing of it to the reciprocating saw frame was a marvel to him, and when he saw the boards cut off his joy knew no bounds. The proceedings at the sawmill delighted the Professor. "I have always contended, as heretofore expressed, that the same motive which prompts us to do things with pleasure is to know that we are doing things which produce results."

And then Harry did another graceful thing. He turned up a number of brass balls which he gave to Chief. If there is one thing a savage loves better than another, it is something round. That is why beads are so attractive, and buttons, and small trinkets of that kind. They are like children in this respect. Put a cube and a ball, both of the same material, before a child, and he will usually select the ball. It is a psychological phase which has never been explained; and the same test has been made with monkeys.