The Wonder Island Boys: The Tribesmen Part 12

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 att.i.tude 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.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Fig. 12. Poising the Spear._]

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 a.s.sist, 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 a.s.sented. 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 b.u.t.t 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 bra.s.s b.a.l.l.s 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 b.u.t.tons, 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.

CHAPTER X

UNAWARES IN THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY

During the evening, while engaged in their usual discussions the surveying implement was brought up, and it was understood that a crude instrument should be made, so that it would be ready within the next week.

While speaking on the subject of laying off the segments into degrees, the former matter of observing the heavens was alluded to, and Ralph inquired why all calculations of the heavens were made by degrees.

"Because degrees mean angles and not measurements. Positions or distances are determined by angles and by measurements in miles."

"But in looking at the stars how can mariners tell where they are, simply by getting the angles?"

"That is a matter which can be calculated with such accuracy on the high seas that the distance can be determined with absolute certainty to within three or four miles. Furthermore, when the moon is s.h.i.+ning, a mariner, even without an instrument, will be able to make a pretty accurate determination, if the moon is in sight."

"This is interesting information, and I would like to know how it is done."

"Simply by noting how far the moon is from some fixed star. It is difficult to explain this without making a drawing of the heavens or drawing a map which shows the positions of the fixed stars, and the two sketches (Figs. 13 and 14) that I have drawn out will, I hope, make it clear to you. The first figure (13) is a map of the sky for the northern hemisphere, and the second drawing (Fig. 14) of the southern hemisphere, where we are.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Northern Hemisphere. Fig. 13._]

"On the maps I have shown the fixed stars and named them, those of the first magnitude being the largest, those of the second magnitude a little smaller, and so on, but I have not by any means indicated all of the second and third magnitude owing to their great number."

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Southern Hemisphere. Fig. 14._]

There had always been a secret grief in the hearts of Harry and George at the loss of the boat at the mouth of South River, and the Professor joined in their wish to recover it at the first opportunity. Harry again alluded to it on this occasion, and it was decided that such a trip would be a welcome change.

The trip could be made in the wagon, and by consent the four agreed to undertake the journey and bring it back.

"I have often thought it might be done by taking the lifeboat," was George's idea, "and we could fix it up there and sail it back."

"It does not seem to me that would be practical, because it is too much damaged to repair in such a way as to make it safe for such a journey, and if that plan should be adopted all of us should go, and we cannot leave for the length of time necessary to repair it."

"Then we had better take the team. Do you think, Professor, we could haul it back?"

"If you can load it there will be no difficulty in that particular."

It was decided to start the following morning, and a supply of provisions was stored in the wagon, and before starting the Professor made the following suggestions:

"When you get there the top must be removed--that is the bows and covering----"

"Why, we haven't any covering to it now. We had to use it up for clothing."

"I had forgotten all about that. I supposed the top had been taken off when we took it out to haul in the supplies. That being the case the boat, when it is loaded in, upside down, will make a splendid top for you for camping purposes."

"How long will it take to make the trip?" inquired Tom.

"Not to exceed five or six days, because we know every step of the way, and we can push along pretty lively."

The start was not made until about ten o'clock, and Angel was on hand with his inevitable gun. They did not forget the usual accompaniments of such trips, namely, guns and ammunition, together with the spears and bolos.

"This is certainly a jolly lark," sang out Ralph, as they neared the forest. He and Tom had fully recovered from their weakened condition, and were able to take their part in any of the work which was necessary.

"Which way shall we take?" asked George.

"The road directly through the forest, for the reason it is much better than the route near the sea."

The four young spirits made wonderful progress toward the goal, as they had a light load, and every minute seemed to be precious. What hunting was done was on the route itself, and they had mutually agreed that there should not be any wandering on the part of either.

The first night the camp was made on the banks of the Cataract, well within the woods, and not far from the scene of their first exploits with the two bears.

"I wish we could come across more of the same kinds of bears that we met in these woods," said George.

"But the forests south of South River are the places for the animals.

Didn't George tell you about our hunting there?"

"No," answered Ralph; "but I want to go there when we get back."