Part 14 (1/2)

”The best indication is,” said Uraso, ”that the fellow with the big feet does very little walking, and all the other fellows have danced about him.”

Harry laughed, and was satisfied. ”That was certainly clever,” he remarked. ”But why shouldn't they be clever. These boys are the finest and bravest in the world,” and Uraso and Muro smiled and were happy at this encomium of the boy they all loved so much.

”The last foot I have counted is that little sawed-off sample that has danced all around the edge; see it here, and here!”

Muro walked forward, and, stooping down, pointed to the imprint of a shoe, said: ”That is our boy's shoe.”

Uraso laughed, as he admitted neglecting George's presence in the crowd of prints. ”But I have found something else. George has had an interview with the Chief. He has been making some explanations to the Chief about his revolver.”

John smiled, and kept his eye on a tree to the right.

”And how do you know that?” asked Harry.

Uraso walked over to the tree, after picking up something, and pointed to a cut-out in the side of the tree. It was the mark of the bullet, and the circular cut which George had made that John had observed, and which had been noticed by Uraso and Muro.

”The scene here looks very promising to me,” said John.

”Yes, it is better and better,” remarked Muro.

”But you haven't told us yet, how you know that George was interviewing the Chief.”

”Come here and I will show you. Now look closely at the foot prints of George. Then observe the indications as to the att.i.tude of the Chief.

George goes up to the Chief. They turn around. Here is a sh.e.l.l. Beyond is the tree where they had the mark, and here are the tracks of the Chief and George as they go up to the tree.”

Harry was now convinced. It must be said, however, that many of the marks made were so illy-defined, that it required extraordinary vision to observe them, and this is what Harry marveled at.

”What you say only proves the value of minute observation,” remarked John. ”Those who are not accustomed to see these things, can not detect what are very plain markings. Sometimes a slightly torn leaf, under certain conditions, will tell a story in itself,--just such a commonplace and ordinary thing as a ruptured leaf.”

The consensus of opinion was that there were fully twenty-five in the party counting George, and it is remarkable that when the matter was afterwards investigated it was found that Uraso's count was right.

There were six in the party which took George, twelve who surrounded the party before the Chief arrived, and five more were with him when he came up.

Another consultation was held. John remarked: ”I am of the opinion that the people who have captured George are not at all bad, or vindictive.

Therefore we must exercise care and not needlessly injure any of them. I need not say that it is our purpose here to aid the people, to make friends of them, and not enemies.”

”That is in accordance with our wish,” said Uraso, with the approval of all present.

”It is perfectly evident that these people, in taking George, did what most people in a savage condition would do. The great and overshadowing trait in humanity is to acquire something. It is just possible that the cartridge belt, or the field gla.s.ses, or the b.u.t.tons on his coat were of more importance to them than George himself.”

”Then you mean they had to get George to get the b.u.t.tons,” said Harry, laughing in his relief.

”Of course,” answered John, and Muro laughed aloud, as he recalled his first experiences with the boys.

”John has. .h.i.t upon the very thing which is at the bottom of the whole business. All we wanted was to get the trinket, and the prisoner belonged to the Chief.”

”Or to the Krishnos,” remarked Muro.

”Well we might as well go on if we can find the trail,” remarked John.