Part 35 (1/2)

”Do you believe such tales?” asked Harry.

”Of course those stories are hard to understand, but the missionaries on the Melanesian Islands vouch for many things similar to that. In 1871, Bishop Patterson, one of the missionaries, was murdered by the natives of those islands, and many of the facts in regard to their customs were then established.”

”But how do they work the vele?”

”The place where the vele is worked to the most unlimited extent is in the Island of Guadalcaner, one of the Solomon Islands, although it has its counterpart in many other places. The vele rattler is carefully kept in a bamboo box, and when the owner wishes to destroy an enemy he takes the vele, and searches for him.

”In doing so he must not be seen by any one. If he is seen the vele will not be effective. When he finds his enemy the vele is pointed to the man, and the rattles shaken, and while doing so the one exorcising the spell must turn his face away and utter curses. As soon as his enemy hears this, he turns to see who has veleed him, and he then glances around to see if any one has seen the vele.”

”Are you sure that the rattle is for that purpose?”

”There is no question of it, and it is an evidence that the natives are intensely superst.i.tious, and such people are very difficult to deal with.”

”I suppose we shall have witch doctors to deal with here?” asked George.

”That is a very natural supposition.”

”Did you see some of these things when you came over here yesterday?”

”Yes.”

It was evident to both boys that they were going direct to the mountains, and the general character of the surroundings reminded them so much of the mountains on Wonder Island, that they felt a.s.sured John would be able to find the cave for which he was searching.

That night they encamped on a small stream which was, no doubt, formed by a spring, as its waters were deliciously cool, and refres.h.i.+ng.

During that night, shortly after twelve o'clock, the boys heard the most peculiar noises, like a doleful, continuous cry, echoed and reechoed from hill to mountain,--something indescribable, but they refrained from saying anything to John about it.

Some of the boys who were present and heard it were singularly affected, and it must be said that the boys themselves, notwithstanding the experiences they had pa.s.sed through, were not altogether composed in their minds.

When Uraso and Muro appeared next morning, after a night of scouting, they were startled by the accounts which were furnished, as to the number and warlike character of the inhabitants, and a council was held to decide whether it would be advisable to proceed with their limited force.

If they knew, beyond question, that the island was occupied by another tribe, it might enable them to make peace with one of them, and thus pave the way for approaching these people.

It was unfortunate that the first contact with the natives brought them into open hostilities, much as they desired to avoid it, but it was too late now.

”From your investigations,” said John, addressing the two chiefs, ”can you give any idea of the number of natives in this tribe?”

”We were unable to get near the village, but during the night we touched three different parties, one over by the high ridge, one a mile to the front, and the other over in the open ground not far from the place we had the fight. If I can judge anything by that I should say they have a number of warriors,” answered Uraso.

”That does, indeed, look as though they are ready to meet us from whatever direction we may attack them,” remarked John.

”The thing which is the most singular to me,” remarked Muro, ”is the way they are coming at us after the fight over there. If they were a weak lot they would draw off, and keep away from us, and that makes me think they have a lot of warriors, and are simply waiting until they can collect all of them.”

”We must do one of two things,” ventured John, on reflection. ”Either to go on with the men we have, or to wait until the _Pioneer_ returns, and then go back with her and fit out a force of ample size to meet them. It is our wish to win over the people by peaceful means, but our weakness may be the worst possible way of accomplis.h.i.+ng that purpose.”

Uraso and Muro were both in favor of returning and waiting for the _Pioneer_, as they knew it would be likely to show up within the next three days, and their views decided the matter.

”Under the circ.u.mstances we must leave this place before it is too late in the day, or we may have trouble in reaching the landing, although we can easily hold them off with our rifles, but we must avoid bloodshed,”