Part 18 (1/2)

”Have any of your captives ever returned to them?”

”No.”

”And have they always killed and eaten your people when they captured them?”

”Yes; and none has ever returned to us. The Korinos would not let us keep the captives, but said that the Great Spirit told them they must be sacrificed.”

The foregoing information was sufficient to convince John of one thing, namely, that it was really the spirit of the Korinos which kept up the tribal warfare, at least so far as one end of the conflict was concerned.

In spite of all the arguments advanced by the Chief, John was determined to make the trip with his own people, and thus avoid any feeling on the part of the tribe, against their present friend.

In the morning John called Stut, and advised him to wait until the following day, when he should pull up anchor and proceed to the north for a distance not exceeding twenty miles, and then, seeking a safe anchorage, to await news from him.

With forty of his own trusted men, together with Uraso and Muro, they set out on the march to the north, cheered by the people of the village, who came out to witness their departure. The old man who had been rescued, was still too weak to accompany them, so he was taken to the vessel, where he could receive the best of care and attention.

In order not to be out of touch with the sea, John decided to follow the hills along the eastern side of the island, and this course was selected because the people to which they were going, unlike those at the southern portion of the island, lived in the mountainous region, as heretofore stated, and the probability of meeting them would be much better than if they had followed the level plateau.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Fig. 10. Cinnamon._]

In the march the boys, as well as John, were ever on the alert to discover the possibilities of the island, so far as the natural products were concerned.

”Something smells awfully sweet around here,” said George, as they were tramping along a beautifully-wooded crest.

”I think it must come from the trees that have the beautiful pale blue flowers. Wait until I get a branch.”

One of the men was quick to carry out Harry's wish. John was immensely pleased at the interest which the boys exhibited. ”What does it smell like?” he inquired.

”Something like cloves and cinnamon, both,” answered George.

”Peel off the bark and taste it.”

”It is just like cinnamon.”

”That is correct. It is the real cinnamon tree. It is the ca.s.sia of the Bible, one of the spices so frequently referred to in Scripture. The bark only is used, but the species which have fruit, are gathered and oil expressed from them, which is called _cinnamon suet_.”

Advancing, the surface became more rugged. They had to cross numerous gullies, and broken portions, and frequently jagged rocks would show themselves. Evidently when the island was raised up from the sea the rocks were forced through, and the climate in time disintegrated them, and formed a soil.

”Do you think we shall find any minerals here?” asked Harry.

”If we are to judge from our experiences on Wonder Island, where there is almost exactly the same formation, we may reasonably expect to find copper and also iron here.”

”While Harry and I were over at the bluff with Uraso, we saw something like green drippings, from the walls.”

”That is, undoubtedly, copper,--that is the sulphate form, in which it is usually found.”

”I was amused at Laleo (the native guide), who told Uraso this morning that our mission would be successful, and when he was asked why, answered, that the first thing they saw was three black birds. How superst.i.tious these people are.”

”Do you think they are any more so than civilized people?” answered John. ”It is curious how the number three runs through all their ideas.

In certain parts of England they have a great many omens, and one of them is that if the traveler, starting on a journey, meets three magpies, it means success; if two appears, it is a sign of marriage; and four unexpected good news.”