ose without bloodshed. On the other hand, he was of an entirely
different opinion with respect to the Tuolos.

A few weeks of active work, first, in completing all preparations for
defense, and second, in organizing the tribes into a working unity,
would be of the greatest importance to the community.

The shop and the laboratory were completed, and most of the things in
the wagons were now in place. The important thing was the disposition of
the treasure. For the safe keeping of this a large pit was dug beneath
one end of the shop, and an underground vault constructed, the brick for
this purpose being made from a natural silicate found in the hills near
by, and which hardened without burning. The interior was also plastered
with the same material, and a strong door, small, but thick, was
constructed to close the opening.

During the night John, the Professor and Blakely, with the boys,
carefully stored the treasure there, so that the different tribes had no
idea of the use to which the vault had been put.

Two of the simple looms had been made, so that there were now three
ready to turn out goods, and the fiber was in such shape that it could
soon be utilized. In the meantime the boys concluded that as the weaving
process was the slowest operation it would be well to construct several
additional looms, and two of them capable of making goods four feet
wide.

One of the first acts of the Professor was to scour the hills to the
north for minerals. He was in search of copper, and taking a half dozen
of the natives with him, and one of the teams, a load of copper ore was
brought in.

The furnaces and smelters had been set up by the boys, previous to this,
and within ten days a hundred pounds of copper were run into clay
receptacles, to be used for the various purposes.

"What do you suppose the Professor wants with so much copper?" asked
Ralph.

"You can make up your mind he has some scheme or other," answered
George.

The Professor really did have a scheme, for the first thing he consulted
Harry about was a plan to make some small molds in two parts, out of
brass, from a plaster paris disk which he had carved out.

[Illustration: _Fig. 8._ THE ONE-CENT COIN]

"What is that for?" asked Harry, laughing.

"That is to make one of the first coins from our mint," he answered,
smiling.

A sample of the coin is shown.

"What is the hole in the middle for?"

"So they can be strung on a cord, and thus provide a