t Spirit told me that you lied, and he is about to come out of
the stone and consume you. He will follow you everywhere unless you go
to the Tuolos at once and tell them that the Great Spirit has told you
to give up the captives, and to never again kill any of them. You must
tell them we have been sent to make them our friends, and that if they
do not follow this advice we will punish them."

The Krishnos cringed before John. It was obvious to the surrounding
warriors that the words they had heard had an ominous import, and they
saw how feeble were the devices of the so-called wise men when pitted
against the knowledge of John.

John assumed a most tragic attitude, as he slowly raised his arm and
pointed with his finger to the savage village. "Go," he said, "and bring
back to me the answer before the morning sun comes up."

They hesitated. "Do you fear to go? Are the wise men cowards? Did the
Great Spirit tell you to fear the Tuolos? Shall we go and sacrifice all
your people?"

"They will not believe us; they will kill us."

"Then they, too, know you have lied to them. If you remain here you will
not be safe, because the great light might destroy you."

Then turning to Muro he said: "Take these men to their village, and see
that they are forced to meet their chiefs," and with an imperious air he
turned from them.

Muro's warriors were not too gentle with them. The spell of savage
witchcraft had been broken. John and all of them knew it. They were
hustled forward in the darkness, and as they approached the village Muro
told them to advise the chiefs in his presence what John had said.

Muro and the warriors, with the loaded guns, remained at a safe
distance, and the Krishnos entered the village. They waited in silence
for more than an hour, and then a commotion was noticed, which grew more
intense as the voices increased in volume.

In the meantime John with the rest of the warriors came up quietly in
the rear, and, after consulting with Blakely and Muro, the village was
surrounded.

The boys saw the large hut where they were confined, after being
captured, and from which they were rescued. Calling John's attention to
it, Ralph said: "That big house is the place they kept us, and that is
where you found us."

John looked at them in surprise. He did not know this, as at the time
the boys were rescued he was in mental darkness, and did not recall the
incident.

It was obvious that some tragedy was being enac