r.

Uraso suggested that Stut should take a sufficient number of warriors to
afford protection, and descend the stream to a point below where the
country was clearer, and then trail to the east and meet the main column
five miles west of the main village.

The pursuers, under the leadership of John, followed the trails of the
disorganized Illyas, in the hope that they would be able to be close on
their heels when they emerged from the forest four miles beyond.

They found this forest maze the most remarkable of any wooded area on
the island. The trees were not only immense, but the undergrowth
exceedingly dense. It is not often the case that the two growths are
found together, and it would have been impossible to get the wagons
through the mass.

This forest was in reality the great barrier, which kept the Illyas in
such a protected position against the inroads of the other tribes, even
though they should have combined, and they counted on this bulwark to
protect them in the present case.

It took the pursuing force over three hours to push its way through, and
they had the satisfaction of seeing the main body of the Illyas beyond,
and brought together in a compact organization. As soon as the opening
was reached, they halted for the noon meal, and instructions were given
to follow up as hurriedly as possible.

"We should move our force to the south, and attack them from that side,"
said John, "for the reason that their only hope of reinforcements is
from that quarter."

The villages were lying along the base of the mountain range, the
general altitude of the great plain being fully two hundred feet higher
than the other level portions of the island. The mountains to the east,
while not high as mountains go, were by far the greatest of any on the
island, and John was anxious to know their character, for reasons
heretofore explained.

In two hours more they would reach the vicinity of the main village, and
the great struggle for the mastery would begin. In the distance could be
seen the main portion of the town, and it was far more imposing than any
other in the island. There was more or less a mystery about the place.

Uraso said: "The place we are now going to is the oldest village in the
country. Many, many years ago it was a great village, and had big
houses. They were built by some people that no one knows, but they were
not built to live in."

"Do you know what they are like?" asked John.

"Nobody can