commenced but we could see nothing, so we hurried forward and soon saw
the smoke, and then the savages coming from the bush, and directly to
the east we noticed fifty or more coming this way, but they are not here
yet."

"I wonder how many attacked us?" asked George.

"It is difficult to tell, but it is safe to say that there were at least
two hundred in the fight. Oh, no; the boys will not follow them up very
far," said John, as Harry looked apprehensively toward the direction
that John's men were going.

He blew the whistle, and gradually the men straggled in, reporting that
the savages appeared terror-stricken, as they had had no idea that there
was another force in the neighborhood, and they did not stop to consider
the possible number.

"I am sorry for these poor people," remarked John. "We must hunt up the
wounded."

Searchers were set to work, and the wounded, when found, were carried to
an open place beyond, and their hurts examined and bandaged. At first
terror showed itself on their faces, but as John and Muro, together with
the boys, washed their wounds, and wrapped bandages around the limbs,
they lay there and marveled at the actions of their enemies.

More than two dozen had been killed, and forty-two wounded, nearly all
in the legs or bodies, those having arm wounds being enabled to get
away.

On Muro's orders a watch was set on the movements of the savages, and
from time to time reports were brought in concerning them. They had
retreated eastwardly, and were now off less than a half mile, where they
were assembled, and evidently debating the situation.

John and Muro well knew that their present force, now numbering
forty-one, and all well armed, would be more than a match for the savage
force, still, it would not be advisable to prolong the explorations for
the day, as it was desirable to report the situation of affairs to the
Professor.

After making the sufferers comfortable they started on the march back to
the ship. During the period while caring for the wounded, John and Muro
tried to engage the savages in conversation but all attempts to learn
their language failed, and, as they were about to leave, John said to
Muro:

"Do you think that man is a chief?"

"I know he is; I spotted him from the first, and saw from his actions,
and the fact of his being obeyed, that he was a man of some authority."

"I agree with you," said Uraso, "that he is the one we must take with
us."

A litter