he natives that they could
not understand it, and Uraso told his people that the flag was
worshipped by the white people.

"Did you hear what Uraso told them?" asked John.

"No; what was it!"

"He said that white people did not carry individual charms to ward off
troubles, but that they had the flag for that purpose, and the one flag
was the charm of all the people; and he also told them it was made a
certain way for that purpose."

CHAPTER II

BUSY TIMES AT THE CATARACT. THE ALARMING NEWS

The flag incident, and Uraso's interpretation of it, amused the boys
immensely.

"Do you know why Uraso thought so?" asked John.

"No; I can't understand why he ever had such an idea," replied Tom.

"You forget it has been our custom, ever since I can remember, to go to
Observation Hill, each day, to watch the sea, in the hope that a vessel
might be sighted. Uraso thought that was intended as a tribute to the
flag."

"After all," said Ralph, on reflecting, "they are not so much out of the
way, and the flag is really our talisman, isn't it?"

"Yes; because it is a real protection, and not a fancied one. It is a
symbol, behind which lies all the power of a material kind, which is
able to help us everywhere, and among all people. The charm which the
savage wears, is a symbol to him, and that typifies protection from some
unknown power. To us that is a reality, and we know where the power is."

The dear old Cataract home. How the boys roamed over every part of it,
and went down where the cattle were still ranging around. The place was
a study for the warriors.

"Now, boys, for the first day entertain your visitors, show them
everything, and amuse them in every way possible; and after to-morrow we
must commence work in earnest," was John's injunction to the boys.

What could be more natural than to start the water wheel in motion? The
warriors stood on the bank, watched them push it in place, and then the
sawmill was started. The process of turning out lumber with the saw was
marvelous. Every part of the shop was filled, as the boys set the
grindstone, the lathe, and the gristmill into motion.

When a log was finally secured to be cut into shafts for spears, and
they saw the wood-turning lathe make the shaft round and true, their
enthusiasm knew no bounds.

"Tell them, Muro, that is what we want them to do," said John, and they
opened their eyes at the possibilities.

There was still quite an amount of barley