ful, and is now
ready to destroy you and your wives and children, but he does not want
to do that. We are here to prevent you from going to the white man's
house."

The consternation on the faces of the savages, at the appearance of
two, was easily discernible. They listened in silence while Ralsea
spoke, and, then indicated that they would hold a council and give their
answer.

It was evident that the allies were taken by surprise, and it must have
been obvious that they had no idea of the force which was in their
front. Blakely had wisely stationed pickets to the right and the left,
in order to observe their movements, after the first surprise was over.

The conference lasted until night fell, and thus the first object was
gained; delay. In the morning one of the chiefs appeared, and Blakely
and Ralsea again went to the front.

"I will give you our answer," he said. "The white man attacked us, and
we fought him back. He has killed our warriors, and we will not treat
with him at this time."

Ralsea replied: "You have done the same that we have done toward the
white man; we were always the first to attack them. They tried to be
friendly, but we would not listen to them."

"We will let you know in two suns what our answer is." And he withdrew.

"That means," remarked Ralsea, "that they are waiting for
reinforcements."

"So much the better. We will be reinforced much better than they by the
time their reinforcements come to hand."

"We must send a runner to the Great White Chief, and tell him to stop
the Kurabus from coming to their assistance," said Ralsea.

"That is a wise suggestion," answered Blakely; and without delay one
was selected and made his way to the Brabos' village.

When the Professor received Blakely's note he called in the Brabo chief,
Oma, and said: "The forces we sent out are preventing the allies from
going to our village, and have sent a runner here to inform us that the
Kurabus are about to send more warriors to aid our enemies. Select one
hundred warriors and let us go to the Kurabus' village and capture the
warriors who are there, and also put the villages in our power. This may
make them understand that they have no homes to go to unless they come
to us."

This information delighted Oma, and he hurriedly gathered the warriors,
and the Professor concluded to accompany them, as he did not want the
warriors to commit any excesses against the villages and inhabitants of
their former en