een made for the advance warriors, so that in case of scouting work,
one could take the loads of two, and thus leave at least a dozen free
for that duty when required.

A quantity of lumber had been cut over six months before, and this was
well dried, and would be very valuable to them in beginning operations,
and the loads on the wagons were so great that but little of it could be
taken in that way. Uraso saw the utility of the material and insisted
that it should all be taken.

Besides the packages thus arranged the most expert of the warriors
carried the thirty-two guns, and they had been instructed in their use.
Each also carried a bow and set of arrows, and some of them were
provided with spears.

During the preceding day no message had come from Blakely, but he knew
that the party would leave the Cataract on this day, and they felt no
apprehension on his account.

One of the runners from John reached the Professor on the day the train
left the Cataract. While the latter tried to prevent the knowledge of
his occupation of the Kurabus village from reaching the ears of the
warriors, the scouts sent out by the Professor intercepted and tried to
capture the messengers which were sent to inform the allies, but failed
in their efforts.

When John and his party left, Blakely had drawn the allies to a point
within eight miles of the Cataract, and with the reinforcements, headed
by Muro, he made a stand. During the night, after a consultation with
Muro, the latter, with fifty of his warriors, made a wide detour to the
north, and swung around to the west, thus taking a position behind the
allies, and this was effected without their knowledge, as they believed.

The object of this movement was to protect the Professor, as the force
from the Cataract, joined to that of Blakely's, would be ample to drive
them forward, and it was desirable to effect a capture of the allies,
and thus at one operation place them in their power.

Unfortunately, the messengers from the Kurabus' village reached the
allies before Muro started on his trip. The effect on the allies was
startling, and the Kurabus were determined to protect their homes. The
latter believed that the object was to destroy the village and carry off
the women and children, and it was but natural that they should go to
their assistance.

As a result the allies during the night quietly stole to the south,
which was in the direction of the Illyas' territory, intending t