inforcements, and are now
taking a hand."

The chief was consulted and asked by signs whether the attacking party
from the north side was his own people, and he shook his head in the
negative. This proved, beyond doubt, that at least three different
people inhabited the island to the south and southeast.

"What puzzles me," said the Professor, "is the fact that our chief
opposes our traveling to the north and to the south as well."

"Do you think there are any tribes on this side of the river?"

"That is the only inference I can draw from his actions."

A battle was in progress in the underbrush beyond the river. The
attacking forces were numerically superior, and within an hour had
driven their opponents far to the south, and the successful tribe could
be plainly seen, as they searched the hills to find the bodies of
victims, and to gather the trophies of their victory.

"We might as well go north on our way home, as directly to the east,"
was the final remark of the Professor.

The boys were actually startled at this sudden announcement. But when he
pointed out that their ammunition was very low, owing to the fierce
resistance which they had to make, the wisdom of the course appealed to
them.

"I am glad to go," was Harry's immediate response, "because when we come
back next time we'll have something that will give the whole lot a
better argument than we offered them this time."

[Illustration: _Fig. 5. Savage's Hut._]

The yaks started for the north, and the chief's eyes gave a warning
look, which they did not heed at that time. They afterwards remembered
how portentous that look was. All that day, over broken ground, and a
rough, hilly country, the team laboriously made its way. The best that
could be done over such a country was two and a half miles an hour.

Late in the afternoon the party were startled on coming in sight of
numerous small huts, and a larger hut at one side of the cluster of
smaller ones. The approach was so unexpected that in spite of their
efforts, the team could not be turned around before their approach was
heralded throughout the tribal village.

Here was the first view of the homes of the natives. The huts were very
crude, and were devoid of windows, all of them built round with more or
less pointed or conical tops.

"Those huts don't look like the ones we saw to the south on the day we
had our first fight," was George's opinion.

"You are correct in that, and if you notice,