The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-09-18
CHAPTER XII.


Doctor Wayne now sauntered out Of
the Caves of the Hundred Lions. Out
side, just by the entrance, stood huge
elephant
"Toddles, faithful Toddles!" cried
the man in tune with the wild. Ever
art thou on guard, as if thou didst in
deed love me. Thou seemest to know
that the black men of the forest fear
thee and thy kind, and will not ap-
proach so long as thou standest senti-
mel at my mansion door. Good old
Toddles!"
Then came two towering creatures
with heads far slSyward, that lowered
their heads to be caressed by their
human friend n the lions skin. Two
giraffes!
On through the jungle, then, the
wild man" strolled-for wild man"
the natives called him. He marched
without weapon and without fear Yet
he knew that in many a thicket as he
passed, and in the branches of many
a tree, lurked four-footed beasts CT
prey-lion, leopard, cheetah-watching
him with cleaning eyes and perhaps
covetous teeth and yearning claws.
Yet not one of these beasts so much
as growled at the passerby.
But now as Wayne approached a
great thicket of thorn bushes he heard
a low growl. The bushes I'D been
trampled down by the passlng, evi-
dently, of herd Ct elephants. Thorns
dotted the trampled place like so many
little outstanding bayonets or spikes,
each particular thorn being as sharp
as needle, as hard as steel and sew
eral inches long.
The gIowl that came from beyond
this trampled thorn thicket was not,
however, a growl of animal anger. 1t
was rather a groan of pain.
Through the thicket the wild man"
tore his way, at tho risk of sto )ping
on one of the outstanding thorns. He
emerged into a small clearing and
espied lion limping in distress from
wound in one forefoot.
why, tbs my kingly friend, Solo,
mon!" calculated Wayne. stop, Solo,
mon! Wait, will tend thee!"
The lion stopped and waited for the
man to approach.
Down, Solomon, down." Wayne
commanded. 81 will examine thy
wound and alleviate thy pain"
The lion crouched. Wayne knelt be-
side it and lifted the wounded paw for
inspection. The very touch Of the
mans hand, gentle though it was,
seemed to give the lion extreme pain.
1t moaned and withdrew the paw.
Again the man lifted the beasts fore
foot. And again the beast pulled away
the paw, this time with growl.
"Ah, Solomon" the wild man said,
80 thou dost scold! Thou art a
coward. Where is thy kingly pride"
He now looked the lion pointblank in
the eyes and again lifted the wounded
paw.
"a thorn!" he muttered. GA thorn
probably many inches in length
sharp as the point of Kafir assegai-
hard as spearhead. And imbedded in
thy claw, Solomon, up to the hilt. No
wonder thou art suffering! My poor
Solomon! Wait! With the exrrac-
ton of this thorn thy pain will vanish.
So-so!"
He got hold of the thorn with his
fingers, and he pulled But he found
the thorn so deeply impaled in the
flesh Of the paw that not even his
strong fingers could draw it ont.
But despair not, noble Solomon"
Wayne murmured Feeble my fin
gers may be, but strong are my teeth
and more fitting, too, for the task
He applied his teeth to the thorn,
took good hold-and pulled.
Four inches or thorn came forth
from the lions paw. The beast actu-
ally heaved a sigh Of relief. With the
removal of that hard, sharp wooden
spike pain Immediately vanished. AS
if in token of its gratitude, the lion
licked the hand of the man whose doc
toring had made the beast able again
to compete physically with other
beasts Of the jungle.
Farewell, Solomon" called the
wild man, as the lion bounded away.
"Give my love to Sheba, who l know
is even now awaiting your homecom-
ing at your lair"