The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-12-10
CHAPTER x.
In Tune With the Wild.


Just within the entrance to the
Caves of the Hundred Lions, where
water from out the rock wall trickled
down and formed natural sunken
bath, a man Of massive frame. with
tawny beard and hair like a name, clad
only in lions skin. was eating his
breakfast-wild honey. wild cherries
ard other jungle fruit.
His features were those OF white
man, but ne color of his skin was as
dark as that of some OF the Kafirs who
saw him frequently In the jungle and
who always left him unmolested. For
the black men held in awe this wild.
looking man with the hypnotic eyes
who consorted with wild beasts as
with human companions.
The bronzed hue of his skin was the
result of Is years Of exposure to the
rays of the sun that pierced the jun
gle fastness. For Is years he had in
habited the Caves Of the Hundred
Lions, with all kinds of wild beasts for
his friends.
# there was that in his manner and
looks that suggested madness, 1t sure
ly was madness most mild. For with
benign mien he talked to his four-foot-
ed companions as one who loved all
living things. Yes, if one who has last
memory of all things in his existence
previous to the great catastrophe Of
his life can be called mailman. then
III \, 1P 1hxtci
was mailman.
But his madness brought harm to no
living thing His lonely life In the
jungle, through all the Is years since
madness overlook him, had been lived
so close to nature that 1t could be said
he was the one man. in all British East
Africa most in tune with the wild,
His companions now, as he ate his
breakfast, were four leopards. two
monkeys and two parrots. To these
he talked as to human table con.pan
ions.
Matthew" he said. addressing one
of the leopards, thou dost lie there
for all the world like sick child.
Here, Matthew, is weed like unto cat
nip--a morsel of medicinal herb
which l brought thee from the brook
that is half days walk from this
spot. Eat of it, Matthew. 1t will cure
thee. thou poor, sick cat!"
DR.. Robert Wayne thrust the weed
into the leopard's mouth.
Yes, this was DR.. Robert Wayne
though he knew not his name nor any
thing about himself prior to the day
when he had awakened from a long
sleep to find himself in this very cave.
For Is years he had been a victim OF
lost memory-called by doctors apha-
sia-the result of the blow on the
head by the Kafir assegai that struck
him down, superinduced by the later
shock of finding. as he supposed, the
bones of his beloved daughter Edith
in the charred ruins of his wagon.
Having administered to Matthew,
Doctor Wayne now turned his atten-
ton to the other leopards.
Mark! LUXE! John!" he cried.
Thou art three lazy ones this morn
ing. Thou art late in securing thy
breakfast. Away with thee! Go forth
and seek that which thy palates
crave"
He seized Mark by the neck and
tail and threw him out of the cave.
Like children who feared similar treat
ment, Luke and John followed Mark
of their own accord.
"And as for thee. Ruth. and thee.
Naomi" Wayne continued speaking to
the parrots, 'see. here are worms"
He placed little writing things on
the cross where the parrots perched.
The cross! 1t was made rudely of
two tree boughs. 1t was the symbol
In the wilderness of this mans former
calling and of the gospel that he had
sought to teach to the Kafirs. He
knelt by the cross now and prayed.
CTO BE CONTINUED.l