The Spokane woman. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1921-1935, 1926-11-18
CHAPTER XIV (continued)
1t was in the early afternoon that we
started upon our journey


of the four, I could not help smiling at
the appearance of my three compan-
ions in front. Was this the luxurious
Lord John Roxton who had sat that
evening in the Albany amidst his
Persian rugs and his pictures in the
pink radiance of the tinted lights
And was this the imposing professor
who had swelled behind the great
desk in his massive study at En-
more Park? And, finally, could this
be the austere and prim figure which
had risen before the meeting at the
Geological Institute? No three tramps
that one could have met in a Surrey
lane could have looked more hopeless
and bedraggled. We had, il is true.
been only a week or so upon the top
OF the plateau, but all our spare cloth
ing was in our camp below, and the
one week had been a severe one upon
us all, though least to me, who had not
to endure the handling of the ape-men.
My three friends had all lost their
hats, and had now bound handker.
chiefs round their heads, their clothes
hung in ribbons about them. and their
unshaven, grimy faces were hardly 10
be recognized Both Summarize and
Challenger were limping heavily. and
while ! still dragged my feet from
weakness after the shock of the morn.
ing, and my neck was as stiff as a
board from the murderous grip that
held it. We were indeed a sorry
crew, and | did not wonder to see
our Indian companions glance back
at us occasionally with horror and
amazement on their faces.
In the late afternoon we reached
the margin of the lake, and as we
emerged from the bush and saw the
sheet of water stretching before us
our native friends set up a shrill cry
OF joy and pointed eagerly in front
of them. 1t was indeed wonderful
sight which lay before us. Sweeping
over the CLASSY surface was a great
flotilla of canoes coming straight for.
ward with great swiftness, and were
soon so near that the rowers could
distinguish our persons. Instantly a
shout of delight burst from
them, and we saw them rise from their
seats, waving their paddles and spears
madly in the air. Then bending to
their work once more. they flew across
the intervening water, beached their
boats upon the sloping sand, and
rushed up to us, prostrating them.
serves with loud cries of greeting be.
fore the young chief. Finally one Of
them. an elderly man, with a necklace
and bracelet of great lustrous glass
Deads and the skin of some beautiful
notified amber-colored animal slunp
over his shoulders. ran forward and
embraced most tenderly the youth
whom we had saved. He then looked
AZ us and asked some questions. after
winch he stepped up with much dig.
nifty and embraced us also. each In
turn. Then, at his order the whole
Lrioe lay down upon the ground before
is in homage. Personally felt sbv
md uncomfortable at this obseouious
liberation, and read the same feeling
n the faces of Roxton and Summer.
ee, but Challenger expanded like a
lower in the sun.
They may be undeveloped types"
aid he, stroking his beard and looking
round at them, "but their department
n the presence of their superiors
night be n lesson to some of our more
dvanced Europeans. Strange how cor.
ect are the instincts of the natural