Adventure, August 3, 1919 — page 175: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

a —_———— . ies — - rs * ‘ae. I . _ He opened his mouth and drew in his breath, yet he did not call out. He wriggled his shoulders as if trying to shake off an incubus. Then he realized that he was fearful that, if he shouted, the vision would disappear and he would know that he was crazy. He peered silently for a few moments, blinking his eyes. “No,” he decided. “It is real. queer. That bloody forest upset my nerves. Um, Um. Better find the gate and let him see me when I shout. Mustn’t scare the poor devil.” He began to move cautiously along the _palisade, six feet high, made of stout sap- lings, swallowing and muttering excuses to account to himself for not shouting. Stop- ping occasionally to peep through the in- -terstices, he followed the circle until he came to the great trunk of the tree, fully fifteen feet in diameter. He paused again for an- other look. That the vision was still there he noted with a feeling of reassurance. As he walked around the trunk, he was vaguely conscious that it faced an open expanse of the great grove, a cavern of basalt floored with jade and topped with fantastic pinna- cles of chrysoprase. On the other side he came upon the gate barred with great heavy balks of timber. _ The man sat exactly in the same position; had not moved a finger apparently. A wild thought that he was dead flitted across the doctor’s mind. He began to draw breath to shout but stopped in indecision. What should he say? “Hi? Hullo?” Per- haps the man was not English. Probably. not? What then? The question grew into absurd importance. Still the doctor stared through the balk gate. Therustle of some- thing in the grass behind him evoked an un- easy movement and a clutching at the rifle, destroyed the fascination in the ludicrous. argument as to exactly what he should say. “T say, hullo!”’ The man did not stir. Then the doctor was aware that *he had whispered. He gripped his rifle tightly and with effort shouted— ‘Aull sey] 77 “O-o!”’ repeated the grove. _ The doctor glared anxiously, dreading that the figure would disappear. But the head rose slowly; the eyes moved, Again the head sank despondently. Pa “Thank God, he is there,” muttered the ow ue sg a > « ©. Sh A a » ” + = e>- See ee eo a Te a ee | ‘ : L= ht ae ae oy - : ae | e a e.. 7 ‘ we The Tree of Life 4 ' , ure ea ~ mS . = _ ie ee ee “T say—er—hullo!”’ Once more the beard rose slowly. “T say, I’m here!” continued the doctor fatuously. He could see the eyes staring as if mildly inquiring in the moonlight. “I say, old chap, are you English? It’s all right! Er—would you mind letting me in?” He perceived the beard to part suddenly, disclosing white teeth. The man was smiling. “Good God,” murmured the doctor. “He is crazy. Poor feller! “T say,” he began again, enunciating care- fully, ‘I’ve lost—my—way, y’know. Would you mind—letting me in? Tm Herd- wether—Borden Millar Herdwether. Oh ! Hi! I’m an English doctor, Mag- dalen and London. I say, aren’t you En- glish? Parlez-vous francais? Eh?” Still smiling distinctly in the moonlight, the man raised a white hand and slowly waved it toward the doctor. “My God!” ejaculated the doctor, shud- dering involuntarily. ‘Am I crazy or are your” He stared. The eyes resumed the de- spondent contemplation of the fire. “What on earth am I to do? He thinks I’m not here, and I thought he wasn’t.” He pawed at his damp hair. “If I throw any- thing to attract his attention, he’ll think I’m a lion or some wild animal. And I’m not.” The little doctor was unconscious of the whimper in his voice. “I can’t stop out here all pight, it, and who is he, any- way? t what’s he want to dress for?” he complained bitterly and glanced behind him at the cavern of the grove. The doctor became aware of an illusion that he was within a barred cage like a cap- tive monkey and that the man inside the fence was free. ‘‘There must be wild ani- mals, or else he wouldn’t have this con- founded fence. Um.’ The strange man rose to his feet, yawned and stretched his arms. “O God, he’s going to bed!” muttered the doctor resentfully. ‘It can’t be more than nine o’clock.”” Then desperately, as the tall black back revealed the swallow tails, he shouted: “Hii! For God’s sake, let me in!” The tall figure turned sharply in his direc- tion. bawled the doctor. “It’s all “Ves!” right! I’m here, I tell you! Herdwether!” The man was staring in his direction. “Yes, yes, come and let me in, and T’l Pe ee 165,