Part 4 (1/2)
Without words the two Americans turned away from that spot, to forget it.
Skag was learning that his training in the circus had been but a mere beginning in the study of wild animals. It seemed impossible that there could be a jungle anywhere with more beasts or greater variety, than they heard at night.
It was as hard to come in good view of any wild creature--excepting monkeys--as it had been hard at first to sleep, on account of the voices of all creation after sundown. To approach undiscovered, and to lie out and watch undiscovered, taxed and developed all their faculties; the fascination and excitement of it stretched their powers; and their successes enriched them both for a life-time.
After the first eagerness to get twenty different positions of a tigress playing with her kittens, Cadman had become a miser of material and an adept in noiseless movement. Finding that he was in danger of going short on sketching paper, he used it more and more as if it were fine gold, till his outlines were not larger than miniatures. Also, he learned to glance for the flash of approval in Skag's eye.
The two men had grown into a rare comrades.h.i.+p. This time of year, sleeping in the open was luxury. They had not suffered for food, excepting in the memory of such things as had once been most common.
Well above fever-line, no ailment had touched them. So, eating simply, sleeping deeply and working hard, they toughened in body and keened in mind--the days all full of quickening interests, every next minute due to develop surprise.
It was by a little headlong mountain stream, that the revelation came.
Skag was looking to see which was the business-end of his tooth-brush that morning when Cadman broke his sheath knife. The accident was a calamity, because Skag's was already worn out cutting step-way to climb out of khuds, and this was all they had left to serve such a purpose.
”That settles it, we must go,” said Cadman, looking ruefully at the stump of his old blade. ”Our nearest kin wouldn't know us, but we are still recognisable to each other, and I'm not exactly ready to quit--are you?”
”No,” Skag answered absently--unwilling to realise the necessity.
Cadman studied the crestfallen face--they had loved this life together and equally.
”But do you realise, my son,” he asked, ”that others will have to see us, before we can ever again be clothed and groomed properly?”
Now Skag looked at his friend with seeing eyes and blushed.
”It's not the clothes, so much as--” Skag stopped.
Cadman focused on Skag's face through his queer spectacles, then he laughed as only Cadman could laugh.
So they climbed down and took train for Bombay. Like fugitives they dodged the sight of correctly dressed Englishmen all the way; stopping over more than seven hours at Kullian--so as to reach the great city at night.
Next morning two clean-faced and very much alive Americans arrived at the Polo Club for late breakfast. Indeed they were good to look at, being in the finest kind of health and full of initiative. That breakfast was royal in every flavour; they felt like young spendthrifts squandering their patrimony. Just as they were finis.h.i.+ng, a distinguished looking Englishman came across the room and greeted Cadman:
”Now this is my own proverbial good luck! Come away up to the house and give account of yourself. Where are the pictures? We'll take 'em along.”
Cadman presented Skag to Doctor Murdock of the University, explained that it was imperative for them to do some general outfitting, but promised to bring his friend in the afternoon.
”Doctor Murdock is an extraordinary man, Skag,” said Cadman, as the Englishman hurried away. ”Beside his chair in the University, he is said to be top surgeon of Bombay. Barring none, he has more of different kinds of knowledge than any man I know; becomes master of whatever he takes up--authority, past question.”
”I wondered why you promised to take me along,” Skag put in.
”You'll be glad to have met him. He'll be interested in you,” Cadman answered. ”He's quite likely to take us to see some of the Indian nautch-girls. They're one of his fads--for their beauty. He has specialties in art as well as in science; but he's clean stuff--nothing rotten in him.”
They forgot time in the Bombay bazaars; first looking for bags, to be easily carried on their own persons; and then giving themselves to quality and workmans.h.i.+p in things designed for their special uses. There was no hurry. All life stretched before them, in widening vistas.
Doctor Murdock's house was high on Malabar Hill. Their hired carriage came in behind his trim little brougham, as it turned on the driveway into his compound.
”My fortune again!” the Doctor called. ”I've been detained by a case and properly sweating for fear you'd reach my den first.”
Tea was served on a verandah entirely foreign and tropical and strange looking to Skag. A field of palm-tops stretched away from their feet to the sea. They told him the city of Bombay was hidden under those fronds.
”And now you understand, Cadman,” the Doctor was saying, ”there's your own room and one next for your friend Hantee. Your traps will be up before you sleep, which may not be early, for I've a tamasha on for you this night--you remember, I enjoy dinner in the morning?”