Part 26 (1/2)
The man made no show of recognition, and the only motion observable was a twitching jerk of the left arm, and a slightly swaying motion of the head.
”John must know about this,” said George.
”By all means,” was the reply.
Calmo was told about the wonderful man John, and that he should be called at once, so one of the accompanying natives was instructed to bring John, and he speeded away on the errand.
George stood outside of the hut when John came up. ”This is a remarkable thing. Did they tell you about it?”
”No.”
”There is a white man here.”
”Where?” asked John in astonishment.
”In the hut, and he is paralyzed and cannot speak.”
John did not wait for more, and as he went the head man followed him in.
Then they told him the story, and John stood there and gazed at the man.
To the boys who were by John's side he remarked: ”I do not know him. I do not think I ever saw him before. How long has he been in this condition?” The old man responded: ”Ever since we picked him up on the sh.o.r.e, about _tuta romama_ ago.”
”And how long ago was that?”
George informed him that Calmo received the information that it was over two years prior to that time, and as John received this information he pa.s.sed his hand over his head, and, turning to Harry, said: ”We shall, probably, get at the bottom of another mystery.”
”What is it? Why do you think so?” asked George in astonishment.
”Not now; not now!” answered John, wis.h.i.+ng to defer discussion until they were out of the stricken man's hearing.
The latter, however, did not in the least appreciate who were before him. He was not at all perturbed by his visitors, nor when John quietly pa.s.sed his hand along the poor man's arm and body to satisfy himself of the extent of the paralytic stroke.
He winced but slightly when the examination of the left side was made, otherwise there was no sign of comprehension on his part.
”This is a remarkable thing,” said John, as they were returning to the old man's dwelling.
”Why, is it a peculiar case?”
”The ailment itself is not remarkable; but there is something which pa.s.ses my comprehension.”
”What is it!” asked the boys in, unison.
”These people are savages.”
”Yes; answered the boys.”
”And they are criminals,” he said as he stopped and looked at the boys, with an earnestness that surprised them.
It did not take more words to make them understand what John meant.
These people had taken this s.h.i.+pwrecked man, and tenderly cared for him during a period of more than two years. This was done without hope of reward. John learned later on that the natives of the town had made provision for the s.h.i.+pwrecked man and had compensated the people at whose home he was then living.