The Call of the Unknown 



left behind, and be satisfied to seek 

 again the spot from whence he first 

 saw the distant El Dorado glowing in 

 the golden glories of a dying summer 

 day. 



His subconscious thought had been 

 of course that within those mysterious 

 depths there must be something he 

 would like to have, the world-old 

 human thought that something that 

 would in some way profit him must be 

 lurking there, and could be reduced to 

 his own possession. In the days of 

 his millionth grandfather, when men 

 had to range far afield for meat and 

 drink or booty with which to deck their 

 huts or caves, it would be red deer or 

 crystal springs or gold, or the head of 

 a hated enemy, that would have 

 tempted. No need of that in this 

 present case, of course; but the primal 

 instinct is latent still in all of us, and 

 only waits the hour of its awakening. 

 My friend will find no venison in those 

 hills, nor flowing fountains. There is 



[183] 



