MEN OF THE TREES 



Soon one of the carriers whom I had sent back to my 

 camp came up with my medicine chest so I dressed the 

 injured knee, and leaving a supply of bandages and iodine 

 reluctantly passed on my way. 



Two months later I was again camping in those parts. 

 The first evening, just before sunset, an old man crept 

 up to my tent. I at once recognized my friend of the 

 forest and welcomed him with keen delight. He was now 

 able to walk quite well and he said he had come to return 

 thanks. He brought with him a tall, fine looking young 

 man of the same tribe, who carried on his shoulder a live 

 antelope which had apparently been trapped that after- 

 noon. This he said was a present for me. I examined my 

 patient's knee which was now healed and after the ex- 

 change of a few words he hurried off in the direction 

 from which he had come. 



All the next day I was busy with work in the forest 

 and returned to my camp in the evening, towards sun- 

 set, to find the same old man again. This time he had 

 brought with him two young men. The next day I moved 

 my camp and pitched it twelve miles further on, and 

 again at sunset the old man turned up, this time with 

 four young men who after exchanging greetings would 

 not be detained but quickly disappeared into the night. 

 Thenceforth, night after night, as I journeyed through 

 that forest region my old friend would appear just before 

 sunset with two or three fresh followers, but never once 

 did they accept my invitation to camp with my carriers. 

 At length I discovered that my forest patient was none 



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