THE REDISCOVERED COUNTRY 191 



ridiculously, an inch at a time, lying on my side on the 

 tent floor, and worrying my clothes off poli-poli* 



Morning, 62; noon, 90; night (?). 



September 17. — Bad night owing to severe aches. 

 Found this morning the curious fact that ordinary 

 body movements, such as rising and walking, are ordi- 

 narily conducted by a certain limited amount of will 

 power sent out automatically by the brain. I say 

 "Rise," and the brain repeats the order to the muscles. 

 Then if the muscles are out of order, they fail to re- 

 spond, send back a sharp pain message, and the brain 

 tells me, "You cannot rise." But then if you take 

 charge yourself, instead of leaving it to automatic 

 action, and concentrate your will on each and every 

 separate movement necessary to rise, you can do it. 

 All you have to do is to break firmly through the pain 

 protest. As soon as I found that out, I resolved to 

 move camp, for the possibiUties of this place are well 

 scouted. No temperature, appetite good; no reason 

 for not moving except the ridiculous one that it hurts 

 like blazes. So I got two long sticks, and started out 

 to do one step at a time. Very tiring work, of course, 

 both on account of severe pain, and because of the extra 

 expenditure of will power. But then, one needn't 

 go so far. We crossed the green plain, entered another 

 birch-like strip of woods, and came to the other 



* This attack was probably due to congestive chill. I still have traces of it, 

 nearly a year later. 



