While, from their remarks about myself, I judged that I had
changed and grown wild as much as the rest of them.
In this and in a hundred other little ways the change showed, ways
difficult to define in detail, but all proving--not the coarsening
effect of leading the primitive life, but, let us say, the more direct
and unvarnished methods that became prevalent. For all day long we were
in the bath of the elements--wind, water, sun--and just as the body
became insensible to cold and shed unnecessary clothing, the mind grew
straightforward and shed many of the disguises required by the
conventions of civilisation.
And in each, according to temperament and character, there stirred the
life-instincts that were natural, untamed, and, in a sense--savage.
III
So it came about that I stayed with our island party, putting off my
second exploring trip from day to day, and I think that this far-fetched
instinct to watch Sangree was really the cause of my postponement.
For another ten days the life of the Camp pursued its even and
delightful way, blessed by perfect summer weather, a good harvest of
fish, fine winds for sailing, and calm, starry nights.
Pages:
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126