Wooden-legged men
are not so common, but the other man must, I should think, be
absolutely unique."
"That other man again!"
"I have no wish to make a mystery of him to you, anyway.
But you must have formed your own opinion. Now, do consider
the data. Diminutive footmarks, toes never fettered by boots,
naked feet, stone-headed wooden mace, great agility, small poi-
soned darts. What do you make of all this?"
"A savage!" I exclaimed. "Perhaps one of those Indians who
were the associates of Jonathan Small."
"Hardly that," said he. "When first I saw signs of strange
weapons I was inclined to think so, but the remarkable character
of the footmarks caused me to reconsider my views. Some of the
inhabitants of the Indian Peninsula are small men, but none
could have left such marks as that. The Hindoo proper has long
and thin feet. The sandal-wearing Mohammedan has the great
toe well separated from the others because the thong is com-
monly passed between. These little darts, too, could only be shot
in one way. They are from a blow-pipe. Now, then, where are
we to find our savage?"
"South America," I hazarded.
He stretched his hand up and took down a bulky volume from
the shelf.
"This is the first volume of a gazetteer which is now being
published. It may be looked upon as the very latest authority.
Pages:
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