with them--in every possible way giving expression to
good-will. All this they do very seriously, very earnestly, with
reverence mingled with pity.

"The masses here think these men worship the monkeys," Cadman added.
"It's not true. Most Europeans dismiss them as fanatics--equally
absurd. I've been out with them."

Skag had actually seen the faces of the two men just passed. The
impression had not left his mind. They were dark clean faces, grooved
by much patient endurance, strong with self-mastery and those fainter
lines that have light in them and only come from years of service for
others.

Cadman certainly had no scorn for these men. He had passed days and
nights with their kind in one of the down-country districts. His tone
was slow and gentle when he spoke of that period. It wasn't that
Cadman actually spoke words of pathos and endearment. Indeed, he might
have said more, except that two white men are cruelly repressed from
each other in fear of being sentimental. They are almost as willing to
show fear as an emotion of delicacy or tenderness.

"The more you know, the more you appreciate these forest men," Cadman
capitulated and laughed softly at the sudden interest in Skag's face as
he added: "I understand, my son. You want to go into the jungle with
these masters of the monkey craft. You want to read their lives--far
in, deep in yonder. Maybe they'll let you. They were singularly good
to me. . . . It may be they will see that thing in your face which
knocks upon their souls."

"What is that?"

Cadman laughed again.

"In the West they know little of these things; but the fact is, it's
quite as you've been taught: the more a man overcomes himself, the more
powers he puts on for outside work. And when a man is in charge of
himself all through, he has a look in his eye that commands--yes, even
finds fellowship with the priests of Hanuman."

"Would these priests see such a look?"

"Of course!"

"But why?"

"Because they have it themselves. It's evident as sun-tan, to the
seers, who are what they are because they rule themselves. Your old
Alec Binz had it right. You handle wild animals in cages or afield
just in proportion as you handle yourself. Those who command
themselves see self-command when it lives in the eye of another. . . .
They called me--those priests did--years ago. I almost wanted to live
with them for a while; but it was too hard."

"How was that?"

"They said I