ed and thus
give them an addition that could be depended on. One puzzling feature of
his malady was that he understood, in a measure, what was told him, but
it was noticed that whatever was spoken had to be accompanied by some
manual action. If told to get a pail of water, he would remain inactive
until a pail was taken up or pointed out. So in yoking up the yaks,
merely pointing at the yokes would be sufficient to start the lagging
memory. He quickly learned to manipulate the guns, and spent hours in
practicing by shooting at the target.

Singular as it may seem, he showed some intelligence at the good shots,
but all these flashes were momentary only, and it was further noticed
that he would remember an act performed the day before and repeat it in
precisely the same way. It was like an imitative process, and the
Professor suggested that he was now in the condition of a child,
learning all things anew, to which was added some glimpses of things he
had learned before.

A new wagon was necessary, as the one which had been used for the past
eight months was clumsy and badly worn. All took a part in this
important work, and it was here that the workmanlike qualities of John
showed themselves. He was a treasure in this respect. The lathe was a
pleasure to him, and so with bench work, and within ten days a new and
larger wagon was turned out.

"I only wish," said Harry, "that we could paint it up, and thus make a
real finished article out of it."

"Your idea is a good one, but in order to make a lead paint will take
too long a time to provide a carbonate which will answer the purpose."

"Why does it take so long?"

"We have plenty of lead, but to get the base for the paint it will be
necessary to cast a lot of thin gratings, and use earthen pots, partly
filled with vinegar. A layer of the lead gratings must then be put down
and the earthen pot stood on them and partly filled with acetic acid, or
vinegar. A board should cover each pot and spent tannin bark placed
around them. This must be built up in the form of a stack. Fermentation
soon sets in, and the result will be the formation of carbonic acid, and
in five or six weeks the metallic lead converted into what is called the
carbonate which may be washed and ground up with oil, and sold as the
white lead of commerce."

"Instead of that what should we use?"

"We have plenty of flax, as you know. From that we can make linseed oil,
and with a proper coloring matter,