The Hermit Hunter of the Wilds by Gordon Stables

The creature, whatever it was, came at last, and so silently, too, that Tom was startled. How his heart did beat! It was audible to himself, it caused him even to shake, and he fancied he could even feel the branch of the tree tremble under him.

The figure stood for fully a minute gazing down into the grave; then a sigh escaped it, and descending into the hollow the operation of digging was commenced with vigour. Not with the hands or claws, however, but with a huge white shell; and it was the marks of this on the sides of the excavation that had so alarmed poor Brandy.

The strength of the creature seemed enormous, and the grave got deeper and deeper every minute. But in a short time the figure desisted, and standing up wiped the perspiration from its brow. This was a very human act, and went far to banish fear from Tom's heart. Almost at the same moment the creature turned its face up towards the moonlight, and Tom was able to satisfy himself it was a man and nothing else.

He made up his mind for instant action now, and just as this skin-clad savage had commenced to dig again he sprang lightly from the tree and stood before him, revolver in hand.

An eldritch scream was the first result of this manœuvre of Tom's, and the wild man attempted to scramble from the grave.

"Hold, my friend! -- hold! " cried Tom. "I am armed. You see my pistol. Do not force me to fire."

"Fire! -- no, no, no! " was the reply in strangely broken and semi-guttural English. "Fire me! -- no, no! I surrend -- I surrend -- I prison -- I prison -- "

"Yes, you are my prisoner. But you have nothing to fear; only come along with me to my hut. Promise me you will not run away, and I and my black servant will do everything we can for your comfort."

"You English? No, I fly not from Englishmen. I took you -- Spanish -- Ecuador."

The strange being was smiling now.

"O! " he continued, "I -- happy."

It was soon evident to Tom that this wild man was, like himself, a Briton, but must have been so long a recluse that he had forgotten his own language. This became more apparent every minute. Tom's voice and talking seemed to recall words and phrases to him, though for weeks after their meeting the man could not finish any long word.

Great indeed was Brandy's surprise and terror when Tom walked into the hut in company with the very apparition they had both seen, and who had clawed up the grave.

"Come, Brandy, boy, don't stand and stare. This is an Englishman. He was only afraid of us because he thought we were Spanish. Get us supper quick, and get something nice while you are about it."

Brandy took one more look at the wild man, then laughing heartily held out his hand. This was cordially shaken, and thus friendly relations between all three were speedily established. Nay, but between all four, I should say; for Black Tom soon jumped on the stranger's knee and gave vent to his pleasure in a song.

"But," said Brandy, "I take you for de debil at fust, sah. But now I'se mistaken. Aha! O, golly! dere is one big load tumble off dis chile's liber. Aha! I not turn pale wid fear no more."

And away bustled Brandy to get the supper ready.

The wild man ate what was placed before him almost ravenously, though with little regard to table etiquette. Indeed, Tom half thought at one time he wanted to take the food into a corner quietly and devour it as a tiger does his prey.

He spoke scarcely a word all the time supper was being partaken of, but he was evidently far from at ease. The wind had risen now and was moaning drearily round the hut, and he started often and listened as if he heard voices in it. When Brandy had cleared away he spoke at last.

"I -- go -- now," he said with some hesitation, "to the woods."