For the rest the
man's limbs were so thin as though from hunger, that everywhere his
bones showed, while his skin was scarred with cuts and scratches, and
on his forehead was a large bruise. He seemed bewildered also and very
weak, yet I think he understood that I was playing a friend's part to
him, for he bowed towards me in a stately, courteous way and kissed the
air thrice, but what this meant at the time I did not know.
I spoke to him in English, but he shook his head gently to show that he
did not understand. Then, as though by an afterthought, he touched his
breast several times, and after each touch, said in a voice of strange
softness, "Kari," which I took it he meant was his name. At any rate,
from that time forward I called him Kari.
Now the question was how to deal with him. Leave him there to be mocked
or to perish I could not, nor was there anywhere whither I could send
him. Therefore it seemed the only thing to do was to take him home with
me. So grasping his arm gently I led him off the quay where our horses
were and motioned to him to mount one that had been ridden by a servant
whom I bade to walk.
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