And with exposure came a toughening and hardening of his smooth,
white skin, browning now beneath the sun and wind. He had removed
his pajama jacket one day to bathe in a little stream that was too
small to harbor crocodiles, and while he and Akut had been disporting
themselves in the cool waters a monkey had dropped down from the
over hanging trees, snatched up the boy's single remaining article
of civilized garmenture, and scampered away with it.
For a time Jack was angry; but when he had been without the jacket
for a short while he began to realize that being half-clothed
is infinitely more uncomfortable than being entirely naked. Soon
he did not miss his clothing in the least, and from that he came
to revel in the freedom of his unhampered state. Occasionally a
smile would cross his face as he tried to imagine the surprise of
his schoolmates could they but see him now. They would envy him.
Yes, how they would envy him. He felt sorry for them at such
times, and again as he thought of them amid luxuries and comforts
of their English homes, happy with their fathers and mothers, a
most uncomfortable lump would arise into the boy's throat, and he
would see a vision of his mother's face through a blur of mist that
came unbidden to his eyes.
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