The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-01-09

| tam edSleEly 6uuI ANU Vi II
a separate island. He saw that quar-
ter of a mile further on the bayou OF
canal parted, forming two streams, o!
which that to the left seemed the main
channel. This he determined to follow
Turning to the west, that is towards
their home, he saw at distance of two
miles a crest of hills broken into cliffs,
which defined the limit of the mainland,
The sea had at one time occupied the
site where the mOrass now stood. These
formed a range, extending from north
to south: their precipitous sides cloth
ed here and there with trees, marked
| where the descent was broken by plat
forms. Between him and this range
the morass extended. Hazel took note
of three places where the descent from
these hills into the marsh could, he be-
lieved, most readily be made.
On the eastern side, and close above
him, arose the peculiar mountain. It's
form was that of q truncated cone, and
its sides densely covered with trees OF
some size.
The voice of Helen called him from
his perch, and he descended quickly,
leapinG into mass of brushwoOd grow
ing at the foot of his tree. Helen stood
few yards from him, in admiration,
before large shrub.
"Look, Mr.. Hazel, what a singular
production" said the girl ,as she stopped
of red flowers, each growing out of a
fruit like prickly pear. These flowers
were in various stages some were just
opening like tulips Others, more advance
ed, had expanded like umbrellas, and
quite oVerlapped the fruit, keeping 1t
from sun and dew, others had served
their turn in that way, and been wither-
ed by the SUMS rays. But whenever
this was the case, he fruit had also
burst open and displayed or discharged
its contents, and those contents looked
like seeds but on narrower inspection
proved to be little insects with pink
transparent wings, and bodies of incre-
dible vivid crimson.
Hazel examined the fruit and flow
ers very carefully, and stood rapt,
transfxed.
lit must be!-and it isl" said, he at
last. Well, Pm glad I've not died
without seeing it,"
"What is it 2" said she.
zone of the most valuable produc-
tions OF the earth. 1t is cOchineal.
This is the Tnnal-tree."
40! indeed" said Helen, Indifferent
ly: 'cOchineal is used for a dye; but as
it is not probable we shall require to
dye anything, the discovery seems to
me more curious than useful"
"YOu wanted some ink. This pig
ment, mixed with lime Juice, will make
your handkerchief and permit me to
try if have forgotten the method by
which these little insects are Obtained"
He asked her to hold her handkerchief
under Il bough of the Tunal tree, where
the fruit was ripe. He then shook the
Dough. Some insects fell at once into
the cloth. A great number rose and
buzzed "a little in the sun not a yard
from where they were born; but the
sun dried their blood so promptly that
they soon fell dead in the handkerchief
Those that the sun so killed went
through three phases of color before
their eyes. They fell down black or
nearly. They whitened on the cloth:
and after that came gradually to their
final color, flaming crimson. The in
sect thus treated, appeared the most
vivid of all.
They soon secured about half tea
cup full; they were rolled up and put
away, then they sat down and made
very hearty meal, for it was now past
two o'clock. They re-entered the boat,
and passing once more into the morass
they found the channel of the bayou as
it approached the northern shore less
difficult Of navigation. The bottom be-
came sandy and hard, and the presence
of trees in the swamp proved that spots
OF terra fTnlG were more frequent. But
the water Swallowed, and as they open
ed the shore, he saw with great veXa.
ton that the tide in receding had left
the bar Mt tho mouth OF the canal WISH
BILE in some parts. He pushed on, how
ever, until the boat grounded. This
was sad affair. There lay the sea not
titty wards ahead. Hazel leaped out,
and examined and forded the channel,
which at this place was about two hun
dred feet wide. He found narrow
passage near the eastern side, and to
this he towed the boat. Then he beg
ged Mrs. ROllestOn to land, and reliev-
ed the boat of the mast, sail, and oars.
Thus lightened, he dragged her into the
passage: but the time occupied in these
preparations had been also occupied by
Nature,-the tide had receded, and the
cutter stuck immovably in the water
way, about six fathoms short OF deeper
water.
"What is to be done now ?" inquired
Helen, when Hazel returned TO her
side, painting, but cheerful.
I'VE must await the rising of the
tide. l fear we are imprisoned here for
three hours at least"
There was no help for it. Helen made
light of the misfortune. The spot where
they had landed was enclosed between
the two issues of the lagoon, They
walked along the shore to the more
easterly, and the narrower canal, and,
on arriving, Hazel found to his great
annoyance that there was ample water
to have tioated the cutter, had he Sc
lected that. the least promising road.
He suggested q return by the road they
came, and, passing into the other canal,
by that to reach the sea. They hurri-
ed back. but found by this time the
tide had left the cutter high and dry
on the sand. so they had no choice
but to wait.
Having three hours to spare, Hazel
asked Miss Rolleston's permission to
ascend the mountain. She assented to
remain near the boat while he was en-
gagged in this expedition. The ascent
was too rugged and steep for her pow
ers, and the senshore and adjacent
groves would find her ample amuse
ment during his absence. She accom-
panied him 10 the bank of the smaller
lagoon, which he fOrded, and waving
an adieu to her he plunged into the
dense wood with which the sides of the
mountain were clothed.
She waited some time, and then she
heard his voice shouting to her from
the heights above. The mOuntain-tOp
was about three.Quarters of a mile from
where she stood, but seemed much
nearer. She turned back towards the
boat, walking slowly, but paused as a
faint and distant cry again reached her
ear. It was not repeated. and then she
entered the grove.
The ground beneath her feet was soft
with velvety moss, and the dark foliage
of the trees rendered the air cool and
deliciously fragrant. After wandering
the grove near the boat, and selecting a
spot at the foot of an aged cypress, she
sat down with her back against its
fruDL Then she took ont Arthur'S LET =