Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1876-10-12

out, reached the promontory. Here
the forest border dded, and the shore
assumed the usual aspect of coast. 1t
was possible that IN abandoned vessel
might be here, brt, as the night was
falling, 1t was fGessary to postpone
the exploration untif the morrow.
Pencroff and Hetbert fastened to find
suitable place for a camp. The out
skirts of the forcsctdied away here, and
near them the lad FUND bamboo thick
ct.
Good" said he i''this is valuable
discovery"
Valuable q asked Pencrof.
Yes, indeed, / need not to tell you,
Pencrof, all its uses such as for making
baskets, paper, aud water-pipes that
the larger ones makS excellent building
material and stronglars. But"
'i;Itt perhaps sco not know tha
in India they eat boo as we do as
paragus.
Asparagus thirtIfect high.' cried
Peneroff And is Agood p
Excellent" ansg Sred the lad. "But
they eat only the yolng sprouts
delicious ~ cried Pencroff.
"And | am sure that the pith Of
young plants preserved in vinegar makes
an excellent condim5nt.
Better and better.
And, lastly, they exude a sweet
liluo. which makes ) pleasant drink. "
lis that all?" dcganded the sailor
That's ALL"
"Isn't it good to smoke 2"
"No, my poor Pencrof, you cannot
smoke it :"
They did not have 10 search far for a
good place for the emp. The rocks,
much worn by the action of the sea, had
many hollows that would afford shelter
from the wind But just as they were
about to enter one IF these cavities
they were arrested BY formidable growl-
ings.
Get back crie5 Pencrof, 1--WE
have only small shot il our guns, and
these beasts would gnd it tIrere. ttaan
-eeltv'us. .J,,n,,sr4s-ss ~ref
And the sailor, se;zhg Herbert, drag
ged him behind some rcks, just as huge
/ jaguar appeared at he mouth Of the
caven. Its skin WIS yellow, striped
with black, and softeled off with white
under its belly Tb beast advanced,
and look about Its hair was brlstling,
and its eyes sparkling as if it was not
scouting man for the first time.
just then Spilett appeared coming
round he high rocks, and Herbert,
thinking he had not seen the jaguar,
was about rushing towards him, when
the reporter, motioning with his hand,
continued his approach 1t was not his
first tiger.
Advancing within ten PAGES of the an
imal he rested motionless, his gun at his
shoulder not muscle quivering. The
jaguar, crouching back, made a bound
towards the hunter, but as 1t sprung {
bullet struck it between the eyes
dropping it dead
Herbert and Pcncroff rushed to it
and Smith and Neb coming up at thc
moment, all sopped to look at tho
splendid animal lying at length upor
| the sand.
ooh. Mr.. Spilett. ,ow envy you"
cried Herbert, in an excess OF natural
enthusiasm.
"Well, my boy you would have done
as well" answered the reporter.
Il have been as cool as that ~
"Only imagine, Herbert, that
jaguar is a hare, AMI you vii
shoot him as unconcernedly as anythiue
in the world And now" continue1
the reporter, "since the jaguar has lef
his retreat | don't sec, my friends VIII,
we should not occupy the place during
the night"
But some othere may return y sale
Pencroff.
1--WE will only have to light fire a
the entrance of the cavern" said tn
reporter, and they will not dare +
cross the threshold.
TO the jaguar house, then" erie,
the sailor, dragging the body of III
animal after him.
/ The colonists went to the abandono
) cave, and while Ncb was oeeupied +
} skinnlng the carcass, the Others buise
themselves with piling a great ouantit
of dry wood around the threshold Tbi
done they installed themselves in n
} cave, whose floor was strewn with bone,
the arms were loaded for an emerrenc,
and, having eaten slipper. as soon q
the time for sleep wrs come, the fire
the entrance was lit.
Immediately tremendous fus;I,d
ensued. 1t was the bamboo which !
burning, exploded like fireworks III
noise, itself, would have been sufic;on
to frlghten off the bravcst beasts
CHAPTER XXVU
Proposot to return blythe South Ooas,
It's Confguratiou--Search fr u
ShiP~recked-1 Wuf in tie 1jr"
Dtscorery Of Small Natural III,
bor--uidaigh on tie -Nercy-.1 Dri6
ing Caaoe. -
Smith and his companions silent III,
mice in the cavern which the iacnar ba.