The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-02-25
I 4

We rode all night. At sunrise there was a
pause Of hardly ten minutes for the scunty
breakfast supplied by our hnversacks. Then
We were again in the saddle. making our way
through thickct that grew more and moro
difficult, and undera sun that grew hotter.
Perhaps" remarked finally to my taciturn
friend. you have no objection to telling mo
now why two civilized beings and one amiablc
savage should be plunging through this infer
nal jungle as II they were on I'M errand of life
or death 2"
Yes" said lie. -" 1t Is best you should know"
Bricry produced from an inner breast rocket
sletter which had been read and rercad until
1t was worn in the crenses. This" he went
on. Is from Prof. Quakvers,ch OF the Univer-
sity Of Upsala 1t reached me Mt Valparaiso"
CHANGING cautiously around. as II he feared
that every tree fern in that tropical wilderness
was an eavesdropper, or that the hood-like
spathcs Of tho giant '=,lndiums overhead were
ears waiting 10 drink in some mighty secret of
science. Bricry read in low voice from the
letter of the great Swedish botanist
You will have in those islands," wrote the
Professor. IL rare opportunity to investigate
certain extraordinary accounts given mo years
ago by the jesuit missionary Butoaux concern
Ing tho Migratory Tree. the cerci,s ragy'1ns of
Jansehiu5 and other speculative psychologists
Ihe explorer Spohr claims to have behold
II; nut there Is reason. rs you know for ne
ceptins all OF Spohr's statements with caution
That is not tho cnse with the assertions Of
my late valued CORE. pondcnt tho Jesuit mis-
sionary. Father Butoaux was IL learned bot
mist, IN accurate observer. and most pious
and conscientious man. He mover saw the Mi
gratory Tree: but during the long period of his
labors in that part OF tl!e world hc accumulated
from Wildly iii rrr,ot 81
mony ~ to it, existence and habits,
Is 1t quito inrnncnivabc my dear Brjcry
that somewhere in the range of Nature ther. h
avegetnb!o organization as far above the cab
oago. let us say. in compicXity and potcntiality
Is tho ape /, above tho poiyp? Nature is cun-
tinuous. In all her scheme we find no ciasms
no gaps. There may DO missing links in our
books and cassillcations and cabinets. but
there arc mono In the organic world. Is not all
Of lower Nature struggling upward to arrive at
the point OF srlf-consciousnoss and volition
In tho unccasing process OF evolution. differ
entiation. improvement in special function
why may not plant arrive ut this point and
tee Will actin short possess and exercise tho
characteristics Of tho true animal? 2"
Briery's voice trcmbed with enthusiasm as
no read this passage.
Il have no doubt" continued Prof. Qunkver-
such, that IL 1t shall DO your great good for
tune TO encounter specimen OF the Migratory
Tree described by Butcaux you will find that
tpossessesa vol defined system OF real nerves
and Ganglin constituting in fact. tho seat Of
vegetable Intelligence I conjurc you to be
very thorough in your dissoctions.
According to the indications furnished mo
by tho Jesuit. this extraordinary tree should
beiong TO tho order OF Cactdce9. 1t should BIO
developed only in conditions OF extreme heat
and dryness. Its roots should be hardly moro
than rudimentnry. affordng IL prccarious at
Achmont to tho earth. This attachment Il
should be ablo to sever at will. soaring mp into
the air and away to another place selected by
Itself. ms bird shifts its habitation. inlcr
that those miGrations are accomplished by
means Of the property of secreting hydrogen
gas. with which 1t initiates at pleasure blad-
dsr-liko organ OF highly elastic tissue. thus
lifting itself out Of the ground and of to
new abode.
"Butenux added that tho Migratory Tree
was invariably worshippcd by the natives rs
supernatural being and that the mystery
thrown by them around Its cult WAS the great
est obstacle In tho path OF the investigator"
Therc!" exclaimed Brery. folding UP Prof
Quakversuch's letter. Is not that n quest
worthy tho risk or sacrifice OF life itself? To
add to tho recorded facts Of vegetable morphol-
ogy tho proved existence Of a tree that wan
ders. tree that wills. treo. perhaps. that
thinks-this Is glory to be won mt amy cost!
Tho lamented Decandolie Of Geneva-"
"Confound tho lamentcd Decandolle Of Co.
neva!'' shouted l. for it was excessively hot. ard
! felt that We had como on n FOOLS GRAND.
III.
It was near sunset on the second day Of our
journey when Kilooa. who was rldinE several
rods In advance OF us. uttered y quick cry,
leaped from his saddle. aud stopped 10 tho
ground.
Briory was at his side in an instant. I fol