The Hazlehurst signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1883-1885, 1884-01-10
A WONDERFUL RIVER.

With his fingers locked tightly in his
crisp, curly hair, Jackman Rolf-Jack,
for short-sat resting his elbow ON the
table. which supported u can,as-covered
copy of Horseberg's Sailing Directions,
ON one Of the open pages OK which his
eyes were steadfastly fixed.
Opposite him. in n similar attitude,
was his brother. sylvester. now in his
fourteenth year, was two years younger
than Jack. Before Sylvester lay we'll
worn PHYSICAL Geography, open at the
man of South America. He was sup
posed to be studying his days lesson.
In reality his mind was "far, far nj
sea-" For Jack Rolf. who. ~ every
one declared. WAS "a born sailor" had
ius, returned from his first voyage with
his father. Captain Merrill Rolf. lie
Was full Of enthusiasm for his new life.
and could talk of little else but the sea
and everything connected with 1t, to all
of which Sylvester listened eagerly,
particularly as Jack. being n keen ob
server. and possessing good memory,
was most delightful talker.
81 say. Jack"
No answer. In fancy Jack was again
clinginy to the Paul Reverc's weather
mizzen-rigging. ~ she scudded q, light
ming speed before terrible cyclone
which they had encountered on the re-
turn passage. And Jack, aided by the
map before him, was mentally compar.
inc the route over which they had sailed.
20 escape running into the dreaded
storm center, with the route there laid
down
jack this time rather louder.
"Ay. nv. SIR" was the dreamy an
swcr. And then, with n sudden start.
Jack came back 10 his home surround
inrs- TO the old-fashionoi furniture,
and his dead mothers picture over the
mantcl, and Sylvester opposite him
yawning over his lesson. -,
"weil, what is il, Sillybub?" Jack
asked. good-naturcdly.
IL should like Ia sail up the Amazon,
the biggest river in the world" reptile,
Syl. clancing at the map. He didn',
really care in the least about the ANA
zon, but he wanted To make Jack talk.
Three weeks ago crossed bigger
and wider river than the Amazon ever
pretended to be-" said Jack, briSkly,
rs. shutting the cover of his book with
a bang, he leaned back in his chair and
softly whistlcd an old sca-song.
"Why. Jack Rolf" exclaimed Syl-
vester. Three weeks ago you were nj
sea"
Yes" replied Jack. calmly, rs he
fixed his gaze on the ily-studdrd cell
ing. land il is altogether different from
any river that | ever saw or heard oi.
"How?" questioned Sylvester, curl
Gus to get at Jacks meaning.
"Oh. every way" was the somewhat
indefinite answer. In the first place.
Jack continued, slowly, ''it flows in q
sort OF immense cirCSo-"
~ river flowing in circle" scorn.
fully interrupted Sylvester.
And there is one part OF it," pur.
sued his brother, "that for quite long
distance some hundreds OF miles,
think-flows uphill"
"Oh. no doubt" was the ironical re-
Spouse. Anything elsc" Sylvester
had managed by great effort to gulr
down-if / may so express 1.-THE cir.
cular flow of this wonderful river. but
the uphill movement was rather Toe
much of strain.
"Anything clse?" repeated Jack
ooh YES, lots. No matter how cold il
is" he went on, gravely, "this river
speak of never freezes, for two reasons
one is, that the water is almost warm
and the other. because IL won't STOP
running long enough for Jack Frost "a
get his grip on il, for there is always q
three or four knot current or tide"
II don't see how it can run when its
all tied" interrupted Sylvester, with
inward delight at being able to rcmcm-
Der and bring into active service an old
newspaper joke.
Jack east n plying glance at his
brother. but made no reply to such IN
ill-timed attempt at wit.
"Thc river of which speak has nc
one definite source or outlet, though II
branches out in two or three directions.
Another curious fact is. that while its
surface is exactly level with the top OF
It's banks. 1t has never been known 70
overflow them during the heaviest rain
falls, or 10 lower the fraction OF nm inch
during the driest seasons"
"Are its banks mud. or gravel. OF
rock, or what?" inquired Sylvester. who
was thoroughly mystiiied.
Neither" his brother replied. grave.
ly. Banks and bottom alike are OF
cold saltwater.
Gulf Streamr' exclaimed Sylvester,
upon whose mind the truth had sud
denly dawncd. "What goose was
not to have known what you were driv'
ing at long ago."
Opening The thick canvas-covered
book in nhich he had been reading
Jack called his brother to his side anc
directed his attention to diagram o
the Eastern and Western continents.
Away down there, near the South
American coast" said Jack. pointing tt
the spot with his finger, "the big Am
azon Is all the time pouring an i'm
mcnse volume Of water into the sea
which lies sweltering under tropi'
SUM-"
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