Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-17

yards distance. So great q prize to q man
OF my tastes was simply irresistible. made
up my mind that come what might, I must
could and would possess tuber Of the
moon flower.
One fortnight suficed for me to make my
final plans. Heavy brides oVercame the
scruples of the negroes. The promise of .
good rifle induced the finder of the first
specimen to take service with me as guide.
Fully equipped for a weeks march, and
well attended with followers all armed to
the teeth, made my start at last for the
home OF the moon flower.
EXPLORING THE EQUATORIAL FOREST.
To cut a long story short, we went tor
three days into the primevsl shade Of the
great equatorial American forest. Dense
roofs of foliage shut out the light Of day;
under;oot the ground was encumbered with
thick, tropical brushwood. We crept along
cautiously, hacking our way at times among
the brake with our cutlasses and crawling
at others throug b the deep tangle of the
underbrush OH all fours like monkeys. Dur.
ing all these three days we never caught
sight of a single moon flower. They were
growing very rare nowadays, my guide e1-
planned in most Voluble Fantee. When he
was a mere boy his tather found dozens Of
them, but now, why you must 60 miles and
miles through the depths of the forest and
never so much as light on a specimen.
At last, about noon OF the fourth day out,
we came upon a torrent, rushing with great
velocity among the huge bowlders and send
ing up the spray of its boiling rapids into
the trees of the neighborhood. / sat down
to rest, meaning to mix the water from the
cool, fresh stream with spoonful or two of
cognac from the flask in my pocket. As
drank it tossed back my head and looked
mp. Something on one Of the trees hard By
attracted my eyes strangely. A parasite
stood out boldly from fork OF the branches,
bearing long, 1.-the spray ol huge, lumin-
Gus flowers as big as dessert plates. Ny
heart gave a bound. The prize was within
sight. 1 pointed my finger in silence to the
tree. All the negroes with one voice raised
a loud shout of triumph. Their words rent
the air: "The moon fowerl The moon
fowerp'
THE FLOWER FOUND.
I felt myself fora moment perfect Stan
ley or Du Chaillu. / had discovered the
most marvellous and beautiful orchid
known to science. In o moment had
tossed off my brandy, laid down my ride
aud mounting on the back of one Of my
negro porters, was swinging myself up to the
lowest branch OF tine tree, where my new
treasure shone respIendent in its own dim
phosphoreseence. I couldn't have trusted
any hand but my own to pick or egg out
that glorious tuber. I meant 70 cut il
bodily from the bark as it stood and bear 10
back in triumph in my own arms to
Tulamba.
/ had climbed the tree cautiously and
was standing almost within grasp Of the
prize, When q sudden shout among NV fol-
lowers below startled and diseomposed me.
I looked down and hssitated. NY brain
reeled and sieksned. A strange sight met
my eyes. My negroes, one and all, had
taken to their ieet down the bed Of the
stream at the very top of their speed, and
we're making q most unanimous and in
explicabls stampede toward the direction of
Tulamha.
For moment couldn't imagine what
had happened to disconcert them; then, cast.
ing my glance casually toward the spot
where had flung down my rifle, became
aware at once OF the cause of this commo-
tion. Their retreat was well timed. By
the moss-clad powders which filed the bed
of the torrent somebody, with big black
face and huge grinnipg teeth, was standing
erect, looking up at me aud laughing. i
had never seen the somebody's awful feat
urss before, but i had no need, for all that,
to ask myself his name. ! paused face to
face with live male gorilla.
THE SENTINEL ON GUARD.
For a moment or two the creature gazed
mn at me and grinned. Then he raised my
rife in his arms, held it clumsily before
him. and 10 my intense surprise, taking .
very bad aim, or rather pointing it aimless-
" In the air, pulled both triggers with one