The Forrest City times., 1891-08-28
THE CREEPING PLANT.
FROM CHAMBERS JOURNAL.

FROM CHAMBERS JOURNAL.
 Poor Hammond managed to get a months leave at the same time as myself That was how we came to join hands and arrange for the trip to Formosa. wish 1 had worked on for year longer now, with all my heart.
 We crossed from Annoy to Taiwan, big town on the west coast of For mosa, and made our preparations for getting well into the wilds. You see, we had both been in China, a matter of 10 years, and could pass muster very well with our knowledge of two or three dialects of the dreadfully pro- fuse language of the Empire. And so we expected to get along all right to shoot variety of strange quad rupeds and feathered creatures, and Hammond to enlarge his already very coplous collection of plants and grasses.
 Ineverknew a man more enthusiastic about his hobby than was Hammond about his specimens. 1t cost him many groan to leave them on the mainland. But for the infinite an- noyance they would have cost us both he would have carried them with him to Formosa. They filed eight boxes | as bag as American traveling trunks what with their layers of wool and thick plotting paper, and the camphor wood cases in which the different species reposed apart from each other Poor old chap he might have pleased himself Tn the matter. I wish he had. for his interest in the things might have kept him from the craze that killed him.
 For week we had a very agreeable time in the bungalow of certain Scotch missionary whose name will be familiar memory to every Euro pean who has stayed awhile in the island. He was-indeed is--a very remarkable man, and credit to the Anglo Saxon race. If every man had his due, he ought to be acknowledged as Governor General of Formosa, though I doubt he would refuse the dignity. This by the way And yet l ought to mention him II only for the earnest warning he gave us about the vermin and reptiles of the interior We spent two days in journeying from his house to the woods in which we proposed to camp for s fortnight, as happy as Adam and Eve before the fall.
 The forest scenery was magnificent, but the brake of brambles and flower ing creepers winch matted themselves between the tree trunks made progress very slow. We did not stick to the tracks otherwise of course, it would have been different. And we were re- paid for our labor by the strange creatures 1 shot. and by many grass and flower which Hammond was as elated over as a mother with her first child.
 Two more days psased, and we pro- pounced our holiday a success. Then Hammond sickened of fever or 8 sunstroke, 1 could not determine which. He became delirious, and feared he would die. must say the native Formosans, for all their savage look-they were all but naked in this part of the island--were very kind. They brought me various juices and simples, which they urged me to use upon the invalid. But I was afraid to do that. preferred to rely upon cold sponging and the quinine in our medicine chest.
 On the seventh night of his illness, when he was so quiet and improved in tone that thought I could leave him in charge of Wan Tan, our little native aide de camp, and get o good sleep myself, was suddenly awoke by tho boy with the words. He has gonel" True enough. Hammond had evaded his guard and run of into the l woods in his pylamas. was dread fully alarmed Without loss of time, however, the boy and set out in pursuit; and after about an hour we caught him up as he was returning with bent head and puckered brow, but looking as free from delirium as man could.
 Why, my dear fellow" l said, "what in the world led you to do SC mad thing?"
 Hammond gazed at me indifferently had not yet got his senses fully after | u udu nlXut. ntil, Wltn SCOQ ucd o} excitement, he bade me congratulate him
 "Upon what?" Iasked.
 Do you not remember" he replied
 how we two have talked about the possible existence of plants that move from one spot to another with the same freedom as we conceited bipedsi We'll, I've solved that problem. They do exist. But l can't Ireally can't-makeo out satisfactorilywhethel they do it by the exercise of volition or whether they are transported ir spite of themselves. It's not bit o use troubling the British Association on the subject until we have settled that-is it2'
 Twas half disposed to laugh at him when he said this. But the mysteri ous and quiet unusual kind ofearnest ness in his expression while he was speaking not only deteried me but even again made me feel un easy about him. "You are not serious, Hammond2" I said. "AnG besides, old fellow, it's very wrong O you to run away in this fashion. Not to speak of tho fright you gave me you'll catch . chill, and we shall have that fever business all over again."
 "Fevss businssL What do you | mAAn2n