Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1891-10-22
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 I had worked on
for a year longer now, with all my
heart.
We crossed from Annoy to Taiwan,
q 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, q matter of
10 years, and could pass muster very
we'll 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 q variety of strange quad
rupeds and feathered creatures, and
Hammond to enlarge his already very
copious collection OF plants and
grasses.
Ineverknew a man more enthusiastic
about mis- hobby than was Hammond
about his specimens. It 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 filled eight boxes
as big as American travelling trunks
what with their layers of wool and
thick blotting-paper, and the camphor
wood cases in which the different
species reposed apart from each other.
Poor old chap! he might have pleased
himself i'll the matter. [ wish he had,
for his interest in the things might
have kept him from the craze that
killed him.
For a week we had a very agreeable
time in the bungalow of q 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 O. credit to the
Anglo-Saxon race. If every man had
his due, he ought to be ACKNOWLEDGED
as Governor General of Formosa,
though | doubt he would refuse, the
dignity. This by the way. And yet
[ 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 a. fortnight, as
happy as Adam and Eve before the
fall.
The forest scenery was magnificent,
but the brake OF brambes and flower
ing creepers which 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 shot, and by many a grass
and flower which Hammond was as
elated over as mother with her first
child.
Two more days psased, and we pro-
nounced our holiday a success. Then
Hammond sickened of a fever or q
sunstroke, | could not determine
which. He became delirious, and I
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 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 could leave
him in charge OF Wan Tan, our little
native aide de camp, and get a good
sleep myself, was suddenly a,woke
by the boy with the words. He has
gone!" True enough, Hammond had
evaded his guard and run off into the
woods in his 'pyjamas. I was dread
fully alarmed. Without loss of time,
however, the boy and I 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" I said,
"what in the world led you to do so
mad a thing?"
Hammond gazed at me indiferently
for moment. 1t was just as if he
had not yet got his senses fully after
a bad night. Then, with q good deal
of excitement, he bade me congratulate
him
Upon what2" Iasked.