The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-11-10
IN THE JUNGLE.

lieu uUWu anu TAKEN pOSS6SSlOu VI llle |
wide expause OF level ground and
soft undulating bluff, but had brought
with it no cooling breeze, Not leal
in that thick underground OF tropical
plant-life rustled save when stirred by
the crunching movements of some
saurian, or the rapid gliding of some
reptile. The air was heavy, close.
saturated with noxious vapors and
suffocating. And it was burdened
with an odor which was penetrating
and sickening; that odor which is in
separable from poisonous calculations.
After a couple of hours OF intense
darkness the moon slowly clambered
over the top OF the bluff on the other
side of the lagoon and shone with a
dull red light as though the heat re-
fected from the almost incinerated
earth had made it red hot. AS it
rose into the sidereal dome it threw q
track of light across the narrow
stretch of water. but failed to show a
single ripple on the CLASSY surface.
And now for moment all is still. the
silence is intense, the heart beats can
be counted and yet out of the stiffness
comes the acute consciousness Of the
presence OF monster. insidious. poi
sonous, showing itself in multitude
of forms-the monster death.
How the three OF us came to be in
that precise spot at that particular
time is of no material interest. Let
it suffice that we had motives which
satisfied us. We were on the fringe
OF q grove which ran back from the
lagoon to the bungalow a distance Of
about half mile and the ground
where we were standing was suffl-
ciently raised to enable us 10 look
over the low bush which skirted the
lagoon at the water just beyond.
Let us feel our way to the bunga-
low" said one anything would be
better than this simmering inferno"
The other member OF the trio did
not speak, but / felt too weary to
think of half miles walk
Suppose you hunt for some more
specimens" suggested, land I'll
wait for you here"
They moved away and listened to
their footsteps as they fell slowly and
languidly and then threw myself or
the grass. My head found pillow.
and l turned over and looked at the
bush and then at the thin thread o
light on the water beyond. AS
/ gazed, the combination OF sombe
shade and silver light forced ltsel
upon me as strangely beautiful
weirdlN entrancingly beautiful VIII,
had it never struck me thus before
But even to think was too much Of al
exertion, and I lay there and dranl
the scene in. A sense of rest com
plete, -pervading, took possession
of every faculty. There was no long e
any consciousness of heat or exhaus
ton; the repose was perfect per
vading both mind and body. Then
became conscious of an undulatin
motion like the gentle heaving OF tn
sea, and my thoughts Travelled bac
to that far-away home which | ha
left with such promise not many year
: before The scenes of early mar
hood and childhood, OF colleg
life and home life passe
J in rapid array. and then
l was once more in the cradle and ther
t was bending over me that form whic
l to memory will never fade. but whic
to mortal eyes will never again al
7 pear, rocking me to sleep. But thel
t was no inclination to sleep d.
v not want TO blot out that scene M
Q that exquisite sense OF repose b
i sinking into Inconsistencies. Ora,
It ually the quietness was broker
: Sounds like q succession OF music
d chords low but distinct. and pressiI
/. upon each other rapidly stole ovt
the landscape. They seemed TO v
brate with the same rapidly vii
U which the rays OF light beat upon Il
| waters surface. The foliage culver,
|, in rythm and then silver haz
a emanating from the luminous pa
h across the lagoon. enveloped Il
;. landscape in halo OF light b
v which was so faint that 1t but serve
# to contrast the shades more strongl
a A feeling of exhilaration TOO
ID tense for description took possessi,
l. of me. 1t stirred every impuls
l. The translucent path cleavir
" its way across the ebo
h surface OF the water
IA straight to the frontiers OF the lol
d lost long sought paradise where all
la harmony and discord never come
ia An irresistible desire to tread th
d path was now all my absorbing pa
D sion. l jumped to my feet and r
ID down to the edge OF the jungle. b
ID once under the shadow OF the bush
a felt lost irretrievably lost After
few moments my eyes became acct
toned to the surrounding blacknei
and pushed this way and that scare
ing for a path through the tangl
y mass OF jungle. but without succei
10 In every direction was the same u
10 broken front OF prickly spikes. i
* awful desolation took hold OF my IL
agination, when suddenly the bush
.. front of me seemed TO open and
pushed through without waiting
d Investigate. | had not gone far befc
ie the path divided. one way leading
Or the right and the other leading to I
left My inclinations were to foll'
the one to the right b