Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-10-02
In THE JUNGLE.

hlNef tlt htoIculnNs uNFuihE huui
Of tho day darkness had ut last set
tied down and taken possession OF the
wide expause OF level ground and
soft undulating bluh but had brought
with Il no cooling breeze, Not "a leaf
in that thick underground OF tropical
plant-life rustled save when stirred by
the crunching movements OF some
snurian or the rapid gliding OF some
reptile. The air was heavy. close
saturated with noxious vapOrs and
suiIocatlng And IL was burdened
with an odor which was penetrating
and sickening; that odor which is in
separable from poisonous exhplations
A. ter couple OF hours OF intense
darkness tho moon slowly clambercd
over the top of the blur on the other
side OF the lagoon and shono with
duh. red light us though the heat re-
hected from the almost inoinerAied
earth had made Il red hot As IL
rose into the sidereal dome II 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 intonse the heart beats eau
be counted and yet out OF tho stllnoss
comes the acute consciousness OF the
presence OF n monster iusidious poi
sonous showing Itself in multitude
OF forms--the monster death.
How tho three of US cume to DO In
that precise spot ut that particular
time is OF no material Interest Let
IL suffice that we had motives which
satisfied us We were on tho fringe
OF grove which ran back from the
lagoon to the bungalow. distance ~
about hall mile and the ground
where we were standing was sutli-
ciunlly raised to enable us to look
over the low bush which sklrted the
lagoon at the wa ei lust beyond.
let Us feel our way to the bunga-
low" said one, anything would be
better than this simmerlng inferno. y
The other member OF tho trio did
not speak but felt too worry to
think Of half miles walk
Suppose you hunt Tor some moro
specimens | suggested, and III
wa for you here.
They moved away and listened to
their footsteps as they fell slowly and
languidly and then threw myself on
the grass My head found pillow.
and turned over and looked at the
bush and then at the thin thread OF
| light on the water beyond. As
ga ed. the combination OF somber
shade and silver light forced itself
upon me AS strangely beautiful;
weirdly entranclngly beautiful. Why
| had IN maven atp,,rk ma thts bn f,,, .
But even to think was too much OF an
exertion, aud | lay there and drank
the scene in. A sense OF rest com
plete all-pervading. took possession
Of every faculty. There was no long er
any consciousness OF heat or exhaus.
ton; the repose was perfect per-
vading both mind aud body Then /
became conscious OF an undulating
motion, like the gentle heaving OF tho
sen and my thoughts Travelled back
to that fnr-awny home which | had
loft with such promise not many years
before The scenes OF early man
hood pud childhood. Of college
life and home life passed
In rapid array and then /
was once more in the cradle and there
! MnlGn
10 memory will never fade but which
10 mortal eyes will never again APP
pear rocking me TO sleep. But there
was no inclination to sleep. | did
not want to blot out that scene nor
that exquisite sense OF repose by
sinking into Inconsistencies Grad
ually the quietness was broken.
Sounds like succession OF musical
chords low but distinct and pressing
upon each other rapidly stole over
the landscape They seemed TO VI
brate with the same rapidly with
which tho rays OF light beat upon the
water surface. The foliage qulvered
in rythm and then silver haze,
emnnating from the luminous path
ncross tho lagoon, enveloped the
landscape in ulo OF light but
which was SO faint that 1t but serve d
TO contrast the shades more strongly.
A feeling Of exhilarntion too in
tense for desc lption took possession
oil me- 1t stirred every impulse.
The translucent path cloaying
its way across the ebony
surface OF the wHter led
straight to the frontiers OF tho long
lost long sought paradise where all is
harmony aud discord never comes.
An irresistible desire TO tread that
path was now all my absorbing pas
sion jumped TO my feet aud ran
down 70 the edge Of the jungle. But
cnce under the shadow OF the bush |
felt lost irretrievably lost After "a
few moments my eyes became accns.
toned TO the surrounding blaclsness
aud pushed this way and that search
ing FOR path through tho tangled
mass Of Jungle. but without success.
In every direction was the same un.
broken front OF pcicKly spikes An
awful dssolation took bold OF my Inn
ag nation. when suddenly the bush ia
front Of me seemed to open aud /
pushed through without waiting to
10 est gate. ] had not gone far before
the path divided. ono way lending 10
the right and the other leading 10 tho
lett Ny nclinalions were TO follow
the one 70 tho rgnt but
Al that moment spectral
form appeared in froat o. ne %
close as to h.onk she pth The face
lowered within SIX inches OF mlne. !
l..l. l..tt - tattI.ruaI t,tts ...sf..rtr