The Press., 1893-04-13
ascend the tree.

%s|.EIRte|9'lA!'E1''1f1' Y With O hcnry hedrt I accompanied ,ny
 friend.
 In youth the tulip tree, or Lirioden- dron tulipiferum, the most magnificent of American foresters, has trunk peculiar ly smooth and often rises to a great height without lateral branches, but in it's riper age the bark becomes knarled and uneven, while many short limbs make their appearance on the stem. Thus the difficulty of ascension in the present case lay more in semblance than in reality.
 Embracing the huge cylinder as closely as possible with his arms and knees. seizing with his hands some pro- jections, and resting his naked toes up on others, Jupiter, after one or two mar row escapes from falling, at length wriggled himself into the first great fork and seemed to consider the whole business as virtually accomplished. The risk of the achievement was, in fact, now over, although the climber was some 60 or 70 feet from the ground. ~1 (Which may mus go now, Massa Will?' he asked.
 keep up the largest branch, the one on this side," said Legrand. The negro obeyed him promptly, and apparently | with but little trouble, ascending higher l.: oe l.; 1 figure could be obtained through the dense foliage which enveloped it. Pres ently his voice was heard in a sort of halloo:
 ''How much fudder is got for go?"
 How high up are you?" asked Le- grand.
 : ''Ebber so fur," replied the negro, ''can see de sky fru de top ob de tree"
 "Never mind the sky, but attend to what say Look down the trunk and count the limbs below you on this side. How many limbs have you passed?"
 "One, two, tree, four, fibe-I done pass fibe big limb, massa, 'pon dis side.''
 ''Then go one limb higher"
 In few minutes the voice was heard again, announcing that the seventh limb was attained.
 Now, Jup," cried Legrand, evidently much excited, 'Iwant you to work your way out upon that limb as far as you can. If you see anything strange, let me know"
 By this time what little doubt might have entertained of my poor friends in sanity was put finally at rest. I had nc alternative but to conclude him stricken with lunacy, and I became seriously anx ious about getting him home. While was pondering upon what was best to be done, Jupiter's voice was again heard.
 Mos feered for to ventur 'pon dis limb berry far-tis dead limb putty much all de way.''
 "Did you say it was dead limb, Ju piter?" cried Legrand in quaverine voice. '*.~ .t..
 s'Yes, massa, him dead as de door nai done tip for sartain-done departed dis here life.''
 ''What in the name of heaven shall do?" asked Legrand, seemingly in the greatest distress.
 Dol" said I, glad of an opportunity te interpose a word, "why come home an6 go to bed. Come, now, that's fine fel low. It's getting late, and, besides, you remember your promise"
 Jupiter" cried he, without needing me in the least, ''do you hear me?'
 ''Yes, Massa Will, hear you ebber SC plain
 ''Try the wood we'll, then, with youl knife and see if you think it very rot ten."
 "Him rotten, nassa, sure nuff," re piled the negro in a few moments, "bu1 not so berry rotten as thought be Mought ventur out leetle way 'pon dt limb by myself, dat's true"
 By yourself! What do you mean?"
 ''Why I mean de bug. Iris berry hobby bug. S'pose I drop him dowr fuss, and den de limb won't break vic just de weight ob one nigger."
 "You internal scoundrelv' cried Le grand, apparently much relieved, ''what do you mean by, telling me such non sense as that? As sure as you drop thai beetle I'll break your neck. Look here Jupiter, dc you hear me?'
 "Yes, massa, needn't holler at poor nig ger dat style." ~"
 "Well, now listen. If you will ven ture out on the limb as far as you think safe and not let go the beetle, I'll mak, as you get down."
 "Pm gwine, Massa Will-deed I is, replied the negro very promptly: ''mos out to the eend now"
 "Out to the end!' here fairly screamed Legrand, 'do you say you are out to thu end of that imb?' ..~
 "Soon be to the eend, massa-o-o-o-o oh! Lor-gol-a-marcy! What is dis hert 'pon de tree?' l "Well! cried Legrand, highly delight ed, "what is it?'
 ''Why, 'tain't muffin but skull-some body bin lef him head up de tree, and d. crows done gobble ebery bit ob de mea' off,"
 "A skull, you say! Very welll How is it fastened to the limb-what holds i on?'
 ''Sure huff, massa; mus look. Why dis berry curious circumstance, 'pon my word-dare's great big nail in de skull what fastens ob it on to de tree"
 "Well, now, Jupiter. do exactly as tell you--do you hear?"
 "Yes, massa."
 "Pay attention then! Find the left ey, of the skull" .
 "Hum! hoo! Oats good! Why, dare ain't no eye lef' at all."
 "Curse your stupidityl Do you know your right hand from your left?"
 "Yes, nose dat-nose all about dat ,tis my lef' hand what chops de woot wid."
 .'To be sure! You are left handed, ant your left eye is on the same side as you left hand. Now suppose you can fnt the left eye of the skull, or the plac, where the left eye has been. Have yo, found it9'
 Here was s long pause. At length tn,