The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-10-28

had daring and dangerous way of ram
bling far into the forests, his only COM
panions being native guide and his dark
skinned servant. More than once l told
him he would provide square meal for u
tiger or some other wild animal but he
only laughed at my fears,
"One night he did not return. The guide
and the servant came back, both fright
ened nearly to death, and they told a story
that aroused our party to a high pitch of
excitement. They declared Lieutenant
Gordan had fallen victim to the man eat
ing tree, saying it was near midafternoon
when they came to the mouth of deep and
dark valley, into which the venturesome
young man insisted on penetrating At
the mouth of the valley the natives found
small stone idol, before which were scat
tered human skulls and bones This served
to warn them against entering the forbid
ding place, and they refused to accompany
the lieutenant
"Gordan was not daunted, and he babe
them await his return after which he bold
ly went down into the gloom Of the place
leaving the natives umbling and pros
trating themselves before the idol
In about 20 minutes the guide and the
servant heard a terrible shrek of fear and
agony that came up from the mysterious
and dismal valley. The cry was that of
human being in the greatest agony, and SO
frightened were the natives that they in
stantly took to their heels and fled finn the
spot.
I'VE rebuked them for their cowardice
and all of us believed Gordan had been at
tackled by wild animal or a serpent We
even entertained hope that he might put in
an appearance, but the night passed and
mOrniDQk came without anv Sic,r Of hin,
Then nearly the entire party set out to find
the dismal valley and solve the mystery of
our comrades fate
THE guide was very reluctant about
leading us, but we forced him to do so
For hours we tramped about in the jungle
without finding the valley, and the guide
finally declared he did not know how to
lead us to it. This made us very angry,
and we nearly scared the fellow to death,
asserting we would fay him alive if he did
not take us to the place. He started on
again, and we followed, but night found us
unrewarded for our pains. In returning to
the camp, both the guide and Gordan's
servant slipped away and disappeared in
the forest, and neither was seen afterward
This mysterious affair threw a damper
on our spirits, and the hunt was far from a
success. The most of the party were in
SlibcN W DclltNt Iut lltultudnU Hdu Deel
murdered by the two natives, and thought
it not improbable.
During the five years that elapsed be-
fore / again visited Ceylon, often thought
of Jack Gordan and longed to know the
truth concerning his fate. When | found
myself once more In the vicinity of our
former adventures, / resolved to search for
the fatal valley. Captain Starbuck, loyal
friend and man with plenty Of courage,
agreed to accompany me, poor fellow ]
was glad to have a white man as a compan-
ion, although | protested against taking
him from his elephant shooting, but he
professed some faith in the story of the
man eating tree and expressed a desire to
look upon the monster of the vegetable
Kingdom.
Taking our servants along, we made
party OF four, although we knew we could
not depend on the blackskins in case OF
emergency. 1t was near midday of our
first and final search that we came to the
mouth of a valley that seemed to me like
the one described by the native guide and
Gordan's servant. All at once both our
dusky aids flung themselves face down.
ward on the ground and began chanting
something in the most doleful tones. and
then we saw they were bowed before hid.
eous stone image, around which were scat
tered bones and human skullsl
1--WE have found the fatal valleyp !
cried.
1t was useless to attempt TO persuade
the blackskns to accompany US into the
gloom Of the place, and they entreated US
not to go there, saying we would never
come forth if we ventured. Telling them
to await our return and looking to make
sure our weapons were ready for instant
use, we entered the valley,
"A deep gloom hung over the place, which
was disturbed by no sound save our foot
falls, and they did not seem to make an
echo. As we moved slowly onward feel
ing of horror gradually and surely crept
over me, although ] tried to throw it off.
1t seemed that there was something I'M
canny about the valley-something weird
and deadly ! looked at the captain and
saw his face WAS pale, although his jaws
were set and determination was written on
his features
I'm vain we looked about for sign of
living creature In that dismal vale No
bird nor animal greeted our vision; not
even snake squirmed across our path.
For all of the gloom, the vegetation was
luxurious and rank, but the air seemed |
laden with perfumes that We're sweet TO the !
point Of nauseation,